Harris County Personal Injury Lawsuit Process: Step-by-Step Guide for Texas Injury Victims

Harris County is a popular place for Texans to live and visit. With 4.7 million residents and millions more visitors, accidents are bound to happen. However, if you are the victim of one of these accidents, you may feel very much alone with your painful injuries and uncertainty over next steps.

The good news is you are not alone. The Houston personal injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw help accident victims like you pursue compensation for their injuries. The personal injury process can feel overwhelming, but we help you take it step by step until you receive the compensation you are entitled to.

Don’t suffer in silence after an accident you didn’t cause in Houston, Texas. Our experts are available 24/7 to provide free consultations in English or Spanish. Call us toll-free at 1-800-862-1260 or contact us online now.

The steps you take after your accident will make a difference in how your personal injury claim proceeds. We have broken the entire claims process down to help you understand how things typically progress:

The moments immediately following a serious accident can be confusing and chaotic. First, ensure everyone who is hurt receives immediate medical attention. Prompt medical treatment saves lives and provides critical documentation of your injuries.

Next, gather evidence at the scene if you are able. Photos, videos, and eyewitness information will help your lawyer build a strong personal injury case. Report the accident to the police if you were in a vehicle accident, or another authority, such as your employer for a workplace accident. That report will serve as additional evidence for your personal injury claim.

The sooner you call a personal injury attorney, the quicker your legal team can start building your personal injury case. They will investigate your accident and identify all at-fault parties. To hold them liable, they must show the party's negligence led directly to the accident and your injuries. Negligence is failure to act in a way another reasonable individual would in the same situation.

Under Texas’s proportionate responsibility rule, you can hold all at-fault parties liable according to their portion of fault to maximize your compensation. This rule allows you to maximize your compensation by pursuing damages through multiple claims. Even if you shared fault for the accident, you can seek compensation if your share of the fault is less than 51%.

You will need to file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance provider. However, you should exercise caution when speaking with adjusters, since they often try to trick accident victims into making statements that can hurt their claim. Your best option is often to let your Texas personal injury lawyer handle all communications with the insurance company. Your legal team knows how to protect your rights while ensuring you receive sufficient compensation for your losses.

Your Harris County personal injury lawyer will negotiate with the insurance company to resolve your claim and ensure you receive sufficient compensation for your injuries and losses. Your Houston attorney will gather all necessary evidence and sometimes work with accident reconstruction specialists to establish negligence and prove you are entitled to the damages you are seeking.

The large majority of personal injury cases are settled outside of court. However, if you can’t reach a fair settlement with the liable parties, your lawyer will prepare your case for trial. A judge or jury will determine how much damages you should receive based on the merits of your case. Most cases are settled during the preparation phase, but your legal team will be prepared to take your case all the way to court if necessary.

The expert Texas attorneys at Carabin Shaw have successfully settled hundreds of personal injury claims, as our law firm’s client reviews attest. We also work on a contingency-fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we win your case. Call us toll-free today at 1-800-862-1260 or contact us online to get the legal help you need.

For more information:

• Texas Statutes 55
• Cornell Law School
• Texas Statutes 33