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  • >Medical Malpractice FAQ

David W. Hodges and Galvin B. Kennedy have both been named Texas Super Lawyers by Texas Monthly Magazine and selected as among Houston's Top Lawyers by H Texas Magazine.

H Texas Magazine has also named them as Professionals on the Fast Track.

Frequently Asked Auto Accident Questions

in Houston, Texas

What if the other driver is uninsured?
If the driver of the car who hit you has no insurance, you can possibly pursue damages through your own insurance policy. An experienced auto accident lawyer can explain insurance law to you and fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Insurance companies are always quite anxious to settle before you employ an attorney and pay you as little as possible.

What kind of damages are typically covered?
In a car accident case, you may receive damages for any number of things including medical bills, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering, disfigurement, punitive damages, etc.

What determines who is responsible for a traffic accident?
Figuring out who is at fault in a traffic accident is a matter of deciding who was careless. Sometimes a violation of traffic rules is obvious and was clearly the cause of an accident. An example of fault being clear is when one driver runs a stop sign and crashes into another. In other situations, whether or not there was a violation will be less obvious. Determining fault when two drivers both merge into a single lane of traffic may be more difficult.

What are the legal aspects regarding compensation for vehicle accident injuries and/or fatalities?
If you have been injured in a car accident or have lost someone because of a car accident, you can file a case of personal injury or a wrongful death claim, as the case may be. Those who are involved in auto accidents frequently suffer serious injuries or death. Various types of auto accident injuries include brain injury, injury to the spine, neck injuries, fractures and broken bones, cuts and bruises, etc. Such serious injuries can often leave the victims in severe pain and discomfort or even disabled for life. Even if your car accident injuries are treated properly, you may still end up with some permanent disability or disfigurement.

Approximately how long will it take to receive monetary compensation in my case?
Every case is unique, of course; however, most physicians who care for and treat accident victims generally require months of care and treatment in order to provide final opinions relative to injuries. Once final evaluations are in hand from treating physicians, a demand is provided to the appropriate insurance company. Thereafter, settlement negations would begin. If they were not productive, a lawsuit would be filed. Most lawsuits are resolved through settlement or trial within twelve to eighteen months of commencement as required by the rules of court.

How much money will I receive?
There is no hard and fast rule for placing a financial value upon a case. Cases are evaluated based upon the circumstances of the accident, severity of the injury, and its impact upon an individual’s day-to-day affairs including employment.

Should I release my medical records to anyone else involved in the accident?
You should not release any information about your case to anyone except your own legal team. Also, you should not sign any forms or give any kind of statement. Insurance companies will try very hard to get you to agree to a settlement on their terms.

Should I do my investigative work on the accident?
No. It is rarely productive to conduct your own investigation concerning the facts of your vehicle accident. Our lawyers, professional investigators, and accident reconstructionists are experienced in the type of investigating necessary to determine the facts of your case.

If I was injured due to a defective braking system or seatbelt, am I entitled to compensation?
In addition to personal injury and wrongful death cases, vehicle crashes may also be products liability cases due to mechanisms that failed or were improperly designed or manufactured. The experienced auto accident lawyer at Kennedy Hodges L.L.P. in Houston, Texas will discuss with you which type of case your particular accident is and then proceed from there.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a vehicle crash, please contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation. We work on a contingency basis, which means we do not get paid unless we recover money for you.