Distracted driving is anything that diverts a driver’s attention from the road. It includes phone calls, texting, using GPS devices, or even eating and drinking. Distracted driving, while thought to be harmless by some, has led to catastrophic motor vehicle accidents. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, distracted driving deaths in Texas have risen by 17%. Multi-tasking while behind the wheel has led even drivers with years of experience to cause severe crashes resulting in serious bodily injury and even death. Due to the rise in distracted driving, the Texas State legislature passed the Texas Distracted Driving Law, effectively banning texting while driving beginning September 1, 2017.
Do I Need To Hire An Attorney?
Hiring a distracted driving accident attorney in Houston is critical in order to receive the highest possible recovery that is available to you without any undue delay. Many people injured by another party's negligence may be reluctant to hire a lawyer. This is because people do not want to spend money unnecessarily if they feel they could handle a personal injury claim themselves. In Texas, the standard method of payment for a personal injury attorney is through a contingency fee. This means that a personal injury lawyer won’t ever send you a bill, invoice, or receipt. The lawyer would be paid a percentage of the recovery amount. That is the case if the recovery is through a settlement or through a jury trial.
If, for whatever reason, there is no recovery, then you would not have to pay the lawyer anything. The statute of limitations for recovering damages for an injury or death resulting from negligence is only two years. You only have two years to pursue a recovery from a negligent party. Insurance will delay investigating the claim, taking reasonable efforts to respond to you in a timely manner, and give you an appropriate response to your claim until this limitation expires. Hiring an experienced personal injury accident attorney in Houston will ensure that the insurance companies take you and your claim seriously. If the insurance companies are unwilling to cooperate, a lawyer can file a lawsuit to compel them to do so.
