Rush Hour Accident Lawyer
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The population of Houston and the surrounding areas is growing, and there tends to be heavier and longer rush hour traffic. Having more vehicles on the road increases the potential for serious accidents, including multi-vehicle collisions. Drivers who experience stress during rush hour may fail to use the level of reasonable care that they might otherwise exhibit. When an agitated or reckless driver causes an accident, they may be held responsible through a personal injury claim filed by the victim. If you or someone close to you has been hurt in a rush hour accident, the dedicated Houston car accident lawyer at the Pascoe Law Firm can represent you and fight to protect your legal rights following a rush hour accident. We can investigate all potential causes of the accident, determining who may be responsible for causing it and holding them accountable for the resulting harm.
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Statistics of Rush Hour Accidents
Accidents are caused by specific factors. These factors add up to fatal mistakes. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 30,797 people lost their lives in fatal motor vehicle accidents. This number has increased in recent years with a reported death of 32,675 people losing their lives in motor vehicle accidents in the year 2014. Distracted driving continues to be a leading cause involved in motor vehicle accidents, most noticeably affecting the 15 to 20-year-old age bracket. Many fatalities occur between 6 and 9 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. It is statistically more likely to be involved in a fatal motor vehicle accident on the weekend. During the workweek, the most fatal accidents occur right around rush hour between 5 and 6 p.m.
Causes of a Rush Hour Accident
Rush hour is generally defined as the period of time when commuters are on the road as they are going to or returning from work. Highways and streets tend to be congested, and unfortunately, accidents are common during this period of the day. Often, drivers display aggressive behavior as they hurry to get to work or return home. Aggressive driving behavior or road rage may lead to serious collisions, but frustration behind the wheel is not an excuse for careless or reckless conduct. People commuting back and forth to an office in the peak hours of the morning and afternoon can increase their safety by paying attention to the road and not driving aggressively. Unfortunately, people often succumb to impulses of road rage or distractions like cell phones during their daily commute. Other examples of negligent driving conduct during rush hour traffic often include:
- Abrupt Lane Changes
- Erratic Driving
- Failing Leave Adequate Following Distance
- Speeding
- Road Rage
Many of the above may lead to rear-end collisions, which are common during rush hour traffic and may involve several vehicles. Rush hour traffic also may lead to driver frustration, which affects the ability of drivers to maintain a patient and attentive demeanor behind the wheel. Following a car accident, a victim can pursue a legal claim against the driver who was responsible. Bringing a personal injury lawsuit is a method to recover costs related to the property damage and physical injuries that resulted.
How to Win a Rush Hour Car Accident Case
To set forth the right to damages following a rush hour collision, injured individuals must show that the other driver, the defendant in the personal injury claim, was at fault. Many injury claims following a car accident proceed under a negligence theory of law. To meet the elements of a negligence claim, the victim must show that the defendant breached their duty of care to act as a reasonable driver would act under similar circumstances. Additionally, victims must show that the defendant driver caused the accident and that they would not have been hurt if not for the defendant’s careless conduct. This causal connection is necessary to prove that the driver’s conduct directly caused the accident.
After successfully proving liability, a plaintiff may secure damages for hospital expenses, the costs of future medical treatment, property damage, and lost income and earning capacity, as well as emotional pain and suffering. These damages are termed economic and non-economic damages, and accident victims are entitled to recover the full range of compensation for harm resulting from a rush hour collision. In some situations, proving future costs may require expert testimony, who are skilled in assessing lost earning potential due to an accident.
How To Protect Your Legal Rights Following a Rush Hour Accident
Based on the specifications of your case - the details of the accident, how severe your injury was, it is ultimately going to determine what you could be entitled to sustain based on your case. However, what you can be compensated for if your case prevails can often be put into several different categories. The categories of compensation can include:
- Medical bills: Should you win your case; you could be awarded compensation for medical bills you’ve had to pay as a result of your injury. This includes both past and future bills stemming from the injury, and can potentially cover expenses such as transport or in-home rehabilitation services.
- Lost wages: Lost wages can be awarded if your injury has caused significant missed time at work, or has made you unable to perform your job. You could be entitled to even more lost wages if the injury leaves you permanently disabled and unable to find consistent work.
- Pain and suffering: In some cases, the damages endured from physical pain and emotional suffering can be compensated to pay for therapy treatments.
- Punitive damages: Punitive damages are awarded in more extreme cases, wherein the injury was caused by someone’s recklessness. They are awarded to try and dissuade the defendant and others from acting with that level of recklessness again.
Contact a Dedicated Houston Attorney To Discuss Your Rush Hour Accident Claim
Motor vehicle accidents do occur with greater frequency during rush hour. Drivers can become frustrated and agitated with traffic, which can cause them to make dangerous decisions while on the road. Not only are more vehicles on the road, but also drivers may be aggressive on their commute to and from work. Rush hour accidents can lead to serious and long-term injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in this type of collision, an experienced Rush Hour Accident Lawyer can help you seek compensation from all responsible parties.
People harmed by the careless or reckless conduct of others have legal rights. At the Pascoe Law Firm, we help victims of rush hour accidents pursue compensation for their accident-related injuries and costs. Our skilled motor vehicle collision attorney understands the importance of financial security following a devastating accident, and for this reason we make it a goal to pursue full damages for past, present, and future harm. We are experienced in developing strategies to overcome insurance defense tactics and to help our clients become financially secure. We also help Texas residents in other cities and other communities throughout the state. If you need an experienced lawyer to advocate on your behalf, contact our office for a free consultation by calling 713-829-4317. Visit our main car accident page for more information.
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Webpage is intended solely for residents of Texas or Persons seeking representation within Texas. An Attorney-Client relationship only occurs when both parties agree that the Attorney will represent the Client and will not be created until that agreement occurs. Website and all of its pages is intended to be used for educational purposes and does not constituted as legal advice. All information on every page of the website does NOT suggest or claim that the attorney has a specialization in any area of legal practice or certification. Attorney not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specializations.
