Houston Car Accident Lawyer

Rear-end collisions involve two vehicles, with the driver in the rear slamming into the vehicle in front of them. According to Consumer reports, using data provided by the  Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, rear end accidents are the most common type of motor vehicle collision. When a driver is involved in a rear-end accident, proving liability is often straightforward. Typically, the driver in the rear is held responsible for the accident. These accidents are often caused by following the vehicle in front too closely, speeding, or not paying attention and failing to brake in time, resulting in the following vehicle crashing into the vehicle in front of them. At Sutliff & Stout, we’ve also handled cases where the driver in the front was to blame. The driver in the front can be held liable if they were not paying attention and slammed on their brakes for no obvious reason, their rear brake lights were out, or they changed lanes without signaling.

This type of accident involves two vehicles that are coming from opposite directions and collide head-on. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports head-on accidents cause roughly 10% of driving fatalities each year, making them the most dangerous type of collision. Determining which party was at fault for the accident is often straightforward, since these accidents are often caused by another driver traveling in the opposite direction swerving into another lane, or they’re caused by an intoxicated driver pulling out in front of a vehicle coming from the opposite direction. We can review traffic camera footage or dash cam footage, and interview witnesses to identify which party was negligent and build a strong case for compensation using this evidence and other evidence, such as photos of skid marks, vehicle damage, in addition to accident reconstruction reports.

This type of accident involves one vehicle plowing into the side of another vehicle.
Side-impact collisions often result in more complex accident claims due to the severity of the injuries sustained and the resulting damages, such as property damage, pain and suffering, lost wages, and future medical costs. These accidents are more dangerous than other types of crashes due to the speed each vehicle is traveling and the point of impact. However, fault can be shared depending on which driver had the right of way.

These accidents happen when a motorist is turning left and strikes another vehicle. Left-turn accidents are often caused by failure to yield, misjudging the distance of oncoming traffic, or blind spots. When investigating this type of accident, a car crash lawyer on our legal team will determine whether you and the other driver share fault, or if the other driver was fully responsible for the collision.

These crashes involve a single vehicle striking a stationary object. Determining fault in a single vehicle accident can be complex. We will look at factors such as driver behavior, vehicle maintenance, road and weather conditions, to determine who should be held liable. Liability may fall on another driver or a government entity if poor road conditions caused or contributed to the accident. Vehicle manufacturers or tire or brake manufacturers can also share liability if a mechanical failure, tire blowout or brake failure caused or contributed to the accident.

This type of crash involves the sides of two parallel vehicles making contact. Sideswipe accidents are commonly caused by motorists who drive under the influence, distracted drivers, or drivers merging. When we investigate, we will take into account modified comparative negligence laws and right of way rules to assign fault to each driver involved. These accidents typically result in minor injuries, but can cause catastrophic injuries depending on the speed each vehicle was traveling.

These crashes occur when a driver enters the highway from an on-ramp or during lane changes and collides with another vehicle. When a driver merges with traffic they must do so when the situation is reasonably safe. If a motorist makes an improper lane change, it can result in a serious, life-changing accident. If you were injured in a merging accident due to a negligent driver, we can investigate the accident to determine which party was at fault and why the accident occurred, whether it was caused by driver distraction, the other driver failed to signal when changing lanes, or the accident occurred due to a blind spot.

These accidents involve multiple vehicles colliding with each other due to the negligence of one or more drivers. These accidents are often caused by a driver who is speeding, tailgating, or distracted. Multi-vehicle accidents, or chain reaction accidents, are difficult to investigate because more than one driver may share fault and the injuries and vehicle damage from a chain reaction accident is usually significant. Because multiple parties are involved, the accident investigation can also take much longer, compared to simple accidents. To establish negligence, we will prove the negligent driver(s) breached their duty of care and that breach resulted in the accident, your injuries, and damages.

Hit and run accidents occur when a driver is in fear of the repercussions of the accident and flees the scene. In most cases, the fleeing driver does so because they are uninsured. We have handled hit and run accidents that involve a variety of scenarios, so we understand the different factors that can affect whether you’re able to recover compensation. We will conduct an investigation and attempt to track down the fleeing motorist. If we are not able to identify the negligent driver, we can still help you file an accident claim under your insurance provider, if you have uninsured motorist coverage. If we are able to identify the other party, we may recommend pursuing compensation in court, depending on whether the other driver has any assets.

Rollovers occur when a vehicle flips over onto its side or roof. Considered the deadliest type of accident, these cases often involve an accident victim who sustained life-changing injuries. In other cases, we represent family members who have lost a loved one in a rollover accident that was caused by the negligence of another. According to Consumer Reports, rollovers only make up 3% of car accidents all over the country, but they are responsible for 30% of accident-related fatalities. Road conditions, vehicle type, and negligent driver behavior are common causes of rollovers.

A parking lot can be a chaotic environment at peak shopping times, with several vehicles maneuvering in tight spaces and consumers walking to and from their vehicles, weaving in and out of aisles, making it difficult for drivers to see them. Parking lot accidents are often caused by drivers in a hurry to exit or enter the parking lot, and drivers that fail to see oncoming motorists or pedestrians. When determining fault, these cases can be very complex, especially if the accident occurred when two vehicles were backing up. If you were struck by another motorist while driving in a parking lot, our attorneys can review surveillance footage, interview witnesses, and gather other evidence that can help establish liability.

A wrong-way accident takes place when a motorist is driving down the wrong side of the road. These accidents are often caused by drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or fatigued drivers. The Federal Highway Administration reported 445 fatalities in wrong way accidents, with a steady increase in fatalities in wrong way accidents reaching 704 in 2022. The Highway Special Investigation Report found that 75% of wrong way accidents are caused by intoxicated drivers. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that while only 3.7% of fatal accidents were wrong way accidents, this type of car crash is just as deadly as head-on accidents. Because these types of crashes often cause severe injuries, it’s important to contact an automobile accident lawyer as soon as possible. You’ll need the assistance of an experienced car accident lawyer to accurately calculate damages and ensure you secure compensation that will cover the cost of future medical care treatment, and loss of future wages, if you sustained a permanent injury.

A changing lane accident typically occurs when a driver fails to signal when changing lanes or changes lanes without checking their blind spot. When investigating this type of accident, our car accident attorneys have found that the driver changing lanes is often at fault. In some cases, multiple parties will share liability. Consumer Reports conducted a survey in 2022 regarding new lane changing systems that many major automobile manufacturers were implementing in vehicle design. These new systems can be helpful in reducing a driver’s risk of being involved in a lane change accident, but technology cannot fully prevent them. Driver inattention, aggressive driving, and speeding also cause a changing lane accident.

Highway accidents are commonly caused by speeding, distracted driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or fatigued driving. However, if poor road conditions, lack of signage, or another form of negligence was the cause of a car crash, a government body can be held responsible. In other cases, more than one party can be held liable. If road conditions and a negligent driver caused your accident,  we will hold the driver and the local or state department responsible.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that 562 fatalities in 2022 were caused by tire-blowout crashes. Lack of tire maintenance, low tire pressure, debris on the road, or a defective tire can cause a tire blowout accident. At Sutliff & Stout, our auto accident lawyers can investigate your accident to determine if a defective tire, poor road conditions, or another form of negligence caused your tire blowout accident. Liability can fall on a tire retailer, auto repair shop, tire manufacturer, or government body.

Specialized car crashes involve unconventional circumstances, such as an accident involving a car with special equipment, a car equipped with new technology, such as lane changing tech, or another type of unique circumstance. Our attorneys can consult with industry experts, including mechanical engineers and accident reconstructionists, to get a deeper understanding of the technology and the events that led up to the collision.

The Journal of Transportation Engineering conducted a study regarding why rental car accidents occur but found it difficult to determine the primary reason. The study did find that drivers that are most likely to be involved in rental car accidents are under the age of 25. The study found that rental car accidents were likely caused due to motorists driving in new territory or being unfamiliar with the vehicle. Rental car accident claims can be complex, depending on whether you were driving a rental at the time of the accident or you were struck by a motorist driving a rental. We can conduct an investigation to determine liability and review insurance policies and rental car coverage to identify whose insurance policy will come into play when pursuing compensation for accident-related losses.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, in 2018 car fires accounted for 13% of all fire-related deaths. A vehicle may catch fire or explode in an accident if the vehicle is equipped with a faulty fuel system. If you were involved in an accident and your vehicle caught fire, our car accident attorneys can investigate the accident and will work closely with experts to determine if the fuel system was defective. If the fire was the result of a faulty fuel system, we can hold the manufacturer partially responsible for your damages.  This is not a complete list of the common types of auto accidents we handle at Sutliff & Stout. If you don’t see your type of car accident listed above, contact us today to schedule a free consultation to learn how we can help.