Data from the U.S. Department of Justice suggests that up to 95% of accident and injury cases settle before going to trial. Regardless, even if you expect your car accident injury claims to settle, you should hire a law firm that prepares every case for trial because that preparation can uncover critical details about the accident and your injuries that can lead to a significantly larger damages award.
The car crash lawyers at Schechter Shaffer & Harris have decades of experience in car accident trials in Houston. From the beginning of every client engagement, we prepare the case is if it will be tried, and we reject settlements that fail to give our clients the justice and compensation they deserve.
Before the Trial: Gather and Organize Evidence
Evidence at a Houston car accident trial can include statements from you and other drivers and passengers, eyewitness testimony, police reports, video from surveillance cameras, and expert opinions from accident reconstruction consultants. The evidence will show how the crash happened and whether a party’s negligence caused it.
To recover damages, your accident and injury attorney will also need proof of your financial and other losses. That proof might include:
- Your medical bills for treatment of your injuries
- Pay stubs showing how your income was affected while your injuries kept you from working
- Invoices from physical and occupational therapists who are assisting with your recovery
- Costs associated with travel to and from treatment centers
- Expenses to modify your living quarters to accommodate your injuries
- Statements from you and your physician to describe the pain and suffering caused by your injuries
- Documentation showing the cost of damaged or destroyed property and repairs to that property.
Our lawyers are available to help you understand everything you will need for trial.
An Experienced Trial Lawyer Anticipates Defenses
Apart from the evidence that supports your case in a car accident trial, the party that you are suing for causing your Houston accident will have an opportunity to challenge your claims. That party might argue, for example:
- You were more than 50% at fault for causing the accident which, if proven, will preclude you from recovering any damages
- You filed your case more than two years after it happened, and as a result, your case is barred by the State’s statute of limitations
- Your injuries were pre-existing, or were caused by some event that occurred after the accident
- You failed to take steps to reduce your damages and losses.
When Your Trial Will Occur
Two to three years can elapse after you file your car accident lawsuit before it goes to trial in Houston. The timing of your trial will depend on the volume of other cases in the courtroom assigned to your case, the complexity of the facts and number of parties involved, and the responsiveness of the parties you are suing and the insurance companies that cover their liability.
The trial itself can take several days or weeks, again depending on the complexity of the underlying issues. You can get your case to trial and collect the compensation you are entitled to receive more quickly when you hire a car accident attorney to file your lawsuit soon after your accident.
Call Your Houston Attorney if You Are Anticipating a Car Accident Trial
For many years, individuals who have suffered serious injuries in automobile collisions have turned to the personal injury lawyers at Schechter Shaffer & Harris to fight for the fair and just compensation they need to get back on their feet. Our attorneys have recovered millions of dollars in damages through car accident trials in Houston, and we are ready to apply our full energy and attention to your case. Call any of our offices for a free consultation with one of our car accident trial attorneys.
