Houston Trial Attorneys

With approximately 2.303 million residents, Houston is not only the most populous city in Texas – it’s the fourth most populous city in the United States. The city is a sprawling metropolis that covers an area of 667 miles. The Houston – The Woodlands – Sugar Land metropolitan area – colloquially called “Greater Houston”, is even larger, home to more than 6,490,180 people.

Houston, TX is the largest city in the United States without formal zoning regulations, leading to low overall density, pedestrian hostile streets and vast urban sprawl. Locations within the city are often classified as inside or outside the Interstate 610 Loop. Major districts include Downtown, East Downtown, East End, Greenspoint, Northside, Southeast Houston, Spring Branch , Westchase and Upper Kirby.

Houston is located in a humid subtropical climate, leading to weather that is simultaneously hot and incredibly humid. And although the city is technically not located in “Tornado Alley,” it does experience some serious storm systems, which can bring in tornadoes – not to mention tropical hurricanes from the South.

With so many residents in a large metropolitan area, along with a climate that lends to serious storm and hurricane activity, Houston is home to a significant number of accidents and injuries.

The Texas Medical Center: The Largest Medical Complex in the World

If you or a loved one have been injured in Houston, there’s a good chance that you’ll be taken to the Texas Medical Center (TMC). Spanning 2.5 square miles in south-central Houston, the sprawling neighborhood boasts one of the highest densities of medical healthcare facilities.

The TMC is home to over 50 non-profit healthcare-related facilities, including: 21 hospitals, 8 specialty care facilities, 8 academic research institutes, 4 medical schools, 7 nursing schools, 2 pharmacy schools, 1 dental school.

The TMC is home to top-notch institutions such as the Houston Methodist Hospital, the top hospital in the entire state of Texas according to U.S. News and World Report. They serve approximately 10 million patient encounters annually, including 750,000 ER visitors, and more than 180,000 surgeries are performed annually – with 13,600 of those being heart surgeries, the most of anywhere else in the world. If you require guidance on hospitals and/or treatment, the TMC can be contacted at (713) 791-8800.

File a Police Report for Any Car Accidents Resulting in Injury

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, Houston drivers recorded 67,241 total crashes – nearly twice as much as Dallas. Of those, 21,347 were injury crashes, ranging from possible injuries to incapacitating injuries – totaling 32% of all crashes in Houston.

If you’ve been in a serious accident that resulted in injury or death, the police officer will complete a Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report. In the case that an officer is not on scene and you need a record of your injuries, you must complete a Driver’s Crash Report (commonly known as the Blue Form) within 10 days of the accident.

Injuries to Houston Workers

The Houston metropolitan area remains a dangerous place for workplace incidents. In 2014, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) deemed Houston the most dangerous city in the country for workers, as it showed the highest number of workplace fatalities in the country. This is likely due to the boom in construction in the rapidly-expanding city, which is an inherently dangerous profession – in 2015, the construction industry accounted for 21.4 percent of all private sector fatalities.

If you’ve been involved in a workplace accident, OSHA can help – they have branch offices located throughout the state, and two in Houston. Contact them at the following addresses:

Houston North Area Office
690 S. Loop 336 W., Suite 400
Conroe, TX 77304
(936) 760-3800

Houston South Area Office
17625 El Camino Real, Suite 400
Houston, TX 77058
(281) 286-0583

Contact the Houston Police Department after an Accident

With a combined 40 police stations and neighborhood storefronts distributed across the city, the Houston Police Department is an invaluable resource for law enforcement in the sprawling city. They can be incredibly helpful when dealing with a car accident or any other type of injury.

You can get a hold of the Houston PD a number of ways:

• Dial 911 to report an emergency
• Dial (713) 884-3131 to request police service in a non-emergency capacity (within Houston city limits)
• Find your local HPD patrol station or storefront

Additionally, you can report minor crimes online through the Houston PD website. This includes crimes such as theft and criminal mischief, up to $5,000 in value or damage.

The Houston PD website also allows you to request increased police presence around homes or businesses. This is especially useful if you spot any potential prowlers, or there’s an upswing in thefts around your area.

When You’re Injured in An Accident: First Steps

One of the first things you should do after you’ve been injured is to seek medical attention. Once you’re feeling well enough, however, it’s important to gather evidence about your accident. This will help your attorney decide if you have a case, as well as how you should proceed. We recommend taking the following steps:

• Write down everything you can. As soon as your head feels clear, write down everything you can about how the accident happened. Include what you were doing, where you were going, and who you were with. Jot down details like the time of day and the weather. Describe the accident with all your senses – what you saw, heard, and felt just before, during, and immediately after the accident. Write down the names of any potential witnesses.
• In the days that follow your accident, keep daily records of the aches and pains associated with your injuries. For example, you may suffer from pain and discomfort, but also have trouble sleeping and anxiety surrounding your experience. It may even be difficult for you to visit the accident scene. These records will be important in determining general damages: they’re intangible, but demand compensation.
• When visiting the doctor, be sure to document any new symptoms as they arise. For example, a small bump to the head might not seem like much at the time, but as it develops into a persistent headache, you may be diagnosed with something more serious. Additionally, anything you say to your doctor will be noted in your official medical records, which are invaluable to your case.

Taking these notes can be useful 2, 6, or 10 months down the line, when you compile all your notes into a document that demands compensation for your injuries. These notes will provide important details about what happened, how you suffered, and will be more reliable than trusting your memory.

What Questions Should I Ask My Attorney?

Choosing a lawyer to represent you will be one of the most important decisions you make. Your choice should be based on both a personal connection and research. Your attorney should be compassionate, but also confident. They should have experience with injury law and a reputation for aggressively pursuing fair compensation. Make a list of personal qualities that are important to you, and make sure your chosen attorney represents these values. In the meantime, consult this list of questions that will help verify your attorney’s credentials and experience:

• How long have you been practicing law in Texas?
• Do you have experience with cases like mine? Can you give an example?
• Have you taken cases to trial? What is your courtroom experience?
• What percentage of your cases have had a successful outcome?

By asking these questions, you’ll have a better idea if your chosen law firm is a good fit.

At the law firm of Gordon, Elias & Seely, LLP, our practice is based on one core belief: that you should never have to pay the price for someone else’s negligence. Let us put our years of experience to work for you. Contact our Houston personal injury attorneys for a free case evaluation. You won’t pay a penny unless we win.

Contact us as soon as possible

• Don't discuss the accident or your injuries with an insurance company, whose job it is to get you to agree to a small token settlement below the fair value of your case.
• We'll call in our accident reconstruction team and do our own investigation to find the evidence to demonstrate who is liable for your injuries, and will gather the medical and financial documentation to show the extent of your financial losses.
• We will also present a well-developed case to recover for your non-economic quality-of-life damages, such as pain, suffering, loss of function, and inability to perform many of the activities that make life enjoyable.