Car Accident Injury Claims

A car accident can injure nearly any part of the body, and the extent of those injuries is not always clear at the scene. Pain, stiffness, headaches, dizziness, or other symptoms may develop after the initial shock of the crash has worn off. More serious injuries can require surgery, rehabilitation, time away from work, or ongoing medical care.

If you suffered a car accident injury because of another driver's negligence, Pierce Skrabanek will look at what the crash has cost you so far and what your recovery may require in the future. Our attorneys have more than 30 years of combined experience and have recovered more than $500 million in settlements and verdicts for injured clients across Texas and the U.S.

Call Pierce Skrabanek at (832) 690-7000 for a free consultation about your injuries and the accident that caused them. We offer representation in English and Spanish.

What Are the Most Common Car Accident Injuries?

The force of a collision can throw the body forward, backward, or sideways, cause an occupant to strike part of the vehicle, or place sudden pressure on bones, joints, muscles, and internal organs. The location and severity of the injury often depend on the direction of the impact, speed, use of restraints, and where the person was seated.

Common car accident injuries include:

Whiplash and Other Neck Injuries

Whiplash occurs when the head moves rapidly backward and forward, straining the muscles, ligaments, and other tissues in the neck. It is frequently associated with rear-end collisions, although it can occur in other crashes as well.

Neck pain, stiffness, headaches, reduced range of motion, shoulder pain, and tingling or numbness may follow. More serious collisions can also damage cervical discs or vertebrae.

Back and Disc Injuries

A crash can injure muscles and ligaments in the back or damage the discs between the vertebrae. Herniated or bulging discs may place pressure on nearby nerves, causing pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness that extends into the arms or legs.

Back injuries can interfere with sitting, standing, lifting, driving, sleeping, and work. Treatment may range from medication and physical therapy to injections or surgery.

Traumatic Brain Injuries and Concussions

A traumatic brain injury does not require a direct blow to the head. The violent movement created by a collision can cause the brain to move within the skull.

Concussions are a form of TBI. Symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, confusion, memory problems, sensitivity to light or noise, nausea, sleep changes, or difficulty concentrating. A serious TBI can produce lasting cognitive, physical, or behavioral impairment.

Broken Bones and Fractures

Arms, wrists, hands, ribs, legs, ankles, feet, and the pelvis are all vulnerable during a collision. Fractures range from relatively straightforward breaks to complex injuries requiring surgery, hardware, and extensive rehabilitation.

Rib fractures also require careful medical attention because broken ribs can damage nearby organs.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Damage to the spinal cord is among the most serious injuries from car accidents. Depending on the location and extent of the damage, a person may experience weakness, loss of sensation, impaired mobility, or partial or complete paralysis.

A spinal cord injury can require hospitalization, rehabilitation, mobility equipment, modifications to the home, assistance with daily activities, and substantial future medical care.

Shoulder, Knee, and Other Joint Injuries

The body may twist or strike the steering wheel, dashboard, door, or another part of the vehicle during a crash. Knees and shoulders are especially vulnerable to torn ligaments, damaged cartilage, dislocations, fractures, and other orthopedic injuries.

These injuries can limit movement and make ordinary activities painful. Surgery and months of physical therapy may be necessary when the damage is severe.

Internal Organ Damage and Internal Bleeding

The force of a seat belt, impact with the interior of the vehicle, or blunt trauma can injure organs in the chest or abdomen. Internal bleeding may not be visible and requires prompt medical treatment.

Increasing abdominal pain, swelling, weakness, dizziness, fainting, or shortness of breath after a collision should be taken seriously.

Cuts, Burns, Scarring, and Facial Injuries

Broken glass, damaged metal, airbags, and other debris can cause deep cuts or facial injuries. Vehicle fires, hot surfaces, chemicals, or fluids may cause burns.

Severe injuries may require reconstructive procedures or skin grafts and leave permanent scars or disfigurement.

Amputation and Crush Injuries

A limb or other body part trapped during a severe collision can sustain extensive damage to bones, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. In catastrophic cases, an extremity may be lost during the crash or require surgical amputation afterward.

Psychological Injuries

The effects of a serious collision are not limited to physical injuries. Anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, sleep problems, and fear of driving can develop after a traumatic crash.

Mental health treatment associated with the accident may also be part of an injury claim.

Why Do Some Accident Injuries Show Up Later?

Adrenaline and shock immediately after a collision can make it difficult to recognize how badly you are hurt. Certain injuries also produce symptoms gradually as inflammation, swelling, or other physical changes develop.

A person who initially feels sore may later experience increasing neck or back pain. Headaches, dizziness, concentration problems, or other concussion symptoms may become noticeable after leaving the scene. Internal injuries can also progress without an obvious external wound.

That is why new or worsening symptoms after a crash deserve medical attention. Tell your doctor when the accident occurred, what symptoms you are experiencing, and whether they have changed since the collision.

Medical records also establish when symptoms were reported, what doctors found, what treatment was recommended, and how the injury progressed. That history becomes important if an insurer later disputes whether the crash caused your condition.

Should You Give the Insurance Company a Recorded Statement?

After a crash, an insurance adjuster may ask you to give a recorded statement about what happened and whether you were injured. If the request comes from the other driver’s insurance company, you generally are not required to agree.

Giving a statement too early can create problems because:

• You may not know the full extent of your injuries yet. Pain, stiffness, headaches, and other symptoms can develop after the initial shock wears off.
• You may not have all the facts about the crash. What you remember at the scene may change once you see the police report, photos, or other information.
• Casual answers can sound more definitive later. Saying “I’m fine” or estimating your speed without being certain can be used when the insurer evaluates your claim.
• You cannot go back and rewrite the recording. If you misspeak, misunderstand a question, or leave out a detail, the original statement remains part of the insurer’s file.

Your own insurance company is different. Your policy may require you to cooperate with its investigation, which can include answering questions about the accident. That does not mean you need to give an unplanned recorded statement the moment an adjuster calls.

Before agreeing to be recorded, find out who is requesting the statement, why they want it, and whether you are required to provide one. If you are unsure, Pierce Skrabanek can review the request and explain what your policy requires before you respond.

What if the Accident Aggravated an Injury You Already Had?

A prior back problem, previous concussion, old knee injury, or another medical condition does not mean a new crash caused no harm.

The collision may aggravate an existing condition, create new symptoms, or increase the treatment you need. Comparing medical records from before and after the accident can establish what changed.

Be straightforward with your doctors and your attorney about previous injuries and treatment. An insurance company may obtain those records during the claim, and a documented medical history gives your attorneys a clearer picture of how the collision affected your health.

If you are still receiving treatment or do not know how fully you will recover, contact Pierce Skrabanek at (832) 690-7000 before signing a release. We can review the offer and the losses it is intended to cover.

How Does the Severity of Your Injury Affect Your Claim?

Two people involved in the same collision may have very different recoveries. One may finish treatment within weeks, while another faces surgery, months away from work, permanent restrictions, or medical care that continues for years.

Before determining what a claim should seek, our attorneys look at the full financial and personal impact of the injury, including:

• Emergency treatment and hospitalization
• Surgery and follow-up care
• Physical, occupational, or other rehabilitation
• Prescription medication and medical equipment
• Future treatment
• Lost income
• Reduced earning capacity
• Property damage
• Pain and physical limitations
• Psychological treatment
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
• Assistance required because of the injury

Wrongful death damages may also be available to eligible family members after a fatal collision.

Punitive damages are treated differently from compensation for an injured person's losses. They are reserved for circumstances meeting the legal standard for exemplary damages and are not part of every car accident claim.

When the Insurance Company's Offer Does Not Reflect Your Injuries

An early settlement offer may arrive before you know whether physical therapy will resolve your symptoms, whether surgery will be necessary, or whether you will be able to return to the same job.

Once a claim is settled and released, you generally cannot return to the insurer months later because your medical condition turned out to be more serious than expected.

That makes the medical picture important when evaluating an offer. Pierce Skrabanek reviews the treatment you have already received along with anticipated medical needs, time away from work, lasting limitations, and other losses tied to the collision.

A nationwide Martindale-Nolo survey found that more than nine out of ten personal injury claimants with legal representation received a settlement or award, compared with about half of those who handled their claims themselves. After attorney fees were deducted, represented claimants reported average net payouts nearly three times higher. 

Experience With Serious Auto Accident Injury Cases

Pierce Skrabanek has recovered more than $500 million in settlements and verdicts for injured clients. Our attorneys bring more than 30 years of combined legal experience to cases involving serious and catastrophic injuries.

Their auto accident results include:

• $117 million jury verdict for a 21-year-old mother who suffered catastrophic injuries when the ambulance transporting her collided with another vehicle. Michael Pierce served as one of the lead attorneys.
• $2 million automobile accident recovery, approximately five times the defendant's highest pretrial settlement offer.

Michael Pierce and Paul Skrabanek have both been recognized as Texas Rising Stars and have extensive experience handling serious injury cases in and out of the courtroom.

For someone facing surgery, rehabilitation, lost income, or lasting physical limitations after a crash, that experience gives our attorneys an understanding of what a serious injury claim needs to account for.

What Our Clients Say About Pierce Skrabanek

“I was referred to Pierce Skrabanek Law Firm and from day one, I knew I was in good hands. They were clear, honest, and constantly kept me updated on every step, from insurance and car repairs to the court process. What stood out most was how much they genuinely cared. I never felt like just another case. They were professional, empathetic, and truly went above and beyond. I’d recommend them to anyone dealing with a car accident. They actually care and that makes all the difference.”

— Genesis H.