Katy Personal Injury Lawyer

From rush-hour collisions on I-10 and the Grand Parkway to accidents at Katy businesses and construction sites, serious injuries can happen close to home.

When someone else's negligence leaves you facing medical bills, lost income, and an uncertain recovery, the last thing you need is an insurance company offering less than your claim is worth.

At Pierce Skrabanek, we've recovered over $500 million for injured clients, including a $117 million verdict in a catastrophic vehicle accident.

Our attorneys bring more than 30 years of combined experience investigating serious injury claims, negotiating with insurers, and taking cases to trial.

Before accepting an insurance settlement, find out what your claim could be worth.

Call (832) 690-7000 or contact us online for a free consultation with a Katy personal injury lawyer. We assist clients in English and Spanish, and you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

What Makes Pierce Skrabanek Different?

A serious personal injury case begins with finding out exactly what happened and who was responsible. That could mean investigating a trucking company's safety practices, examining a dangerous condition at a business, or working with medical specialists to calculate the cost of lifelong treatment.

Our attorneys have handled cases involving catastrophic injuries, disputed fault, and companies unwilling to accept responsibility. We've taken difficult cases to trial and secured significant verdicts and settlements for our clients.

Communication is also important when you're dealing with an injury and an unfamiliar legal process.

Hear Directly From One of Our Clients

Our client Juanita shares her experience working with Pierce Skrabanek, from her first meeting with the team through the handling of her injury case. Hear what she has to say about the attorneys who helped her.

Watch Juanita's Story

What Is Considered a Personal Injury in Katy?

A personal injury is physical or emotional harm caused by another person's or company's negligence or wrongful conduct.

For example, a driver who runs a red light at a Katy intersection and seriously injures another motorist could be responsible for the resulting medical expenses and lost income. A business that ignores a dangerous stairway could face a claim if a customer falls and suffers an injury.

Texas law allows injured people to seek compensation when another party's actions cause their injuries.

Personal Injury Cases Our Katy Attorneys Handle

Our firm handles accidents involving negligent drivers, dangerous properties, unsafe equipment, and other preventable hazards.

These include:

• Car accidents on I-10, the Grand Parkway, FM 1463, and other roads throughout the Katy area;
• Truck and 18-wheeler collisions;
• Motorcycle accidents;
• Pedestrian and bicycle accidents;
• Slip and fall accidents at stores, restaurants, apartment complexes, and other properties;
• Construction and workplace accidents involving negligent third parties;
• Injuries caused by defective machinery, vehicle components, and consumer products;
• Dog bites and animal attacks; and
• Wrongful death claims.

A collision involving an 18-wheeler could require examining the driver's hours behind the wheel, maintenance records, and the trucking company's safety procedures. An injury at a retail business could involve surveillance footage, inspection records, and previous complaints about the same hazard.

How We Investigate Personal Injury Claims

Insurance companies don't always agree with an injured person's account of what happened or the amount of compensation requested. They could dispute who caused the accident, question the severity of an injury, or argue that certain medical treatments were unnecessary.

Our attorneys examine accident reports, photographs, witness statements, and available video footage. When necessary, we work with accident reconstruction specialists and other professionals to understand how the incident occurred.

We also examine medical records, speak with treating professionals, and document treatment costs. For permanent injuries, specialists can help calculate future medical expenses, lost earning capacity, and the cost of assistance at home.

Our goal is to establish who caused the accident and document the losses our client has suffered.

If you've been injured because someone else was careless, speak with a Katy personal injury attorney before accepting an insurance settlement. Call (832) 690-7000 or contact Pierce Skrabanek to discuss your injuries and the compensation available.

Compensation Available After a Personal Injury in Katy

The amount of compensation available in a personal injury case reflects the seriousness of the injury, the treatment required, and the losses caused by the accident.

Compensation can cover:

• Emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, and rehabilitation;
• Future medical care, such as additional procedures and therapy;
• Lost wages, bonuses, and employment benefits;
• Reduced earning capacity when an injury prevents someone from returning to the same job;
• Home modifications, medical equipment, and assistance with daily activities;
• Physical pain and suffering;
• Mental anguish; and
• Permanent disability, scarring, or disfigurement.

A Katy resident who suffers a spinal cord injury in a collision on I-10 could need surgery, rehabilitation, and continuing medical care. If the injury prevents that person from returning to work, the claim can also account for lost future earnings.

Attorney Paul Skrabanek explains how our firm approaches these losses:

What Should You Do After an Accident in Katy?

After an accident, your first priority is getting medical attention. Once you're safe and have received treatment, there are several things you can do to protect your health and your personal injury claim.

Get Medical Care and Follow Your Doctor's Instructions

Even if you were examined at the accident scene, seek further treatment if you're experiencing pain, dizziness, headaches, or other symptoms. Certain injuries aren't immediately apparent.

Keep your appointments and tell your medical providers about new or worsening symptoms. Gaps in treatment can also give insurers a reason to question the seriousness of an injury.

Report the Accident

For a traffic collision, contact law enforcement and obtain the crash report information. If you were injured at a store, restaurant, or other business, notify the manager and request a copy of any incident report.

Save Photographs, Records, and Contact Information

Keep photographs of the accident scene, vehicle damage, visible injuries, and dangerous property conditions. Save the names and phone numbers of witnesses.

If you missed work, retain pay records and correspondence from your employer. Keep receipts for prescriptions, transportation to appointments, and other accident-related expenses.

Be Careful When Speaking With Insurance Adjusters

An adjuster could contact you shortly after the accident and ask for a recorded statement or offer a quick settlement.

Before signing a release, find out whether you will need additional treatment and whether the proposed payment accounts for your lost earnings and other expenses. A final settlement usually prevents you from requesting additional compensation for the same claim.

How Does the Personal Injury Claim Process Work in Katy?

Knowing what happens after you hire a Katy personal injury attorney can make the process easier to follow.

1. Initial Consultation

We start by discussing the accident, your injuries, the medical treatment you've received, and any communication you've had with insurance companies.

We'll explain whether you have grounds for a personal injury claim and what the next steps would involve.

2. Investigation

Our attorneys obtain accident reports, photographs, witness statements, and other records. We identify the people or businesses responsible and determine what insurance coverage is available.

For a commercial truck collision, this could involve obtaining driver logs, maintenance records, and information from the trucking company.

3. Medical Treatment and Damage Assessment

We document your medical expenses, lost income, and other losses. If you're still receiving treatment, we consider what your doctors have said about additional care and recovery.

4. Settlement Negotiations

Once we have the information needed to evaluate your claim, we present a demand to the responsible party's insurer.

Negotiations can involve disagreements about fault, treatment costs, and the amount of compensation requested. We'll discuss any settlement offers with you before you decide whether to accept them.

5. Lawsuit and Trial, if Necessary

If negotiations don't produce an acceptable settlement, we can file a lawsuit and prepare the case for trial.

Filing a lawsuit doesn't mean the case will necessarily go before a jury. Settlement discussions can continue while the case is pending.

How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Katy?

Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the accident.

There are exceptions. Claims involving government agencies can require formal notice much sooner. Certain circumstances involving minors or people with legal disabilities can also change the filing deadline.

Businesses overwrite security recordings, vehicles get repaired, and witnesses forget details. Contacting a Katy personal injury lawyer soon after an accident gives the legal team more time to obtain records and investigate what happened.

If a city vehicle, public property, or government employee was involved in your accident, the notice requirements should be checked promptly.

What if You Were Partly Responsible for the Accident?

Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule. Under Section 33.001 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, you can recover compensation if you're 50% or less responsible for the accident. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.

For example, if you're awarded $100,000 but found 20% responsible, you would receive $80,000.

If you're found more than 50% responsible, Texas law prevents you from recovering damages under these rules.

Disagreements over fault are common in traffic accidents. A driver could claim you changed lanes without signaling or were traveling too fast. Our attorneys examine crash reports, vehicle damage, and witness accounts to challenge allegations that aren't supported by the facts.

Common Injuries in Katy Personal Injury Cases

Our attorneys handle injuries ranging from broken bones requiring surgery to permanent disabilities that prevent someone from working or living independently.

These include:

• Traumatic brain injuries and concussions;
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis;
• Herniated discs and severe neck or back injuries;
• Fractures requiring surgery or extensive rehabilitation;
• Burns and permanent scarring;
• Nerve damage and chronic pain;
• Internal injuries; and
• Amputations and other permanent physical impairments.

An injury that heals after several months of treatment is evaluated differently from one that requires lifelong care. For clients with permanent disabilities, we work with medical and financial specialists to calculate future treatment expenses and lost earning capacity.

What Do You Have to Prove in a Personal Injury Case?

To recover compensation, you need to show that another person or business was responsible for your injury.

Texas negligence claims involve four questions:

1. Did the other party have a responsibility to act safely? Drivers must follow traffic laws, and businesses must take reasonable precautions to protect customers from dangerous property conditions.
2. Did that person or business fail to meet that responsibility? Examples are running a red light or ignoring a broken handrail.
3. Did that failure cause your injury? You must connect the other party's actions to the accident and your injuries.
4. What did the injury cost you? Medical expenses, missed income, physical pain, and other losses help determine the compensation available.

Our attorneys gather the information needed to answer these questions and establish responsibility for the accident.

Why Hire Pierce Skrabanek for Your Personal Injury Claim?

A Martindale-Nolo survey found that more than 90% of people who hired an attorney received compensation, compared with approximately 51% of those who handled their claims without legal representation.

The survey also found that people who hired attorneys recovered more compensation on average, even after attorney fees.

At Pierce Skrabanek, our results include:

$117 Million Verdict: Catastrophic Vehicle Accident

Our client suffered life-altering injuries after being struck by an emergency vehicle. We secured a $117 million verdict following extensive investigation and litigation.

$350,000 Settlement: Slip and Fall at a Hair Salon

Our client was injured on stairs that lacked proper stair nosing and an adequate handrail. We established the dangerous conditions and obtained a $350,000 settlement.

$250,000 Settlement: Go-Kart Accident

Two clients were injured when attendants improperly operated a go-kart facility's start/stop gate. We obtained a $250,000 settlement for their injuries.