La Porte Personal Injury Lawyer

What Working With Pierce Skrabanek Looked Like for One Family

Every case we handle involves someone going through a difficult and often unexpected situation. The video below shares one family’s experience after a serious accident and what it was like working with our team during that time.

Why You Might Need a La Porte Personal Injury Attorney Right Now

You do not have to hire a lawyer after an injury. Many people start by trying to handle things on their own.

But in most cases, the process does not stay simple for long. Insurance companies are usually involved early, and they are already working through the details of the claim. Their job is to evaluate risk and limit what is paid out. That often puts injured people in a position where they are trying to keep up while still recovering.

We have also seen, both in our own cases and through broader industry research, that having legal representation can significantly change how injury claims move forward. One survey found that more than nine out of ten people who had a lawyer involved in their injury claim received a settlement or award, compared to about half of those who handled their claim on their own. 

How Our La Porte Personal Injury Attorneys Work for You

Early on, the focus is straightforward: understand what happened, gather the evidence, and make sure nothing important in your case is missing or overlooked.

Here’s what that usually looks like.

We Investigate and Collect Critical Evidence

While you are focusing on recovery, we are working to collect and preserve information related to the incident. In and around La Porte, that often means moving quickly before details disappear or records become harder to access.

That can include:

• Obtaining video footage from nearby businesses or traffic cameras when available
• Speaking with witnesses while their memories are still fresh
• Reviewing police reports and comparing them with other available evidence
• In more serious cases, working with accident reconstruction professionals to better understand how the incident occurred

The goal is not to assume what happened, but to build a clear, supportable record of it.

We Act as Your "Buffer" to the Insurance Companies

Insurance adjusters often sound friendly on the phone, but their job is to find reasons to pay you less. They might ask for a "recorded statement" or try to get you to admit fault when you’re still foggy or rattled. 

• We take the calls: From the moment you hire us, the insurance company isn't allowed to call you anymore. They have to talk to us.
• We stop the "lowball" offers: We know the tricks they use to make a tiny settlement look like a lot of money. We make sure they treat your claim with the respect it deserves.

Organizing the Medical and Financial Documentation

Personal injury cases involve a significant amount of paperwork. Medical records, billing statements, employment records, and insurance documents all have to be collected, reviewed, and organized.

If something is missing or inconsistent, it can slow down the process or create disputes later. We keep track of those details so the case is supported from the start.

Calculating the True Value of Your Case

An insurance company might offer to pay your current hospital bill. But what about the surgery you’ll need next year? What about the months of work you’re going to miss? We look aheadto make sure the compensation covers your future, not just your past.

Preparing Every Case as if It May Go to Court

Many personal injury cases settle before trial, but the preparation still matters.

When a case is fully developed and ready for litigation, it changes how it is evaluated. Insurance companies understand the difference between a file that is being pushed for quick resolution and a case that is fully prepared for trial if needed.

At Pierce Skrabanek, we bring over 30 years of combined experience handling personal injury cases and have recovered more than $500 million in verdicts and settlements. That experience matters when a case involves long-term care, disputed facts, or pressure to resolve things quickly.

We offer free and private consultations. Call (832) 690-7000 or fill out our online form to discuss what a La Porte personal injury lawyer will do for you and your case.

What Actually Counts as a "Personal Injury"?

A personal injury case involves harm caused by someone else’s careless or unsafe actions. That can mean physical injuries, but it can also include lasting effects that disrupt your health, work, or daily life.

These cases are not just about the injury itself. They are about whether the situation could have been avoided if reasonable care had been taken.

Common examples we see in our La Porte include:

• A driver who was texting instead of watching the road hit you.
• A property owner who knew about a dangerous walkway but didn't fix it.
• A corporation that knowingly put a faulty product on the shelves.

Cases We Handle at Our La Porte Personal Injury Law Firm

Over the decades we’ve worked with people in La Porte and across Texas, we’ve seen how often an injury gets brushed off as just bad luck or something to move past on your own. But a lot of the time, there’s more going on than it first seems.

Here are the types of situations we handle most often:

• Motor Vehicle Accidents: Motor vehicle accidents are among the most common cases we see. This includes collisions involving passenger vehicles, motorcycles, commercial trucks, and other roadway incidents. 
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents: When a pedestrian or cyclist is struck by a vehicle, the injuries are often severe. These cases frequently involve questions about driver awareness, right-of-way, and road safety conditions.
• Workplace and Industrial Injuries: When injuries occur due to unsafe conditions, defective equipment, or safety failures, there may be legal options beyond workers’ compensation alone.
• Slip and Fall Accidents: Property owners are expected to maintain reasonably safe conditions. When hazards like wet floors, poor lighting, or unsafe walkways lead to injuries, the property owner may be responsible.
• Dog Bites and Animal Attacks: Dog bite cases in Texas often depend on the owner’s knowledge of the animal’s behavior and whether proper precautions were taken. 
• Medical Malpractice: Medical malpractice cases arise when a doctor, hospital, nurse, or other healthcare provider fails to meet accepted medical standards and a patient is harmed as a result. This can include surgical errors, misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, medication mistakes, birth injuries, or failures in post-operative care. 
• Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect: This may include neglect of basic needs, preventable injuries, or unsafe living conditions. These cases require careful investigation into facility practices and staff conduct.‍
• Wrongful Death: Wrongful death cases involve the loss of a loved one caused by another party’s negligence or wrongful conduct. These matters focus on accountability and the financial and personal impact left behind for surviving family members.

Important Timelines: How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

In Texas, you generally have two years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If that deadline passes, you typically lose the right to bring a claim.

While two years may sound like plenty of time, cases are also easier to evaluate when they are started earlier, while the facts are still clear and the full scope of the injury can be properly documented.

What Does It Cost to Hire a La Porte Personal Injury Attorney?

A common question after an injury is how legal fees work, especially when accumulating bills are already a concern.

At Pierce Skrabanek, personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis.

This means:

• There is no upfront payment to start your case
• Legal fees are only owed if there is a recovery
• Our firm covers the upfront costs needed to move the case forward, such as filings, records, and expert review when necessary

If there is no recovery, there are no attorney’s fees.

How Do We Prove Someone Was Negligent?

Negligence is a legal term for failing to act with reasonable care. In a personal injury case, your La Porte personal injury lawyers have to show four things:

1. Duty: The other person had a responsibility to act safely, such as a driver following traffic laws.
2. Breach: They did not meet that responsibility, such as running a red light or driving distracted.
3. Causation: That failure is what led to the accident and your injuries.
4. Damages: You experienced real losses, such as medical treatment, missed work, or lasting physical effects.

What if They Say the Accident Was My Fault?

It is not unusual for fault to be disputed after an accident. In many cases, the other side may try to place some or all of the responsibility on you. That is something we see often in personal injury claims in Texas.

Texas follows a rule called modified comparative negligence, meaning: 

• You can still recover compensation if you are 50% or less at fault.
• If you are found partially at fault, your recovery is reduced by that percentage. For example, 20% fault would reduce the recovery by 20%.
• If you are found 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover compensation under Texas law.

Because of that rule, how fault is presented and supported with evidence matters a great deal. Insurance companies may try to shift more responsibility onto you than the facts support.

Our role is to make sure the full context is documented clearly and that fault is evaluated based on evidence, not one-sided versions of events.

What Compensation Can Cover After an Injury in La Porte

The law allows recovery for the different ways an injury affects your life financially, physically, and in day-to-day function.

Here are the main categories of compensation a La Porte personal injury attorney will seek in your case:

• Medical Care and Treatment: This includes emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, follow-up appointments, prescription medications, physical therapy, imaging (like MRIs or CT scans), and any future medical care your doctors believe you will need because of the injury.
• Lost Income and Work Impact: If your injury kept you from working, you may be able to recover the income you lost during that time. In more serious cases, this can also include reduced ability to work in the future, missed promotions, or changes in your long-term earning capacity.
• Emotional and Lifestyle Impact: Injuries can change routines, sleep, independence, and mental well-being. This category looks at how the injury has altered normal daily life and activities you were able to do before.
• Property Damage: In many cases, this includes repair or replacement of a vehicle or other personal property damaged in the incident.

Unsure of your next move? You don’t have to guess. Call us at (832) 690-7000 or reach out through our online form for a free check-in. We can help you understand exactly where you stand and what steps you should take today.

Protecting Your Case: What to Do in the Days and Weeks After an Accident

What you do during these first few weeks can make or break your ability to get a fair recovery later.

Consider this an “evidence preservation” stage, where you can do the following to safeguard your claim down the line: 

1. Document Your Injuries Thoroughly

Injuries aren't static, and they change every day. A bruise that looks minor one day might be deep purple the next.

• Take Daily Photos: Document your injuries as they progress. Take clear photos and videos of bruising, swelling, stitches, or scarring.
• Keep a "Recovery Journal": Just jot down a few notes every day about how you feel. Writing these things down like worsening neck pain or having to call out of work while they are fresh helps us show the insurance company the real human impact of the accident.

2. Be Careful With the "Friendly" Phone Calls

Within a few days, the insurance adjusters will start circling. They often sound very helpful and concerned, but their goal is to get you to say something that hurts your case.

• Avoid the Recorded Statement: They may ask for a recorded statement "just to get your side of the story." You are not legally required to do this. Simply tell them you aren't ready to discuss the details and that they can speak with your La Porte personal injury lawyer.
• Don't Guess: If you do speak to them, never guess about speeds, distances, or the extent of your injuries. "I'm still seeing my doctor" is a perfectly valid answer.

3. Stay Off Social Media

This is one of the most common ways cases get damaged. Insurance companies will scour your Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok looking for anything they can use against you.

• Even a simple photo of you smiling at a birthday party can be twisted to argue that you "aren't really in pain."
• It is best to avoid posting about the accident, or your life in general, until your case is resolved. If you wouldn't want the insurance company's lawyer to see it, don't post it.

4. Consult a Lawyer Early

Getting legal guidance earlier does not mean you are committing to a lawsuit. It simply means you have someone helping you understand your options, deal with insurance communications, and make sure important details are handled properly from the start while everything is still unfolding.

5. Follow Your Treatment Plan

If your doctor prescribes physical therapy or tells you to see a specialist, go. If you skip appointments, the insurance company will argue that you weren't actually hurt. Following your treatment plan is the best way to prove the severity of your injuries and, more importantly, the best way to get back to your old self.

Personal Injury Risks in La Porte 

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there were 772 total crashes in La Porte in 2024, including 4 fatal crashes and 7 serious injury crashes. Motorcycle accidents are also a serious concern across Texas. On average, one motorcyclist is killed in a crash each day statewide. 

La Porte is also home to large industrial facilities, which carry their own personal injury dangers. Incidents like the 2014 toxic chemical release at the DuPont facility, which resulted in multiple fatalities and serious injuries, highlight how quickly workplace or industrial accidents can become life-threatening.