Missouri City Personal Injury Lawyer

Why Clients Choose Pierce Skrabanek

Juanita came to Pierce Skrabanek after suffering a serious injury. After meeting our team, she felt confident her case was in the right hands. In the video below, Juanita shares her experience working with us and explains why she recommends our firm to others in similar situations.

Watch Juanita's Story

What Is a Personal Injury?

A personal injury is any physical, psychological, or emotional harm one person suffers because of another party's wrongdoing. Missouri City residents who are hurt this way can pursue compensation for what the injury has cost them, including medical treatment, lost earnings, and the toll the experience has taken on their daily life.

Types of Personal Injury Cases Pierce Skrabanek Handles

Our Missouri City personal injury lawyers take on cases where someone's failure to act with reasonable care caused real harm:

Motor Vehicle Accidents

• Car accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Truck and 18-wheeler accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Uber and rideshare accidents
• Drunk and distracted driving accidents

Medical Malpractice

• Surgical errors
• Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis
• Medication mistakes
• Birth injuries
• Anesthesia errors
• Failure to treat a known condition
• Nursing home neglect or abuse

Premises Liability and Slip and Fall

• Slip, trip, and fall accidents
• Injuries from broken stairs or handrails
• Falling objects in stores and warehouses
• Inadequate security
• Swimming pool accidents
• Negligent maintenance in apartment complexes

Workplace and Industrial Accidents

• Construction site accidents
• Industrial accidents at warehouses and manufacturing facilities
• Injuries from defective equipment
• Third-party negligence from contractors or vendors
• Toxic exposure
• Crush and amputation injuries

Product Liability

• Design defects
• Manufacturing defects
• Failure to warn consumers about known risks
• Defective vehicles and vehicle parts
• Dangerous medications and medical devices
• Unsafe consumer goods

Animal Bites and Attacks

• Dog bites
• Knockdown injuries
• Attacks on children
• Injuries from other animals kept by the owner
• Incidents involving animals with a known history of aggression

Injuries That Often Lead to a Missouri City Personal Injury Claim

These are the injuries we see most often in cases we take on for Missouri City clients:

• Traumatic brain injuries affecting memory, mood, and concentration;
• Spinal cord damage leading to partial or complete paralysis;
• Broken bones requiring surgical repair and rehabilitation;
• Burns from fires, chemicals, electricity, or explosions;
• Nerve damage causing numbness, weakness, or chronic pain;
• Internal organ damage and internal bleeding; and
• Soft tissue injuries that take months to heal.

A serious injury reaches into every part of your life. Your sleep, your job, your relationships, and your ability to do the things you used to do without thinking about them. Pierce Skrabanek builds personal injury claims around the full scope of what your injury has cost you.

Steps to Take in the Days and Weeks After Your Injury

Most people don't think to call a lawyer the moment an accident happens. They're being treated at the hospital, calling family, or trying to make sense of what just happened to them.

By the time you reach a page like this, days or weeks may have already passed. The question is often not "what do I do at the scene" but rather, what do I do now?

Take Photos. Then Take More.

Photograph everything tied to your injury, even things you think don't matter. Bruises, swelling, scrapes, surgical sites, casts, braces, the damage to your car, the spot where you fell, and the equipment that hurt you. If you have visible injuries, photograph them every day until they heal. The progression of a bruise, a wound, or surgical scarring tells a story your medical records can't tell on their own.

Start a Daily Journal.

Write down what your injury feels like, what you couldn't do that day, what your providers said, and how the experience is affecting you. A journal entry doesn't have to be long. Something like:

Day 5 – Still can't lift my left arm above shoulder height. Couldn't pick up my daughter when she got home from school. Took the prescribed pain medication twice today. Slept three hours last night because of the headaches.

Over weeks and months, that record becomes one of the most valuable pieces of evidence in your case. It shows the day-to-day impact of the injury in a way no medical chart captures, and it can be used to support claims for pain, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment.

Be Careful With the At-Fault Party's Insurance Company.

The adjuster who contacts you from the other party's insurance company is working to limit what their company pays. They are trained to sound friendly while doing so. They may ask how you are feeling, call to "check in," or request a recorded statement, saying it is just a formality.

It is not. Anything you say can be used to dispute your injuries, shift blame, or undercut your claim later. You are not required to speak with them or give a recorded statement.

Talk to a Missouri City Personal Injury Attorney Before Signing Anything.

A free consultation costs nothing. You don't pay anything unless we recover money for you. Before you sign a medical authorization, accept a settlement, or give a statement to the at-fault party's insurance company, talk to an attorney who works for you, not for the people trying to limit your recovery.

"After 30 years of practicing in Missouri City, I've seen how an accident can completely disrupt someone's life. People come to us when they're overwhelmed and don't know where to turn. We guide them through the legal process so they can concentrate on getting their life back to normal."

— Michael Pierce, Managing Partner

How Texas Laws Affect Your Missouri City Personal Injury Claim

The Fault Rule

Texas uses a modified comparative fault rule in personal injury cases. In Missouri City, you can still recover compensation for your injuries as long as you were not more than 50% responsible for the incident.

However, any compensation you receive is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover damages. Insurance companies and defense attorneys frequently use this rule to reduce the value of injury claims.

Even when another party’s negligence caused serious harm, they may try to argue that your own actions contributed to the incident. They might claim you ignored warnings, failed to act carefully, delayed getting medical treatment, or made choices that worsened your injuries.

By shifting even part of the blame onto you, they can lower the amount they may have to pay.

The Filing Deadline

Texas law generally gives injured victims two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Wrongful death claims typically carry the same two-year deadline, measured from the date of death.

In some cases, the timeline may be shorter, especially if a government agency or public entity is involved. Certain circumstances can also extend the filing period.

Although two years may seem like a long time, building a strong personal injury case takes time. Evidence can disappear, witnesses’ memories can fade, and insurance companies often begin working on their defense immediately.

Seeking legal guidance early gives your attorney more time to investigate the incident, preserve evidence, document your damages, and prepare the strongest possible claim on your behalf.

Stages of a Missouri City Personal Injury Claim

Step 1 – Free Case Evaluation

Your case begins with a free consultation. We take the time to understand what happened, explain your legal rights, and answer your questions about the claims process. There is no obligation to hire us, and you pay nothing up front.

Step 2 – Investigation and Evidence Gathering

After you hire our Missouri City personal injury law firm, we begin investigating the circumstances surrounding your injury. Depending on the case, this may include reviewing accident reports, collecting photographs and video footage, interviewing witnesses, preserving physical evidence, and consulting with outside experts.

The sooner your attorney can begin investigating, the easier it is to gather the evidence needed to support your claim.

Step 3 – Medical Treatment and Damage Assessment

Your medical records play a critical role in your claim. We work to document the full extent of your injuries, the treatment you received, the impact on your daily life, and any future medical needs.

We also calculate other damages, including lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and ongoing rehabilitation costs when applicable.

Step 4 – Settlement Negotiations

Once the evidence and medical documentation are complete, we prepare a demand package for the insurance company. This outlines the facts of the case, the extent of your injuries, and the compensation you are seeking.

Negotiations often follow, and many personal injury claims are resolved through settlement at this stage.

Step 5 – Filing a Lawsuit if Necessary

If the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation, the next step may be filing a lawsuit. Litigation can involve written discovery, depositions, expert testimony, and pretrial motions.

While many cases still settle before trial, preparing every case as though it may go before a jury places pressure on the other side and positions your claim more strongly throughout the process.

If you were seriously injured because of someone else's negligence, Pierce Skrabanek is ready to help. Call (832) 690-7000 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a Missouri City personal injury lawyer.

What Is Causation in a Personal Injury Case?

In a personal injury case, it is not enough to show that someone acted carelessly. You also have to prove that their actions directly caused your injuries. This legal connection is known as causation, and it is often one of the most heavily disputed parts of a claim.

Texas courts generally look at causation from two angles:

• Cause in fact: Would the injury have happened if the other party had acted differently?
• Foreseeability: Was the injury a predictable result of the other party’s conduct?

For example, if a business ignores a dangerous condition for weeks and someone is injured as a result, a court may find that the injury was a foreseeable consequence of failing to address the hazard.

Insurance companies and defense attorneys often focus heavily on causation because it can undermine a claim's value. Common arguments include:

• Your injuries were caused by a pre-existing condition.
• A prior accident is responsible for your symptoms.
• Something unrelated caused or worsened your injuries.
• Your injuries are less serious than claimed.
• There is not enough medical evidence connecting the incident to your condition.

Building a strong case means showing a clear connection between the incident and your injuries. The stronger the connection, the harder it becomes for the other side to dispute responsibility.

Who Is Responsible for Your Missouri City Personal Injury?

Causation is only one part of a successful personal injury claim. To recover compensation, you must also prove that another party was legally responsible for your injuries. In most cases, that means proving negligence.

Every personal injury case is built around four basic elements:

• Duty of care: The other party had a responsibility to act reasonably and avoid causing harm.
• Breach of duty: They failed to meet that responsibility through careless or unsafe conduct.
• Causation: Their actions directly caused your injuries.
• Damages: You suffered losses because of the incident, such as medical expenses, lost income, or pain and suffering.

The evidence used to prove liability depends on the facts of your case. A strong claim may include:

• Medical records
• Accident or incident reports
• Surveillance footage
• Photos of the scene and your injuries
• Witness statements
• Expert testimony
• Maintenance or inspection records
• Phone records or electronic data

Insurance companies look for weaknesses in personal injury claims from the very beginning. They may argue that you were partly responsible for what happened, dispute the severity of your injuries, or claim there is not enough evidence connecting the other party’s conduct to your damages.

That is why a thorough investigation matters. The stronger the evidence is, the more difficult it becomes for the insurance company to deny responsibility or minimize what your claim is worth.

What Compensation Is Available in a Missouri City Personal Injury Case?

If you can prove liability, you may be able to recover compensation for the losses the injury has caused in your life. The goal of a personal injury claim is to help make up for both the financial impact of the accident and the personal toll it has taken on you.

The amount you can recover depends on things like how serious your injuries are, how long your recovery takes, whether you can work, and how the injury affects your everyday life.

Depending on the facts of your case, compensation may include:

• Medical bills
• Future medical treatment
• Lost wages
• Reduced ability to earn a living
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Permanent disability or impairment
• Scarring or disfigurement
• Property damage
• Loss of enjoyment of life

If you lost a loved one because of someone else’s negligence, certain surviving family members may also be able to pursue compensation through a wrongful death claim.

Insurance companies often try to downplay the value of injury claims. They may argue that your injuries are not as serious as you say, that your treatment was unnecessary, or that your condition was caused by something else. Strong evidence and thorough documentation help show the full impact the injury has had on your health, finances, and daily life.

How Is the Value of My Personal Injury Claim Determined?

No two personal injury cases are worth the same amount because no two injuries affect a person the same way. The value of your claim comes down to the specific harm you've suffered and how that harm continues to affect your life going forward.

Several factors influence what a Missouri City personal injury claim is worth:

• The severity of your injuries and whether they are permanent;
• The cost of your past and future medical care;
• The income you've lost during recovery;
• Whether the injury limits what you can earn going forward;
• How the injury has affected your ability to work, take care of your family, and do the things you used to do;
• The strength of the evidence supporting liability and causation;
• The amount of insurance coverage available; and
• Whether comparative fault applies and how a jury is likely to assign it.

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A back injury that requires months of physical therapy looks different from a traumatic brain injury that permanently affects your ability to hold a job. Both deserve full compensation, but the numbers reflect what each injury has done to your life.

Pierce Skrabanek calculates the full value of your claim, including the future costs and personal losses that insurance companies often overlook or dismiss.

Results Pierce Skrabanek Has Recovered for Injury Victims

Pierce Skrabanek has recovered substantial compensation for clients in cases involving catastrophic injuries, unsafe property conditions, and serious negligence. Some of the firm’s results include:

• $117 million verdict for a client who suffered life-changing injuries after being struck by an emergency vehicle
• $350,000 settlement for a client injured in a slip and fall caused by unsafe stairs and missing handrails at a hair salon
• $250,000 settlement for clients injured in a go-kart accident after employees failed to properly operate the track’s safety gate

These cases involved extensive investigation, detailed medical evidence, and aggressive negotiations with insurance companies and defense counsel. In some cases, securing full compensation required taking the case to trial.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and every case is different. The value of a claim depends on the specific injuries, available evidence, insurance coverage, and the long-term impact the injury has had on the person involved.

Why Injured Missouri City Residents Choose Pierce Skrabanek

After an injury, insurance companies move quickly to protect themselves. While you are dealing with medical treatment, missed work, and the stress that follows a serious accident, they are already looking for ways to reduce the value of your claim.

Pierce Skrabanek handles every part of the legal process so you can focus on your recovery. Our team:

• Investigates how the injury happened and identifies everyone who may be responsible;
• Preserves evidence before it is lost or destroyed;
• Works with medical providers and experts to document your injuries and future care needs;
• Calculates the full value of your damages, including future losses;
• Handles communication and negotiations with the insurance company;
• Pushes back against attempts to shift blame or minimize your injuries; and
• Prepares every case for trial from the beginning.

Research from Martindale-Nolo found that injured people who hired attorneys recovered, on average, nearly three times as much compensation as those who handled their claims on their own. 

Serious injury cases involve evidence, deadlines, medical documentation, insurance tactics, and legal issues that can quickly become overwhelming without experienced representation.