Get Personal Representation After a Car Accident
A car accident can change your life in seconds. One moment you are driving to work, picking up your children, or running errands. The next, you may be dealing with injuries, medical treatment, lost income, vehicle repairs, and insurance companies that seem more focused on protecting their bottom line than helping you recover.
Texas is an at-fault state. In theory, the driver who caused the crash and that driver’s insurance company should compensate you for your losses. In practice, obtaining fair compensation is rarely that simple.
Insurance companies handle thousands of claims every year. Their goal is often to resolve cases quickly and for as little money as possible. The difference between an insurer’s initial offer and the actual value of a claim can be substantial.
At Herrera PLLC, Jonathan Herrera represents car accident victims throughout Houston and Texas. Before becoming an attorney, he spent more than a decade handling insurance claims as a licensed adjuster and claims supervisor. He later worked as an insurance defense attorney before founding Herrera PLLC. That experience provides valuable insight into how insurers evaluate claims, calculate settlement offers, and defend injury cases.
For a broader look at the serious injury cases Herrera PLLC handles, explore the firm’s Serious Injuries practice.
Why Do Insurance Companies Undervalue Car Accident Claims?
Many car accident victims are surprised when the insurance company offers far less than they expected.
Insurance carriers often rely on internal evaluation systems and settlement software that assign values based on injury types, treatment records, and claim history. These systems do not always reflect the true impact an injury has on a person’s life.
Common tactics used to reduce claim value include:
- Disputing the severity of injuries
- Questioning the necessity of medical treatment
- Blaming pre-existing conditions
- Arguing that treatment gaps indicate recovery
- Assigning partial fault to the injured person
- Pressuring claimants to settle quickly
- Minimising future medical needs
- Undervaluing pain and suffering
Understanding how these evaluations are performed helps level the playing field during negotiations.
How Does Jonathan Herrera’s Insurance Background Help Car Accident Victims?
Few personal injury attorneys have firsthand experience evaluating claims from inside the insurance industry.
Before representing injured individuals, Jonathan Herrera spent years handling claims as a licensed insurance adjuster and claims supervisor. He later worked in insurance defense litigation, where he gained direct insight into how insurers investigate accidents, evaluate liability, calculate damages, and defend lawsuits.
Today, he uses that experience to help clients present claims in a way that insurance companies understand and cannot easily dismiss.
Learn more about Jonathan Herrera’s background, legal experience, and insurance industry knowledge.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Car Accident?
A fair settlement should account for the full impact the accident has had on your life.
Depending on the circumstances, compensation may include:
Economic Damages
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment costs
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Physical impairment
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement
Insurance companies frequently focus on immediate expenses while undervaluing future medical needs and non-economic damages.
Proper documentation and presentation of these losses can have a significant impact on the outcome of a claim.
What Should You Do After a Car Accident?
The steps taken after an accident can affect both your health and your claim.
If possible:
- Seek medical attention promptly
- Call law enforcement and obtain a police report
- Photograph the accident scene
- Gather witness information
- Preserve medical records
- Keep records of missed work and expenses
- Avoid discussing fault at the scene
- Avoid providing recorded statements before obtaining legal advice
Some injuries may not fully develop until days after the collision, making early medical evaluation especially important.
Why Does Early Action Matter?
Evidence is often strongest immediately after an accident.
Surveillance footage may be overwritten. Witness memories can fade. Physical evidence may disappear. Vehicle damage may be repaired before it is properly documented.
Beginning the investigation early helps preserve important evidence and creates a stronger foundation for the claim.
Texas generally allows two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, but waiting can make proving the case more difficult.
At Herrera PLLC, every serious injury case is approached with the expectation that it may ultimately need to be presented before a jury.
When a Car Accident Results in a Fatality
Some crashes result in the loss of a loved one.
In these situations, surviving family members may have the right to pursue compensation through a wrongful death claim.
These claims may seek compensation for:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Lost financial support
- Mental anguish
- Loss of companionship
- Other damages recognised under Texas law
Learn more about wrongful death representation for families who have lost a loved one.
Speak Directly With Jonathan Herrera About Your Car Accident
If you were injured in a car accident in Houston or elsewhere in Texas, Herrera PLLC is available to discuss your situation.
Jonathan Herrera personally handles every matter and works directly with clients throughout the legal process.
Learn more about Herrera PLLC’s approach to personal representation and trial preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Texas generally provides two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing this deadline can prevent you from pursuing compensation, so it is important to act promptly.
Texas follows a modified comparative fault system. You may still recover compensation if you were 50% or less responsible for the crash. Any compensation awarded may be reduced by your percentage of fault.
You should be cautious when speaking with any insurance company after an accident. Statements made early in the process may later be used to challenge liability or reduce the value of your claim.
Many injuries, including soft tissue injuries, concussions, and certain spinal injuries, may not become fully apparent until hours or days after an accident. Seeking medical attention as soon as symptoms develop can help protect both your health and your claim.
Yes. Jonathan Herrera personally handles client matters and works directly with clients throughout the legal process, from investigation and negotiations to litigation when necessary.