In Houston and throughout the United States, automobile accidents are the most frequent type of personal injury claims. These accidents are often preventable and result from drivers not paying attention to their surroundings. Unfortunately, they can also result in serious, life-changing consequences for the injured parties, including:

• Head and brain injuries
• Traumatic lifelong disabilities such as paraplegia, quadriplegia and amputation
• Broken bones
• Spinal injuries or herniated disks
• Internal injuries
• Wrongful death

Economic damages from an accident can be serious as well, and include both medical expenses and lost wages as the result of being unable to work.

Automobile accidents can result from many different factors, such as:

• Driving While Intoxicated (drunk drivers)
• Distracted driving (Texting/emailing/talking on the phone while driving)
• Street-racing or aggressive driving
• Failing to maintain vehicle
• Running a red-light or stop sign
• Following too closely
• Failing to control speed
• Driving while tired or while experiencing side-effects of prescription medications

If you’ve suffered injuries as the result of an automobile accident, it’s important to seek trusted legal advice from an experienced attorney who can help you understand your legal rights and get the medical attention you need. The Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyers at Brann Sullivan will work to protect your interests and advise you very step of the way. They are familiar with the complex scientific and engineering principles that help to unravel how an accident occurred, and can bring this knowledge to bear when negotiating with insurance companies or presenting a case before a jury.

The term "automobile accident" is really incorrect. They are not accidental. Accident implies that no one is at fault or that the wreck happened without the negligence of the other driver. In most wrecks this is simply not true. Even the official Texas Police Report is called a "Crash Report" because most car and truck wrecks are caused by the willful or negligent act of a driver. For clients of Brann Sullivan we will doggedly pursue these negligent drivers and their insurance companies for you to get you the financial compensation that you deserve.

The sheer size of 18-wheelers, buses, and other large commercial trucks greatly increases the likelihood of injury during a collision. These injuries are often serious and can last for months or even years.

Brann Sullivan understands that physical injuries are only part of the devastating impact these collisions can have on a victim. They often leave economic damage in their wake, as victims lose income or even lose their jobs – all while facing mounting medical bills. As a result, people injured in these crashes can have difficulty paying their mortgages and other household bills. Some struggle just to put food on the table for their families. Put us to work for you so you can concentrate on recovering from your injuries while we concentrate on pursuing those responsible for your injuries and getting you the money you deserve.

Even though drivers are accustomed to sharing the road with trucks, major wrecks happen too often. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 116,000 people were injured and 4,067 people were killed in collisions involving large trucks in 2015.* As the demand for goods rises, we’ll see more 18-wheelers and large commercial vehicles on our roadways – making it likely that we’ll see more collisions as well.

Even well-trained, experienced drivers can run into trouble in severe weather or in areas under construction when driving these challenging vehicles. 18-wheelers have a wide turning radius, while double-trailer trucks have large blind spots. In addition, trucks of any size can worry and distract other drivers.

When these vehicles are not operated in compliance with federal and state law, drivers and trucking companies set the stage for problems. Collisions can happen as the result of:

• Fatigue from driving for longer periods of time than allowed
• Driving under influence of drugs like amphetamines
• Overloading, which causes longer braking distances
• Inadequate use of warning signals such as flares and reflective triangles
• Improper training
• Negligent hiring
• Improper vehicle maintenance of the 18-wheeler or commercial vehicle

If you or someone you love have been involved in a collision with an 18-wheeler, we can help make sure the responsible party is held accountable for your injuries. We will prepare your personal injury claim by examining all aspects of your accident, including the road conditions at the scene, the maintenance history of the truck, and the traffic record of the truck driver, and will use accident reconstruction, as indicated to prove how the wreck occurred.

As more people enjoy the appeal of motorcycles, the number of motorcycle accidents on Texas roadways will increase. Unfortunately, many people fail to see motorcycles on the road, making injuries inevitable.

Motorcycles also do not offer safety features such as seatbelts and airbags, or even protection on all four sides. As a result, these collisions often cause serious injuries and death. Many injuries from motorcycle crashes are life long, requiring the injured person to need medical care for many years. Scott Brann has been riding motorcycles most of his adult life. His Texas driver’s license includes a motorcycle license. He knows that drivers of cars and trucks too often just ignore motorcycles. It is estimated that approximately 80% of crashes between motorcycles and car and truck drivers are not the motorcycle riders' fault, but riders often pay the price with lasting physical injuries.

Motorcycle accidents can be caused by the following:

• Driving while intoxicated (DWI)
• Talking or texting while driving
• Street racing or aggressive driving
• Failure to maintain vehicle
• Running a red light or stop sign
• Tailgating
• Failure to control speed
• Driving while tired or while taking prescription medications

If you’ve suffered injuries as the result of a motorcycle accident, you need trusted legal advice from an attorney experienced in handling motorcycle-related personal injury claims. The lawyers at Brann Sullivan can advise you on handling your property damage claims and help you get the medical attention you need. We can negotiate a settlement or go to court and fight for an award that compensates you for your losses, including:

• Medical and physical therapy bills
• Motorcycle repairs or replacement
• Lost wages
• General damages for pain, suffering, and physical impairment and physical disfigurement
• Punitive damages, if applicable

As lakes and rivers become more crowded with boats – and with owners who are not properly trained in boat operation – the likelihood of accidents increases dramatically. Boats and personal watercraft such as jet skis also lack seat belts and airbags, raising the chance of serious injury. Nearly half of all boating accidents in Texas involve alcohol, but other factors also contribute, including:

• Distracted boating
• Speeding
• Inexperience

People injured in these accidents can include not just those inside the boat, but also skiers, wakeboarders or others being pulled behind the boat. If you’ve been involved in a boating accident, our Board Certified Personal Injury Lawyers can help you obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries and damages.

Many times, families have lingering questions when a loved one dies. In a wrongful death situation, unfortunately, grieving family members who do not have the assistance of a lawyer can be left without any answers. A personal injury lawyer can help you reach closure by getting the answers you deserve.

The loss of a loved one can mean losing the family’s primary breadwinner, whose income paid the mortgage or rent and provided for household needs. Losing this income along with incurring significant medical and funeral expenses can damage a family both emotionally and economically.

Brann Sullivan Trial Lawyers have helped many families pursue answers after the wrongful death of a loved one-death cause by the negligent actions of someone else. If you have lost a loved one through what you believe to be neglect or negligence, please contact us. We have the knowledge, training and experience to begin an investigation that can help you find the answers and justice you deserve.