Brain, Spinal Cord & Life-Changing Injuries
Houston catastrophic injury lawyer for crashes that change a whole life
Chapter 1
What counts as a catastrophic injury
There is no single legal definition. In practice, a catastrophic injury is one that permanently changes what a person can do, usually with lifelong medical care and lost earning ability. In vehicle crashes, these are the most common.
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI). From a severe concussion to lasting changes in memory, thinking, mood or personality. Some brain injuries don't show on a first scan.
- Spinal cord injury and paralysis. Partial or complete loss of movement or feeling below the injury, including paraplegia and quadriplegia.
- Amputation and crush injuries. Loss of a limb at the scene or later in surgery, and injuries that leave a limb without full use.
- Severe burns and scarring. From vehicle fires and road contact, often with grafts and many surgeries.
- Multiple fractures with permanent impairment. Pelvis, hip, spine or leg fractures that leave lasting limits on walking, lifting or working.
- Loss of sight or hearing. Including damage from head trauma and airbag or glass injuries.
If someone you love was badly hurt in a crash
DO THESE THREE THINGS BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE
Let a family member make the call
If the injured person is in the hospital or can't manage the claim right now, a spouse, parent or adult child can call Allen and start protecting the case.
Don't sign anything from an insurer
Early offers and medical releases come before anyone knows the long-term cost. A signed release ends the claim for good.
Keep a record of everything
Hospital paperwork, bills, missed work, travel to appointments, and a simple journal of what daily life is like now. It all becomes evidence.
Chapter 2
Why catastrophic injury cases are different
The biggest losses in these cases are in the future: years of care, a home that has to change, a career that may not come back. A claim that only counts the bills so far will fall far short.
- The full cost takes time to know. Settling before doctors can say what recovery will look like usually means settling for too little. There is no second chance after a release is signed.
- Future care has to be planned and priced. Therapy, surgeries, medication, equipment, home and vehicle changes, and help at home are laid out by medical and life-care experts.
- Lost earning ability is its own loss. Beyond paychecks already missed, the claim includes what the injured person could have earned over a working life.
- The insurance on the other side is often not enough. Finding every policy, including employers' and commercial policies and your own coverage, matters more here than in any other case.
- Insurers defend these cases harder. Expect their own doctors, surveillance and arguments that injuries were pre-existing. The case is built from the start to answer them.
Chapter 3
What you can recover in Texas
Texas law lets an injured person recover for every kind of loss the crash caused, past and future.
- Medical care, past and future. Hospital and surgery costs, rehabilitation, medication, equipment and long-term care. Past bills are limited to reasonable amounts actually paid or still owed, not amounts that were written off.
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity. Income already lost, and the ability to earn in the years ahead.
- Physical pain and mental anguish. Past and future. Texas generally does not cap these damages in crash cases against private drivers and companies; claims against a government have their own limits.
- Physical impairment and disfigurement. Separate from pain: the loss of what you could do and how you look.
- Your spouse's loss. A spouse may have a claim for the loss of companionship that a serious injury causes.
- Exemplary damages in some cases. When a driver or company was grossly negligent, for example a drunk driver, a jury may award additional damages. Texas caps these in most cases.
Chapter 4
Protecting the case while you recover
Recovery comes first. These steps protect the claim without getting in its way.
- Follow your treatment plan. Gaps in care are the first thing an insurer uses to argue an injury is less serious than it is.
- Keep the crash out of social media. Insurers look at posts and photos, and a single picture can be taken out of context.
- Send all insurer calls to Allen. That includes your own insurer's requests for recorded statements and medical authorizations.
- Ask about health insurance and Medicare or Medicaid repayment. Health plans, Medicare and Medicaid that paid your bills may have a right to repayment from a settlement. Some of those claims can be reduced, and valid ones have to be resolved before the money is paid out.
- If the injured person can't manage the case, family can help. A relative can't settle the claim on their own, though. A guardian or other court-approved representative may need to act, and a settlement may need a court's approval.
Chapter 5
What Texas law says about your claim
- 2 yearsDeadline to file suit
- Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash. Claims involving a city, county or state vehicle or road can require written notice much sooner.
- 51%Shared fault
- You can recover as long as you were not more than 50 percent at fault, and your award is reduced by your share.
- Paid or incurredMedical bills
- Recovery of past medical expenses is limited to reasonable amounts actually paid or still owed, by you or on your behalf, not amounts that were written off.
- CappedExemplary damages
- When gross negligence is proven by clear and convincing evidence, generally capped at the greater of $200,000 or twice the economic damages plus up to $750,000 of noneconomic damages. Certain felonies, such as intoxication assault, can lift the cap.
Chapter 6
What Allen does on a catastrophic injury case
At big firms your file often goes to a case manager. Allen's cases run differently.
- Evidence preserved early. Crash data, camera footage, vehicles and records secured before they are lost, while the family focuses on care.
- Every policy found. The at-fault driver's, any employer's or commercial policy, and your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
- The future priced with experts. Treating doctors, life-care planners and economists put real numbers on care and lost earnings.
- No settlement before the picture is clear. Allen advises against resolving the case until the long-term medical outlook is known.
- Negotiation with a lawsuit ready. If the offer is not fair, Allen files suit.
- You and your family hear from Allen. Calls and texts are returned by the attorney handling your case, not an assistant.
Questions
Houston catastrophic injury questions, answered
What is considered a catastrophic injury?
An injury that permanently changes what a person can do, usually with long-term medical care and lost earning ability. In vehicle crashes that most often means traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury or paralysis, amputation, severe burns, multiple fractures with lasting impairment, or loss of sight or hearing.
Can a family member start the case for me?
Yes. A spouse, parent or adult child can call Allen, get the facts to him and help protect the evidence while you are in the hospital or recovering. Being a relative doesn't by itself give someone authority over the claim: if the injured person can't make decisions, a guardian or other court-approved representative may need to act for them.
Should I accept the insurance company's first offer?
Not before a lawyer reviews it. Early offers come before anyone knows the long-term cost of a serious injury, and once you sign a release the claim is over for good, even if you need surgery later.
How long does a catastrophic injury case take?
Usually longer than other injury cases, because the claim should not be resolved until doctors can say what recovery will look like. The lawsuit still has to be filed within the two-year deadline, so the case is protected while treatment continues.
Is there a cap on damages for a serious injury in Texas?
Generally not on medical care, lost earnings, pain or mental anguish in a crash case against a private driver or company; claims against a government have their own limits. Exemplary (punitive) damages are capped in most cases, and past medical bills are limited to reasonable amounts actually paid or still owed.
How much does a Houston catastrophic injury lawyer cost?
Nothing up front. Mousavi & Associates works on a contingency fee: the attorney's fee is a percentage of the money recovered for you. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney's fees and no case expenses, including expert costs. Allen walks you through the written agreement before you sign.
How much is a catastrophic injury case worth?
It depends on the injury, the care it requires for life, the earnings lost, how fault is shared and how much insurance is available. No lawyer can honestly promise a number at the start. What Allen can do is find every source of insurance and document every loss, including the future ones.
"I was in a really bad accident this past January. My car was totaled. I was not at fault. Mr Mousavi took my case and worked diligently on my behalf. The insurance company of the other party wanted to settle way less than what the policy allowed. He advised me not settle but to be steadfast. He informed me that we will have to do go court and it can take from 12 to 18 months to settle. Well it only took 8 months! He really fought for me! We did not have to go to court after all! And I received the maximum amount that was owed to me. He was always professional, honest and always always returned my calls or texts. Highly recommend Mousavi and Associates. You will not be disappointed! He will fight for you!"
"When a family member was badly injured in a car accident, Allen Mousavi was an incredible help throughout our case. From the very beginning, he was compassionate, professional, and always kept us informed without us having to constantly reach out for updates. He handled our case efficiently and fought hard to make sure we received the compensation our family deserved. During such a difficult time, it meant so much to have someone we could trust who genuinely cared about our situation. We truly appreciate everything Allen did for us and couldn’t be more grateful for his dedication and support. I highly recommend him to anyone who needs an attorney who will stand by you and get results. We’ll definitely be recommending him to our friends and family. Thank you again, Allen!"
"I highly recommend Mousavi & Associates, Allan Mousavi. He handled my son’s accident case with exceptional professionalism from beginning to end. He was knowledgeable, responsive, and always kept us informed so we fully understood each step of the process. Everything was managed smoothly and efficiently, which gave our family real peace of mind during a difficult time. I’m truly grateful for his dedication, honesty, and the respectful way he treated us throughout the case. Thank you, Allan, for your outstanding work and support."
Life-changing injury from a Houston crash?
THE INSURER IS COUNTING TODAY'S BILLS. ALLEN COUNTS THE YEARS AHEAD.
A brain injury, a spinal cord injury or an amputation changes work, home and family for years. The insurer wants to settle before anyone knows what that will cost. Allen Mousavi handles your case himself and builds it around the life ahead, not just the bills so far. Free case review, and you owe no attorney's fee unless we recover money for you.
Allen Mousavi, Attorney at LawFounder, Mousavi & Associates · Houston, Texas
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