In a state where traffic crashes injure someone every two minutes and nine seconds, the moments after a collision can determine whether an injured person receives fair compensation or forfeits it. That is the message behind a new public warning from (713) A-B-O-G-A-D-O | Abogados de Accidentes, a Houston personal injury law firm that says too many crash victims accept the first settlement offer they receive, often within days, without knowing what their claim is actually worth.
The firm’s concern is grounded in Texas Department of Transportation data: in 2025, one person was injured in a Texas traffic crash every 2 minutes and 9 seconds, and 3,769 people died on Texas roads. For survivors and their families, the financial and legal consequences of a crash can be as severe as the physical ones, and the firm argues that early decisions can permanently undermine a valid claim.
“A lot of what we do is just making sure that people don’t sign something that will take away their right to receive the true value of their case,” says attorney Corey Gomel. “They should know what their options are before an insurance company tells them what to do.”
According to the firm, injured drivers and passengers are not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company. Adjusters often call within a day or two of a crash, and anything said on that call can later be used to argue that injuries were minor or that the injured person shared fault. Signing a release usually ends the claim entirely, meaning a victim generally cannot ask for more money even if surgery or extended time off work becomes necessary later.
Texas law also allows for shared fault: an injured person can still recover damages as long as they are not more than 50% responsible for the crash, though the award is reduced by their share of fault. The firm warns that insurers sometimes overstate a driver’s share of fault to lower payouts. Most personal injury claims in Texas must be filed within two years of the injury date, adding urgency to early decisions.
Ride-share crashes present additional complexity. Uber and Lyft carry larger insurance policies, but which coverage applies depends on whether the driver was logged in to the app, heading to pick up a rider, or carrying a passenger at the time of the crash. Victims often must deal with more than one insurance company, a situation the firm says requires careful navigation.
Language should not be a barrier, according to the firm, which notes that most of its clients speak Spanish and that it works with clients in either Spanish or English. “We only represent people. Not insurance companies, not businesses,” Gomel said. “Just people who got hurt because someone else was careless.”
The firm handles Houston car accident cases, truck accident claims, and rideshare injury cases, and provides free consultations on a contingency fee basis. Spanish-speaking clients can reach the firm through 713abogado.com, while English-speaking clients can use 713lawsuit.com.
