3 people injured in Southwest Houston police-involved accident

Houston, TX – Three people were hospitalized following a collision Saturday night involving a Houston Police Department vehicle.

According to separate reports from Click2Houston and ABC13, the accident occurred at around 11:30 p.m. when a sedan heading south on the 10100 block of South Gessner Road attempted to turn left at Gustine Lane into the Braeburn Terrace Condominiums and collided with a northbound HPD vehicle. The police vehicle went through the gate at the complex and struck a unit.

Both drivers and a passenger in the police vehicle were taken to the hospital with minor injuries following the crash.

According to a spokesperson for the HPD’s Vehicular Crimes Division, the officer was responding to a call when the accident occurred. The police vehicle did not have its lights or sirens on at the time of the crash.

Accident investigators are looking into whether the driver of the sedan was impaired at the time of the collision. It’s unclear at this time who bears primary responsibility for causing the accident.

Can More Than One Party Be Responsible for a Car Accident? 

Yes, more than one party can share responsibility for a car accident. Fault is not always immediately obvious or clear-cut. Several factors can contribute to a crash, such as driver error, vehicle defects, or unsafe road conditions, and in some cases, both drivers may be found partly responsible.

Insurance adjusters and courts determine fault by reviewing evidence like police reports, crash scene photos and videos, witness statements, traffic laws, blood alcohol test results, and expert testimony. When multiple parties share liability, each party’s percentage of fault affects how much compensation they may recover.

What if They’re Saying the Accident Was Your Fault? Can You Still Recover Compensation? 

Texas uses a comparative fault rule that determines how compensation is awarded when more than one person shares responsibility for a crash. Under this law, an injured person can recover compensation as long as they are not more than 50 percent at fault. However, their financial recovery will be reduced in proportion to their percentage of fault. This means a driver found 20 percent responsible for an accident will receive 20 percent less compensation.

Insurance companies and defense attorneys often try to use this rule to their advantage by shifting blame onto the injured person. They may argue that the victim was impaired, speeding, distracted, or otherwise careless in an effort to minimize what they owe.

Because these arguments can have a major impact on the outcome of a claim, it is important to work with an attorney who can push back against unfair fault assessments. A lawyer can gather evidence, challenge biased reports, and negotiate on your behalf to seek a fair recovery.

Get Help from a Houston Car Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one were hurt in a car accident someone else caused, get the help you need to pursue compensation, justice, and accountability. Consider contacting an experienced Houston car crash attorney right away to discuss your options.