Dallas Car Accident Lawyers - Hartley Law Firm

Proven Dallas Car Accident Attorneys Ready To Assist You

Serving Car Accident Victims in Carrollton, Denton, Grapevine, Lewisville, McKinney, and Southlake

A woman calling her attorney after a car accident in Dallas.

The average person will have three to four car accidents in their driving lifetime. Whether the other person is driving aggressively or just plain not paying attention, the physical and emotional damage can impact your life long after the bumps, bruises, and broken bones heal. If the other driver is at fault for the accident, you might have the legal right to pursue compensation. To learn more about your options, speak with our skilled Dallas car accident lawyers at Hartley Law Firm.

In addition to property damage and past and future medical bills, we will seek compensation for past and future lost wages, pain and suffering, and mental anguish. Whether you have a dispute with the other driver’s insurance company or your own insurance company, we will fight hard for every penny of compensation you deserve.

“Austin is a great attorney. He made sure to thoroughly explain everything to me regarding my case. He was sure to also lay out my other options and walk me through what the process would look like if we went that direction. He always had my best interest and well being in mind when advising me throughout the course of my case. Austin is a very knowledgeable in all areas of law. He is truly a VERY COMPETENT attorney. Austin has earned my trust as legal counsel through his professionalism from the moment I met with him and hired him he consistently demonstrated ownership and speed/sense of urgency to produce a desired outcome for me as I’m sure that he does for all of his clients. It has been a pleasure working with him and he will be the first person I call the next time I need an Attorney. Thank you for all your hard work on my case Austin!”

– Danielle E.

Car accident statistics

Notably, TDOT reports the following for 2019:

One person is killed in Texas car accidents every two hours and 26 minutes;
One person is injured in a car accident every two minutes and three seconds;
One reportable collision occurs every 56 seconds;
256,338 people were injured in car accidents in Texas;
32.16% of traffic fatalities were classified as single vehicle, run-off-the-road crashes; and
15,843 people sustained serious personal injuries.

According to the TDOT, the following were the leading causes of Texas traffic accidents in 2019:

Failed to control speed: 34,244;
Driver inattention: 19,536;
Failed to drive in a single lane: 13,006;
Failure to yield – turning left: 5,720;
Unsafe lane change: 7,591;
Following too closely: 3,371;
Faulty evasive action: 7,122;
Failure to yield – stop sign: 6,643;
Unsafe speed (under the limit): 13,591;
Disregard stop sign or light: 3,183;
Failure to yield – private drive: 3,758;
Driving under the influence of alcohol: 4,911;
Had been drinking: 6,170; and
Distraction in the vehicle: 8,979.

Other factors can also contribute to a car accident, such as adverse weather, bad road conditions, or even a defective vehicle part. It’s not uncommon for accidents to have more than one cause. For example, someone could have been driving under the influence and failure to stop at a stop sign.

Common Types of Dallas Car Accident Injuries

Even seemingly minor collisions can leave victims with soft tissue injuries. Whiplash and a sore back are very common in low-impact car accidents. The most common injuries we see in Texas car accidents are:

Neck and back injuries,
Broken bones,
Head injuries,
Traumatic brain injuries,
Burns,
Lacerations,
Spinal cord damage,
Nerve damage, and
Paralysis.

In catastrophic cases, a victim might die at the scene or pass away later from their injuries. If so, certain surviving family members could be entitled to bring a Dallas wrongful death claim.

The more severe your injuries are, the more important it is to speak with a Dallas car accident attorney after the accident to discuss your options.

Contact Hartley Law Firm online.

Wrongful Death Claims in Texas

A wrongful death claim allows family members to recover compensation for their losses. In some wrongful death cases, surviving family members can collect compensation for loss of companionship, loss of inheritance, loss of consortium, and more.

Only certain people have legal standing to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Under Texas law, wrongful death claims are limited to spouses, children, and parents. If the deceased left behind no surviving spouse, child, or parent, the estate representative could file the claim.

What to Do After a Dallas Car Accident

A car accident scene in Dallas to be handled by an attorney.

Immediately following a car accident, you should move the car somewhere safe if possible. You do not want to be involved in another accident. Call 911 to ensure the police respond to the accident. In severe collisions, you might need to be transported to the hospital for immediate treatment.

If you remain at the scene, be sure to exchange contact information with all parties and get information for any witnesses as well. If you can safely take photos, you should. It can help your claim down the line. Take photos of the vehicle damage, the surrounding scene, and your injuries if possible. Be sure to get photos of anything that could be important in the accident, such as weather conditions, road construction, a stop sign covered by overgrown bushes, etc.

Contact a medical provider as soon as possible if you are transported from the scene. It’s important to seek medical treatment right away. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that the insurance company will use it against you. If you don’t see a doctor for a month, they can claim your injuries weren’t severe or something else happened after the accident to cause your injuries.

You should also consider contacting a Dallas car accident lawyer who can let you know if you have a potential personal injury claim.

Damages You Can Recover in a Texas Car Accident Claim

Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you could be entitled to receive compensation for:

Medical bills to date;
Future expected medical expenses;
Rehabilitation and skilled nursing care;
Lost wages to date;
Future loss of earnings;
Vehicle damages;
Disability;
Disfigurement;
Physical pain and suffering; and
Emotional distress.

In limited scenarios, you could be entitled to receive punitive damages as well. Punitive damages are not to compensate you for your injuries or damages; they are awarded to “punish” the defendant. Punitive damages are to deter them from engaging in similar behavior in the future. Only limited cases are eligible for punitive damages, such as someone driving under the influence or driving recklessly.

The more severe your injuries are, the greater the chance that your compensation might be higher. A claim that involves permanent injuries will be worth more than one involving minor soft tissue injuries that resolve within two months.

Proving Liability in a Texas Car Accident

Your potential compensation in a Dallas personal injury claim is directly tied to your percentage of liability. Texas is a comparative negligence state, which means you can collect a portion of your damages even if you are partially at fault. However, if you are more than 50% at fault, you are barred from recovery. For example, if you are 30% at fault for the accident, you could receive 70% of your damages. If you are 60% at fault, you will collect nothing since you are more than 50% at fault.

Statute of Limitations in a Texas Car Accident

As with any other type of personal injury claim, you have only a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit after a car accident. This deadline is known as the statute of limitations. Typically, you have only two years from the crash date to file a lawsuit in Texas. There may be limited circumstances that could alter this deadline, but you shouldn’t count on that. Two years might seem like a long time, but it can fly by quickly if you are in negotiations or trying to gather evidence. When you retain a Dallas car accident lawyer to represent you, we will file within the limitations period, so you don’t need to worry about missing the deadline.

Why Should I Hire a Dallas Car Accident Attorney?

Getting into a car accident in the Dallas area can turn your life upside down in a second. You could be facing severe injuries, unable to return to work, and frustrated by the lack of assistance from the at-fault driver’s insurance. One reason to hire an experienced car accident attorney is we can handle all the stressful aspects of your claim.

At Hartley Law Firm, we will request all your medical records, gather evidence, and negotiate with the other driver’s insurance company. If we cannot reach a settlement, we will file a lawsuit on your behalf.

While not every accident warrants hiring a lawyer, most injury accidents can benefit from a legal advocate. Insurance companies are not on your side, no matter what they lead you to believe. They are looking out for their driver and the company’s bottom line. They will use your inexperience against you and often deny your claim or offer you much less than your case is worth. That’s why you should at least meet with a Dallas car accident attorney before discussing the claim with the insurance representative.

Contact Our Dallas Car Accident Lawyers

A lawyer handling a personal injury case in Dallas.

If you or a loved one was injured or killed in a car accident in the greater Dallas area, it is important that you contact a knowledgeable car accident attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights. Our Dallas car accident attorneys at Hartley Law Firm have successfully resolved numerous car accidents and are awaiting your call to assist. Call our lawyers or submit a contact form to schedule your free in-person consultation.

Hartley Law Firm handles other types of cases as well, including:

Car Accident Lawyers