Residents love Irving, Texas, for its close proximity to Dallas without the hassles of big city living. Residents go about their business without incident daily. However, hazards can lurk anywhere, and accidents happen every day in Irving.
Perhaps you were injured in Irving, and it was someone else’s fault. Injury victims don’t have to endure the consequences of an injury without receiving the compensation they’re due. Those suffering from injuries need a compassionate and knowledgeable Irving personal injury lawyer to fight for them when the chips are down.
Hartley Law Firm—Irving Personal Injury Attorneys
At Hartley Law Firm, we understand the physical and emotional toll an accident takes on you. Our attorneys have extensive experience and a proven track record of obtaining favorable results for clients. Our experienced attorneys handle every stage of your personal injury case, from investigation through trial. We care deeply about our clients and will fight to hold insurance companies and other responsible parties accountable. Contact us today.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle
Our attorneys handle a broad array of personal injury claims, including:
- Car accidents,
- Motorcycle accidents,
- 18-wheeler and tractor-trailer accidents,
- Workplace injuries,
- Premises liability,
- Pedestrian accidents,
- Slip-and-fall accidents,
- Uber and Lyft accidents, and
- Construction accidents.
We handle all kinds of cases, even if they aren’t listed here. Give us a call today to learn how we can help you.
Personal Injury Law Basics
A personal injury case arises when one person is injured due to another person’s actions or inactions.
Negligence
Most of the time, personal injury claims result from negligence. To prove negligence, an injured person must show:
- Duty—the at-fault party owed others a duty to exercise reasonable care;
- Breach of duty—they did not exercise reasonable care;
- Causation—their breach of duty caused you harm; and
- Damages—you suffered damages as a result of that breach and harm.
Winning a personal injury claim depends on whether you can prove each element.
Wrongful Death
Unfortunately, sometimes negligence causes someone’s death. The deceased person’s family may be able to bring a wrongful death claim against the negligent party. Wrongful death cases are very complex. Speak with one of our attorneys if you’re considering bringing a wrongful death claim.
Common Injuries in Personal Injury Cases
People suffer a wide range of injuries as a result of accidents. Some common injuries include:
- Broken bones,
- Lacerations and bruises,
- Concussions and brain injuries,
- Back injuries and whiplash,
- Neck and spinal injuries,
- Organ damage or internal bleeding,
- Post-traumatic stress disorder, and
- Death.
Some of these injuries are life-threatening. If you’ve been in an accident, you should immediately see a doctor.
Compensation Available in a Personal Injury Case
Injured parties in a personal injury case can recover money damages from the negligent person to compensate them for their losses. In Texas, personal injury damages include economic and noneconomic damages.
Economic damages are damages that have a definite price tag attached to them. They include things such as:
- Medical and hospital bills,
- Lost wages, and
- Property damage.
Noneconomic damages are not as easy to calculate. They include damages for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress.
If the responsible party acted recklessly or particularly badly, an injured person may also be able to seek punitive damages.
If you played a role in causing your accident or injury, Texas’s comparative negligence statute requires a court to reduce your compensation. A court will first determine your percentage of fault. Then, the court will reduce your recovery in proportion to your fault percentage. For example, if you are 10% at fault for your injury, the court will reduce your award by 10%. Additionally, if you are more than 50% at fault, you won’t be able to recover anything.
What Should You Do After an Accident?
You may wonder what you should do after an accident. If you are injured in an accident, there are several things you can do to keep yourself safe and protect your rights.
Call the Police and Emergency Services
After a car accident in Texas, a person must call the police if there’s an injury or damage over $1,000. You may also need emergency medical services in other cases, such as a slip and fall. Don’t hesitate to call for medical help after an accident.
See a Doctor
You may be taken to the hospital immediately after an accident. If not, go to the doctor as soon as possible. Sometimes, people experience an adrenaline rush that prevents them from fully feeling the pain from an accident until later.
Collect Witness Information
If people were at the scene of the accident, take down their information. You may need to contact them in the future, especially if an insurance company fights your claim.
Write Down Your Story
When you can, write down everything that you remember about the incident. If you cannot write for yourself, have a trusted friend or family member take down everything you remember as soon as possible.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
An Irving personal injury attorney, such as those at Hartley Law Firm, can investigate your case, gather evidence, and file a claim while you focus on your recovery.
Time Limit for Filing Personal Injury Cases
Every legal claim has a time limit for when you can file a case in court. Thus, you can’t wait long before filing your personal injury claim. In Texas, you have two years from the date of the incident to file a personal injury case in court. You may have longer if you’re a minor or mentally incapacitated when the injury occurs. An Irving personal injury lawyer can advise you about your time limits.
Our Irving Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help
Recovering from an injury takes its toll. The last thing you need is the stress of trying to figure out whether you can pursue a personal injury claim. Plus, insurance companies and their aggressive attorneys may try to fight your claim, causing you more stress and worry. The attorneys at Hartley Law Firm know the difficulties you face in your recovery and can provide the legal assistance you need. We’ve faced aggressive insurance companies head-on to fight for the justice injury victims deserve. Contact an Irving personal injury attorney at our firm today.
