A single-car crash can cause property damage and injury, costing thousands of dollars or more. Even a minor fender bender can cause vehicle damage that carries a substantial price tag.
Then there’s the hassle of filing a car accident claim and trying to work with the insurance company to get your accident-related bills paid. It can be a real headache, especially if you are trying to recover from injuries you sustained in the accident.
A good car accident lawyer will do all the heavy lifting for you, negotiating with the insurance company and filing the necessary paperwork. They will negotiate a settlement to fairly compensate you for your damage, injuries, lost income, and more. That way, all you have to do is heal.
A Personal Injury Law Firm You Can Trust
When you’ve been in an auto accident, it’s hard to know who you can trust. Some car accident lawyers talk a good game, but they fall short when it comes to client satisfaction. There are so many integral components of a good personal injury lawyer:
- Experience
- Knowledge
- Dedication
- Integrity
- Compassion
- Professionalism
- Communication
Car accident victims have a lot to deal with, and when they choose a law office, they are literally putting their lives in the hands of their attorneys.
At AMS Law Office, we don’t take that trust lightly. We’ve worked hard to build a solid reputation, and our many happy clients love us for it.
Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Richardson, Texas
When you choose us, you will get an experienced personal injury lawyer who is dedicated to your case. Motor vehicle accident cases can be very complex, with serious injuries resulting in medical bills, property damage, and more. You may have physical injuries or be injured emotionally. Texas law sees no difference, so you can be compensated for mental anguish just as you are compensated for any physical injuries.
We will be by your side throughout your car accident case. We aim to get you full and fair compensation for your damages, losses, and injuries while ensuring your rights are protected.
Car Accident Laws in Texas
Texas requires all drivers to have auto insurance on any vehicle they operate on Texas roadways. They must carry a minimum of liability insurance and have proof in the vehicle if they are stopped or are in an accident.
There are other laws for drivers in Texas that are designed to keep the roads safe for everyone.
Accident Reports
If you have a car crash and there is injury, death, or property damage that is over $1,000, and the police DID NOT come to the scene of the accident and file a police report, you are required to contact the Texas Department of Transportation and file an accident report (also called a car crash report). The form for the crash report can be found on the Texas DOT website.
Police Reports
If you are in a car accident resulting in serious injury, death, or property damage over $1,000, the law requires you to call the police. Failure to report can get you jail time and hefty fines. If the police arrive on the scene in these circumstances, they will file a police report. This means you do not have to file a crash report with the Texas DOT because the police will do that for you when they file their police report.
Medical Expenses
In Texas, the party at fault in a car accident must pay for any medical bills and property damage. The insurance laws in Texas require drivers to carry the minimum liability insurance, which includes bodily injury that pays up to $30,000 in medical expenses per person and up to $60,000 in medical expenses per accident. The payments then go through the insurance company of the at-fault driver.
Serious Injuries and Mental Anguish
Serious injuries from an auto accident can cause significant emotional trauma. Car accident victims who have experienced severe injuries and have mental anguish can claim pain and suffering as well as mental anguish and be compensated for it. The laws in Texas make no distinction between physical injuries and emotional injuries, leaving lots of room for the psychological effects of auto accidents to be eligible for compensation, too.
Lost Wages
In Texas, the at-fault driver’s insurance company is typically responsible for paying the other driver’s lost income. If the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, the other driver may be able to file a claim with their own insurance company, but in most cases, they file a personal injury lawsuit to recoup their losses.
Lost wages may include:
- Hourly wages or monthly/annual salary
- Overtime pay
- Bonuses
- Commissions
- Self-employment income
- Vacation or sick leave that is used during recovery
How Many Car Accidents Occur on Texas Roads Each Year?
Every year, there are an estimated half a million car accidents on Texas roads. The Texas Department of Transportation reports that in 2021, every 57 seconds, there was a reportable car accident. The more you drive, the more you increase your chances of having an auto accident.
The Texas Department of Transportation reports that in 2021, auto accidents were responsible for more than 4,000 deaths and more than 15,000 injuries that were considered serious. More than half of all auto accidents have possible or confirmed injuries.
Secure Legal Representation for Car Accidents in Richardson, Texas
Our Richardson car accident lawyers successfully handle complex personal injury cases every day. They are experienced in personal injury trial law and are diligent in pursuing fair compensation for their clients. They handle all types of car accident and injury claims, and they can take on yours, too.
They work with local police, insurance companies, and various agencies to conduct their own investigation of the crash. They will look at the at-fault vehicle’s pre-accident condition as well as police reports and witness statements.
Call today for your free consultation and get the financial compensation you deserve.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Richardson, Texas
There are a number of reasons why you might get into a car accident. Road conditions, visibility, driver alertness, and attention all can contribute to making roads safer for motorists, or they can make it dangerous. When you get behind the wheel of a vehicle and get on the road, you have to consider that there are other people on the road, too, who want to reach their destination safely – who deserve to reach their destination safely.
This means that all drivers have a responsibility to operate their motor vehicles with care and caution. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always happen like that. These are some of the most common causes of crashes in Texas.
Drunk Drivers or Impaired Drivers – In 2021, there were 25,261 crashes with 1,029 traffic fatalities on Texas roads due to drunk driving. That means every 8.5 hours, someone died in a traffic accident because of a drunk driver. There were 2,522 drunk driving crashes that resulted in serious injury.
Unsafe Lane Changes – About 10% of traffic collisions in Texas are due to unsafe lane changes. These can be due to driver inattention, a broken turn signal, driver miscalculation of the position of the car in the other lane, or driver impairment.
Speeding – In 2021, Texas saw 163,756 car crashes that were caused by speeding, with 1,532 fatalities and 6,493 serious injury accidents. In fact, speeding is the number one cause of accidents on Texas roads. One out of every three traffic-related deaths is due to speeding.
Reckless Driving – Reckless or negligent driving encompasses speeding, distracted driving, and other accident causes. Still, it also includes passing on the shoulder, “brake checking” other cars, whipping in and out of cars in traffic, following too close, and road rage. There is no single statistic for reckless driving accidents in Texas, but it is a significant problem for motorists.
Is Texas a No-Fault State for Car Accidents?
No, Texas is what is called an “at-fault” state, meaning that the person who caused the accident is responsible for paying for any injuries, loss, or damages it caused. The auto laws in Texas subscribe to what is called comparative fault. A comparative fault system allows car accident victims to recover compensation for their injuries, damages, and other losses, provided that the car accident victim’s level of fault is 50% or less. If the judge finds that they are more than 50% responsible for the accident, then they are not able to pursue compensation.
How is Fault Determined in a Texas Car Accident?
After a Texas car accident, fault can be determined in one of two ways. It can be determined in a courtroom by a jury or judge, which is called a “formal trier of fact.” It can also be determined by an insurance company adjuster, which is called an “informal trier of fact.” Both of these methods use evidence that consists of reports from the police investigation, accident reports, witness statements, and expert testimonies.
Common Injuries from Car Accidents
Injuries in car accident cases can range from minor, like a few bumps and bruises, to severe, such as spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury. The most common injury in car accidents is whiplash. Car accidents cause more than three million cases of whiplash a year in the United States alone. It can also be severe, causing headaches, nerve damage, neck injury, chronic pain, and immobility. It can take months to recover, but some cases may cause long-term or even permanent damage and pain.
Some of the most common car accident injuries include:
- Whiplash
- Facial trauma
- Back injury
- Herniated disc
- Neck pain
- Soft tissue injury
- Sprains and Strains
- Bone fracture
- Knee Injuries
- Hand injuries
- Concussion
- Head injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Burns
- Neck Injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Chronic physical pain
- Emotional pain
- Internal injuries
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Laceration
- Bruising
- Spinal cord injury
- Nerve damage
- Paralysis
- Eye injury
What Damages Can You Recover if You Are in a Car Accident?
In car accident cases, the victim may be able to seek financial recovery for the injuries and damages they sustained. There are compensatory damages, which include economic damages and noneconomic damages. There are also non-compensatory damages, which are punitive damages. The accident victim may be awarded partial or full compensation for compensatory damages and, in some cases, punitive damages.
Economic Damages – These are specific and tangible damages that have a price tag. In other words, they are measurable losses that the accident victim has incurred as a result of the accident.
Noneconomic Damages – These are general and intangible damages that do not have a price tag. They cannot be measured, meaning you can’t add receipts and bills to arrive at a specific monetary amount.
This is a breakdown of compensatory damages that the victim can seek due to injury claims resulting from a car accident:
- Economic damages
- Lost income
- Compensation for medical treatment, past and future
- Hospital bills
- Emergency room expenses
- Medication
- Therapy costs for emotional injury
- Cost associated with property damage, such as replacing or repairing the damaged property
- Lost business opportunities resulting from the car accident injuries
- Noneconomic damages
- The injuries from the accident
- Disfigurement
- Physical impairment
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Disability
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Punitive Damages – These are awarded in addition to compensatory damages and are considered punishment when a judge or jury determines that the at-fault party acted maliciously when they caused the accident.
What to do if You Are in a Car Accident in Texas
If you have been in a car accident in Richardson, Texas, or in Texas in general, there are certain steps that you need to take.
- If you can, pull your car off the road.
- Remain at the scene.
- See if anyone needs medical assistance.
- Call 911 to report the crash. Request emergency services as needed.
- Get the other driver’s name, contact, and insurance info, as well as names and numbers of witnesses.
- Get the accident report number from the police.
- If you can’t drive your car, call a tow truck.
- Get checked out at the emergency room. Follow up with your doctor and follow their instructions.
- File a car accident claim with your insurance company.
- Hire a qualified Richardson car accident lawyer to help you pursue full compensation.
Have You Been Hurt in a Car Accident? You May be Eligible for Full Compensation
If you have been hurt in a motor vehicle accident, you could be eligible to pursue an injury claim for partial or even full compensation for your injuries, damages, and losses. Call one of our car accident lawyers to schedule a free case review of your personal injury claim.
Contact AMS Law Office for a Free Consultation with our Car Accident Attorneys
When you call AMS Law Firm for your car accident case, you will get the power of a professional, experienced team that is ready to fight for you. If you have been hurt in an accident in Richardson, TX, Dallas County, or the surrounding area, give us a call. Schedule your free consultation with a car accident lawyer today and get the compensation that you deserve.
