Car Wreck Lawyers in Dallas and Amarillo
Every year, over 2.5 million people are injured in auto accidents in the U.S. alone. These automobile accidents range from minor fender benders to serious head-on collisions that leave victims with life-threatening injuries.
After you get in a car wreck, you must seek legal representation immediately. At Hernandez Law Group, P.C., our experienced personal injury attorneys have extensive experience working with victims of car accidents. You need to receive full compensation for your injuries, vehicle damage, and other damages so that you won’t be burdened with financial hardship after your accident.
In addition, you deserve compensation for the pain and suffering you endured during and after the accident. The attorneys at Hernandez Law Group in Dallas, Amarillo, and Abilene have a proven track record of winning clients full compensation for their damages, and we’ll make sure that you get the ideal outcome for your case. Contact us today if you’ve been injured in a car accident in Texas.
What Types of Car Accident Cases Does
Hernandez Law Group Represent?
The attorneys at the Hernandez Law Group, P.C. proudly represent victims of a wide range of car accidents, including the following:
- Rear-end collisions
- Sideswipe accidents
- Head-on auto accidents
- Hit-and-run car crashes
- Multi-car pileups
- Rollover accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- 18-wheeler accidents
- DWI accidents
- Uber/Lyft Accidents
- Bus Accidents
- Parking Lot Accidents
- Rollover Accidents
- Train Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
What Should I Do Immediately After a Car Accident
on Texas Highways?
It’s important to remain calm after a car accident and make sure that you follow all the following steps:
- Move your car (if you can do so safely). It’s much more important to move off the road than to stay exactly where the accident happened. This will keep both you and other drivers safer. Of course, if you can’t move your car after the accident due to extensive damage or your injuries following the wreck, don’t worry about moving the car. In either case, make sure to turn on your hazard lights.
- Check on the other driver and passengers. It’s important to ensure no one is seriously injured after the wreck. If anyone is (including yourself), immediately call an ambulance.
- Call the police. Once you’ve moved to safety and checked on everyone, it’s time to call the police to file a report.
- Gather information about the crash. As you wait for the police to arrive, you should gather as much information about the car crash as possible. This will help you when you’re making a car accident police report. This information may include the names of drivers and passengers, license plate numbers, the insurance information of the other driver, makes and models of the vehicles, witness statements and contact info of any witnesses, and the location of the accident.
- Take pictures of the accident scene. Use your phone to document all damage after the vehicle crash.
- Call a Dallas car accident attorney. Many people think that the next step is to call their insurance company. However, insurance companies are notorious for twisting words around and giving people as little money as possible for their accidents. The attorneys at Hernandez Law Group will help you get the full amount you deserve from the other driver and the insurance company.
- Visit a medical professional. After an accident, you should always see a doctor to document your injuries. Even if you think you don’t have any injuries, you should still go to the hospital because certain injuries (such as traumatic brain injuries) don’t manifest immediately.
How to File a Car Accident Police Report in Texas
After a car accident, it’s best to file your report with the officer reporting to the scene. In some cities, however, you also have the option of filing the report after the fact at the Texas Department of Transportation. If the damage is minor, you’re not legally obligated to file a car accident police report.
Remember that filing a car accident police report in Texas does not force you to file an insurance claim, so you should file a report even if you and the other driver are considering a settlement without involving the insurance company.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Dallas, Texas?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, some of the most common causes of vehicle accidents include:
- Speeding
- Failure to perform vehicle maintenance
- Inadequate surveillance
- Driving too fast for the conditions
- Following too closely
- Distraction/inattention
- Aggressive driving
- Fatigue/falling asleep at the wheel
- Illegal driving maneuver
- Driving while intoxicated
Common Car Accident Injuries
A car wreck can lead to a wide variety of severe injuries. These include:
- Neck and back injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Broken and fractured bones
- Scrapes and cuts
- Burns
- Internal bleeding
- Paralysis
Who Is Liable for a Car Accident?
Various theories of liability that aid in determining who is responsible for your injuries and the damage to your car. In certain cases, more than one theory of liability will apply, so multiple parties can be held responsible for your damages. The theories of liability that most commonly apply to car accident cases are:
- Negligence, or Direct Liability. The most common cause of car accidents is negligence (also known as direct liability). When another driver operates their vehicle unsafely, their negligence may cause you to get into a car accident. Whether they’re speeding, following too closely, not paying attention, or engaging in another negligent behavior, they’re liable for your damages.
- Respondeat Superior. Respondeat Superior is the theory of liability that holds employers responsible for the actions of their employees. If you’re struck by an 18-wheeler, a crane, or a company vehicle, you may be able to hold both the vehicle’s operator and their employer responsible for your damages.
- Product Liability. Occasionally, a faulty vehicle or part may contribute to or cause your accident. Faulty parts may also cause an increase in injuries, such as in the case of airbags not deploying. In these cases, the vehicle manufacturer may be held wholly or partially responsible for your car accident.
What Damages Can I Receive Compensation For After a Car Wreck?
After a vehicle accident, there are several types of damages you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Property damage. You deserve to be compensated for any damage to your vehicle after you are in a car accident. In addition, you may also be able to receive compensation for any objects in your car that are damaged in the vehicle wreck.
- Medical bills. You’re likely to incur injuries after you’ve been in a car wreck. These injuries can lead to thousands of dollars in medical bills, which you deserve to be recouped.
- Income loss. As you recover from the injuries you sustain from a vehicle accident, you may lose income, for which you deserve compensation.
- Pain and suffering. Pain and suffering damages include any physical or mental suffering you experience after an accident.
- Punitive damages. In some cases, you may be entitled to punitive damages after a car wreck. These damages are designed to punish the entity or individual that caused your wreck for their reckless or negligent behavior.
- Mental anguish. If a loved one is killed in a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation for the mental anguish that you suffer.
What Kind of Car Insurance is Required in Texas?
Texas only requires liability insurance for cars. These are the minimum coverages that every driver in Texas must have:
- Bodily injury liability – $30,000 for each injured person and $60,000 total per accident
- Property damage liability – $25,000 per accident
Optional insurance that you should consider includes collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, uninsured motorist protection, and personal injury protection.
Should I Talk To My Insurance Company Or Call a Dallas Car Accident Attorney First?
Typically, when you are injured in an automobile accident caused by the negligence of another driver, you will receive a call from your insurance company and their claims adjuster. This usually occurs a couple days after the accident has occurred. Most of the time, individuals don’t think about the risks involved in talking with insurance companies and the claims adjuster. The language the insurance company uses may sound nice and understanding but it has a hidden motive. They will try to get you to admit to partial fault for the accident or say your injuries aren’t as bad as they are so that they don’t have to pay you what you deserve.
An experienced car accident attorney, such as the ones from the Hernandez Law Group, P.C. will be able to explain your rights to you when dealing with insurance negotiations. We will ensure that they are not trying to bully you into accepting a settlement that is less than you deserve. Instead, we fight to ensure that they give you a fair settlement, and if we can’t work it out with them, we are fully prepared to take your case to court.
According to data collected by the Texas Department of Transportation, Texas saw 422,695 car wrecks in 2017, which averages out to about 1,158 per day. 3,342 of these crashes were fatal crashes, which means that 8 out of every 1000 crashes led to death.
Dallas Car Accident Statistics in 2022
- There were 212 fatal car accidents with 228 fatalities.
- There were 1,004 serious injury crashes with 1,182 reported serious injuries.
- There were 3,971 crashes with minor injuries and a total of 5,448 minor injuries reported.
- There were 20,970 non-injury crashes.
- There were 2,503 accidents where the severity of the damage or injuries was not reported.
- In total, there were 33,980 car accidents in the city of Dallas, accounting for 7.9% of all accidents in the State of Texas.
All statistics were pulled from the Texas Department of Transportations 2022 Car Accident Report.
What Are the Most Dangerous Cities to Drive in in DFW?
The most dangerous Dallas/Fort Worth cities to drive in are:
- Dallas with 33,980 accidents.
- Fort Worth with 13,401 car accidents.
- Arlington with 5,787 automobile accidents.
- Plano with 4,936 car accidents.
- Irving with 4,696 crashes.
- Grand Prairie with 3,294 crashes.
- Garland with 2,949 crashes.
- Denton with 2,824 crashes.
- Lewisville with 2,621 crashes.
- Richardson with 1,891 crashes.
In total, 122,352 car accidents occurred within the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, which is 29% of the total number of accidents in Texas. Dallas County was the most accident-prone city, with 20 accidents per 1,000 people and 50,627 vehicle crashes overall. Collin County was the safest, with 13 car wrecks per 1,000 people.
DFW Drunk Driving Accident Statistics in 2022
Drunk driving is a serious issue in the DFW, Metroplex. There were 17,935 DWI accidents in the State of Texas in 2022, which equates to about 49 accidents a day. The cities with the worst drunk driving accident statistics are as follows in DFW:
- Dallas had a total of 1,055 DWI accidents.
- Arlington had a total of 544 DWI accidents.
- Fort Worth had a total of 423 DWI accidents.
- Irving had a total of 295 DWI accidents.
- Plano had a total of 241 DWI accidents.
- Garland had a total of 202 DWI accidents.
- Mesquite had a total of 167 DWI accidents.
- Grand Prairie had a total of 164 DWI accidents.
- Frisco had a total of 103 DWI accidents.
- McKinney had a total of 83 DWI accidents.
How Our Dallas Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You Receive Compensation
A personal injury attorney does more than represent your case in court. Our car wreck attorneys will help you determine who is liable for your injuries, what kinds of insurance claims to file, what damages you deserve compensation for and other important factors of your case.
We will also deal with the insurance companies for you; the legal team at Hernandez Law Group know how to work with the insurance companies so that they can’t manipulate you into receiving less compensation than you deserve.
If you’ve been in a car accident, contact our team at Hernandez Law Group, P.C. Juan Hernandez is one of a small percentage of lawyers in Texas who are board-certified in personal injury law.
Because of this, you can trust that he has the experience to win your case. Contact us today to schedule your free car accident legal consultation. We have law offices in Dallas, Amarillo, and Abilene.
Car Accident FAQS:
The moments immediately after an accident are the most crucial. The following steps ensure that you and your passengers are safe and provide the evidence needed to support your case when seeking compensation. Here is what you need to do:
1. Move your car to the side of the road (if you are able).
2. Check on the other driver and passengers, and call emergency medical services if needed.
3. Call the police.
4. Gather information about the crash, including:
– Name and insurance information of the other drivers involved
– License plate numbers of the vehicles
– Makes and models of the vehicles
– Statements and contact information of any witnesses
– Location and time of the accident
5. Take pictures of the accident scene.
6. Call a car accident injury attorney.
7. Visit a medical professional.
There are three basic requirements that your car accident case must meet for a valid compensation claim. These are as follows:
1. The other driver who caused the accident was negligent. They violated their duty of care by breaking the law, such as speeding or running a red light.
2. Proof that your injuries came from the accident. It is extremely important to get your injuries looked at by a healthcare professional. Not only can they treat your injuries, but they can also document your injuries and their cause. This will show that you were injured as a direct result of the accident and not an existing injury.
3. The accident caused you to suffer damages and injuries that are compensable. Medical records, the police report from the accident, and pictures of the injuries and damage to your car can show what damages you suffered after the accident. You will also want to include other areas of financial stress from the accident, such as lost wages and pain and suffering. A car accident attorney can help you determine what amount of damages can be considered for your compensation.
There are several types of damages you may be entitled to for compensation. These include the following:
– Property damage
– Present and future medical expenses
– Income loss
– Pain and suffering
– Punitive damages
– Mental anguish
– Loss of consortium (in cases of wrongful death)
The statute of limitations in Texas for a car accident is two years from the date of the accident.
Yes. You must contact your insurance company to report the accident, even if you were not at fault. However, be careful what you say to your insurance company, and do not talk to the other driver’s insurance company without your car accident attorney present. Sometimes the other driver’s insurance company will try and trick you into claiming that your injuries are not as bad as you say or that you were at partial fault for the accident.
Since our founding in 1999, The Hernandez Law Group, P.C. has been Dallas, Texas’s most trusted car accident attorney. We have helped thousands of clients seek compensation to cover medical expenses and damages. To date, our attorneys have successfully recovered hundreds of millions for our clients. We have over a 98% success rate.
Our car accident attorneys have consistently been voted the Best of the Bar in Dallas because of our diligence and dedication to each client’s success. We fight tirelessly for our clients so they can have successful recoveries.
Our experienced attorneys are led by Juan Hernandez, who is among the 2% of Texas attorneys who are certified in personal injury trial law by the Board of Legal Specialization. With an incredible amount of knowledge and expertise, our attorneys ensure that your case receives the best possible outcome.
Here is what the legal process looks like in a Dallas car accident case:
1. Hire an experienced car accident attorney.
2. Claim and medical record review to determine damages.
3. Negotiation and filing.
4. The discovery process. We gather all materials necessary for the trial, such as:
– Witness statements
– Medical records
– Expert witnesses
– Police reports of the accidents
– Photos
5. Pretrial motions:
– Motion to exclude. Either attorney may ask to exclude certain evidence, such as material that was gathered illegally.
– Motion to change venue. Either attorney may ask to change the venue if the case has received too much publicity and threatens your safety.
7. Second settlement attempt.
8. Personal injury trial:
– Presentation of evidence
– Interrogation of witnesses
– The rendering of a verdict by the jury or judge
– Determination of compensation amount by the judge
The National Highway Traffic Safety Association lists the following as the most common causes of car accidents in Dallas, Texas:
1. Speeding
2. Failure to perform vehicle maintenance
3. Inadequate surveillance
4. Driving too fast for the conditions
5. Following too closely
6. Distracted driving
7. Aggressive driving
8. Fatigue
9. Illegal driving maneuvers
10. Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
The lawyers at the Hernandez Law Group, P.C. believe strongly in individuals’ right to seek compensation after they have been injured in an accident. We understand the expenses that go into filing and litigating a personal injury claim. By offering a no-win, no-fee agreement, we can represent our clients in a car accident case without causing them more financial stress. We don’t need an upfront fee.
If our client wins the case, we will take a previously agreed-upon percentage of the settlement or judgment. On the other hand, if the case is lost, we agree not to charge our client any legal fees.
Yes! The state of Texas is a modified comparative negligence state. This means that if a plaintiff is found to be less than 50% at fault for the accident, then they can still recover damages. However, the compensation they will receive will be reduced by how much percentage they were at fault.
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