Car Accident Lawyers in Dallas, TX Obtaining Fair Compensation for Victims of Motor Vehicle Accidents
Being involved in a motor vehicle accident is one of the most traumatic experiences that an individual can go through. Being involved in a car wreck can cause you to experience serious medical issues as well as limit your ability to work. Medical bills can quickly start to add up and you may begin to face financial hardship due to lost wages. You need to go back to work in order to pay your bills but you also need to focus on your recovery.
When you have been injured in an auto accident by another person’s negligence you need the help of a skilled personal injury attorney who can assist you with filing a claim. Filing a personal injury claim enables you to get the legal process started to recover compensation for the damages you have suffered as a result of the car crash.
The Redwine Law Firm has personal injury lawyers who understand the pain and suffering that you are having to deal with after a car accident. Our experienced team has the vital skills necessary to file a lawsuit on your behalf to recover the compensation that you deserve. Contact our law office and ask to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.
What Should I Do if I Have Been Involved in an Auto Accident?
Being involved in an auto accident can be frightening and often causes confusion for individuals who are on the scene. As chaotic as the situation may be, there are a few basic rules that you should always remember if you have been involved in a car accident:
- Remain on the accident scene and call 911 immediately.
- Check yourself and any other injured passengers for injuries caused by the accident. If anyone is injured inform the 911 dispatcher that you need immediate medical attention.
- If safe to do so move damaged vehicles out of the way of oncoming traffic.
- Exchange information with the other driver such as license and insurance information. Also, be sure to get their license plate number as well as their contact information. You may want to use your cell phone to take pictures of details in order to save time.
- If you were involved in a hit and run accident write down or record as many details as you can remember about the other vehicle as soon as possible while the car accident is still fresh in your mind.
- Gather evidence from bystanders who may have witnesses to the accident, including their contact information. Also be certain to take pictures of the accident, the terrain, weather conditions, as well as the lighting conditions.
- Request a copy of the police report for your own records.
- Seek medical treatment immediately. Even if you do not think that you are injured you need to be properly evaluated by medical professionals. Often head injuries and whiplash do not instantly manifest themselves but could lead to serious problems if not treated right away.
- Keep all medical records and other documentation that relates to your visit to the emergency room.
- Do not speak with the other driver’s insurance company. Some insurance representatives may try to convince you to submit a recorded statement. They may try to use this against you should you later choose to file a car accident claim.
- Consult with a qualified car accident attorney as soon as possible. An injury attorney can review your case, answer your legal questions, as well as advise you of your legal options.
If you have been seriously injured in a car accident, you need a Dallas car accident lawyer who will help you recover the compensation that you deserve. Contact our law office and ask to schedule a free consultation.
What is Comparative Negligence in Texas?
Texas is a comparative negligence state which means that the law holds each party accountable for their percentage of fault for the accident. Additionally, if the court finds you to be more than 5o percent responsible for the accident you will be prohibited from recovering any amount of compensation.
If it is determined that your degree of fault is less than 50 percent you may be awarded compensation. However, the amount of compensation that you receive will be reduced by the percentage of fault that the court determines is appropriate.
This means that if the court awards you $100,000 in damages and the court determines that you are 25 percent responsible for the accident, you will only receive a total of $75,000 for your final compensation settlement.
Furthermore, if your accident case involves settling damages with more than one individual the court will further reduce the amount of financial compensation that you are eligible to receive. The same rule will apply so that the total amount of damages will be reduced by the percentage that is equal to your assigned percentage of responsibility.
Comparative negligence can be a complicated insurance law to understand with the assistance of a personal injury lawyer. The Dallas car accident lawyers of The Redwine Law Firm have the skills and knowledge necessary to strengthen your claim even if you hold a degree of accountability for the accident. Having qualified legal representation can make all the difference in the total amount of compensation that you may ultimately be able to receive.
Contact our law office and ask to schedule a free consultation as soon as possible.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover From an Automobile Accident?
The types and amount of damages that you may be able to recover as the result of a car accident case will depend on the extent of your injuries and property damage that was sustained in the collision.
When determining what is appropriate for your particular case it is crucial that you have a personal injury attorney who can help you to determine what damages are applicable to your accident case.
Some of the most common types of compensation that we are able to recover for clients include both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are meant to reimburse you for the out-of-pocket expenses that you have already paid or may have to pay in the future as the result of being injured or due to property damage. They are:
- Medical expenses: include hospital bills, costs of prescription drugs, rehabilitation costs, physical therapy, and other medical necessities. These damages are also awarded when it is determined that you will need consistent medical treatment for the foreseeable future.
- Lost wages: include the income that you lost due to your inability to work.
- Future lost income: includes the loss of future earnings due to your inability to return to work.
- Property damages: include the costs associated with damage to your car. This may also include the money that you have spent on a rental car.
- Other related costs: include court costs and legal fees related to your personal injury case.
Non-Economic Damages
Unlike economic damages. non-economic damages do not have a set amount already attached to them, but are instead more subjective in nature. The amount of compensation that you could potentially receive would depend on the unique circumstances that surround your particular case.
Some examples of non-economic damages are:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Disfigurement and scarring
Punitive Damages
Puntive damages, also known as exemplary damages, are awarded to penalize the at fault party rather than reimburse the victim for damages. However, punitive damages are not appropriate for all car accident claims.
In order for a plaintiff to recover punitive damages they must be able to prove that defendant injured them through malice, fraud, or gross negligence. Furthermore, under texas law, the jury must come to a unanimous decision with regard to the total amount of punitive damages that they feel are suitable in the case.
Texas law also stipulates that punitive damages are to be capped at $200,000 in cases in which economic damages are not awarded. Conversely, the cap is set at double the amount of the economic damages plus an additional equal amount of non-economic damages up to $75,000.
Regardless of what types of damages you may qualify to seek in your claim, our personal injury lawyers will fight to help you obtain the maximum compensation you deserve.
What Are the Most Common Car Accident Injuries?
For injured victims who have been involved in a car accident, there are a multitude of potential injuries that they could suffer. However, there are severe injuries that tend to be associated with a car wreck which includes:
- Head and neck injuries
- Broken bones
- Facial lacerations, cuts, and abrasions
- Whiplash
In addition, injury victims are susceptible to sustaining catastrophic injuries. These types of injuries has be life-altering in nature and include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injuries
- Loss of a limb or organ
- Permanent physical impairment such as blindness or deafness.
Sadly, some motor vehicle crashes result in traffic fatalities. Traffic fatalities are often the result of head on collisions, drunk driving. If your loved one has been tragically taken from you as a result of wrongful death, our attorneys will work to ensure that the at fault parties are held accountable for their actions. It is advisable that you speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible as there are strict time limits on how long you have to file a wrongful death claim.
Regardless of the types of injuries that you may have sustained in a motor vehicle accident, the personal injury lawyers of The Redwine Law Firm of Dallas, Texas will fight to recover full compensation for you.
How Can Your Law Firm Help Me With My Personal Injury Case?
The car accident attorneys of The Redwine Law Firm understand that after you have sustained serious injuries in an auto accident one of the last issues you want to deal with is the insurance company or personal injury claims. Nevertheless, due to the physical injuries that are suffering you may be unable to work or provide for your family.
Our personal injury attorneys realize what a stressful and overwhelming time this is for you. Our main objective is to help you recover maximum compensation for your personal injuries. Contact our law firm by calling 214-444-7703 and scheduling a free case evaluation. We can advise you of your rights as well as any potential legal action that may be available to you.