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Car accidents are the leading cause of death for many young people and lead to some of the most serious accidents and injuries that most people will ever face in their lives. If you were recently injured in a car accident or lost a loved one to a dangerous driver, contact an attorney about your case. You might be able to seek damages through an insurance claim, but those damages might be too low to cover your needs fully.
Never accept money from the other driver or the car insurance companies before you speak with a personal injury lawyer about your claim. A resourceful Plano car accident lawyer can help you determine who is at fault for the accident and how much you stand to recover for your experience. You likely only have two years from the date of the accident to file your lawsuit, so it is imperative that you speak to an attorney as soon as possible.
The Queenan Law Firm’s Plano, Texas car accident attorneys represent car crash victims and their families and fight to get them the compensation they need for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To schedule your free consultation, call our law offices today at (817) 476-1797.
Common Types of Car Accidents in Texas
Every car accident is a little different, but many crashes occur in the same common ways. Injuries from these kinds of accidents are often clearly the other driver’s fault, and you may be able to seek substantial compensation for the injuries you faced. Some of these most common car crashes include the following types of accidents:
Drunk Driving/DUI Accidents
If you were injured in a car crash with a drunk driver, you are likely going to be able to prove the other driver was at fault. It is illegal to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol in Texas, and drivers who cause accidents this way are often liable for criminal and civil fines and penalties. Proving the other driver was drunk at the time may be difficult, but you might be able to access police records and testimony to help prove your case.
Failure to Yield at a Left Turn
When two lanes of traffic going in opposite directions reach a traffic light or a cross-street, accidents commonly occur because of drivers turning left. Drivers waiting to turn left might misjudge the distance of an oncoming car, fail to signal, or turn suddenly under dangerous circumstances. These crashes often cause head-on or side-impact collisions, which can crush the driver’s area of the victim’s car and cause serious injuries.
Speeding Car Accidents
Speed is a factor in the vast majority of car crashes. Speed limits throughout Texas set how fast a driver may legally drive. Driving above that limit might automatically shift the blame to the speeding driver during a crash. Especially if the crash would have been avoided at reasonable speeds, the speeding driver is often at fault in these crashes. Speeding does not always have to mean driving above the posted speed limit, either; driving too fast for road conditions can be extremely dangerous on wet roads or roads with blind hills and corners, leading to fault for a crash.
Rear-End Collisions
Typically, rear-end crashes are caused by drivers tailgating or following too closely. If a driver does not leave themselves enough room to stop in an emergency, they can easily rear-end the car in front of them, potentially causing serious injuries like whiplash. Unless the driver in front stopped in an unnecessary hurry or drove in reverse, proving the driver to the rear was at fault is often straightforward.
Running a Red Light or Stop Sign
Failing to stop at a red light or stop sign is one of the clearest examples of negligent driving. If a driver hit you because they failed to stop at an intersection, you should be able to prove they were responsible for the accident.
Who is at Fault in a Car Accident Case?
The rules of the road often dictate who is at fault in a car crash. Typically, the person who violated more traffic laws – or violated more important traffic laws – is at-fault for the crash. In situations where the laws do not provide an answer, asking what a reasonable driver should do in that situation might help explain who is at fault.
Drunk drivers, speeding drivers, and drivers who run red lights are often at fault for the accidents they cause. However, these drivers may attempt to shift blame to the victim by claiming they did something to contribute to the accident, such as speeding or failing to use a turn signal.
Fortunately, juries can assign blame to each party involved in the crash, and victims can still recover damages even if they were partly at fault. For instance, a jury might consider speeding or reaching down to adjust the radio enough for partial blame – but this does not remove the at-fault driver’s blame. Your damages may be reduced by the percentage of fault that you shared, but you can still recover against a driver that injured you even if you are as high as 50% at-fault for the crash.
Damages in a Car Accident Lawsuit in Plano, TX
If you are successful in proving that the other driver negligently caused an accident that left you injured in Plano, you can recover monetary compensation to address the harms you sustained. This compensation is also referred to as “damages.”
Damages encompass a variety of different harms that may affect a car accident victim. In a successful lawsuit, damages will cover all medical expenses associated with the plaintiff’s injuries. Emergency room visits, surgical procedures, specialist appointments, physical therapy, and prescription medication are all examples of costs that would be included in a calculation of damages.
If your injuries force you to miss time at work or hinder your ability to perform the functions of your job, your damages will account for your lost wages or decreased earning power.
Make sure to save all cost estimates for auto body repair as the damage to your vehicle could also be covered in a lawsuit. Do not be afraid to seek a second opinion on your damages if you feel that the insurance company’s initial estimate is not enough.
Damages will also account for the pain and suffering that may accompany your injuries or your impacted psychological state after being involved in an accident. Car accidents can be traumatizing. Dealing with the subsequent injuries, such as scars, chronic pain, or disfigurement, can be trying as well. Texas law allows plaintiffs to seek compensation to address all of these issues and more. Speak to one of our experienced Plano car accident lawyers for a detailed estimate of what your case could be worth.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Plano, TX
How you react to a car accident in Plano can determine how successful you will be in your lawsuit. Below are some steps that you should take to ensure your physical, emotional, and financial security after being injured in a car accident.
Get to Safety
No matter what, your safety is your first priority. If you are involved in an accident, move the cars over to the side of the road and put your hazards on to indicate your position to other cars. If you cannot move the cars, make sure that you and everyone else are out of danger.
Collect Information and Call the Police
Once everyone at the scene is out of immediate danger, you will want to begin gathering information. This includes contact and insurance information for the other parties involved as well as any eyewitnesses to the accident. You should also take pictures and video of the accident site and the damage to the cars. Finally, make sure that you call 911 so that the dispatcher can send a police officer to write up an accident report. Accident reports are critical to your case when it comes time to secure your recovery.
Seek Medical Attention
Once you are done at the scene of the accident, your next stop should be the emergency room. This is important for several reasons. Obviously, having your injuries examined and treated as soon as possible is best for your health. It also serves as immediate documentation of the severity of the injuries. This documentation makes it harder for a defendant to claim the injuries were caused by some other event after the accident. Make sure to record the cost of all medical procedures, as you will be totaling these when estimating your damages for a lawsuit.
Call a Plano Car Accident Lawyer
You will want to have the help of an experienced Plano car accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident. For one, acting quickly eliminates the chance of running past the statute of limitations (more on that below). Further, you may find that an attorney can be helpful well in advance of your lawsuit. For instance, your attorney can gather the appropriate information about your accident and communicate with the insurance companies on your behalf.
Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Lawsuits in Plano, TX
In the State of Texas, the of time that a car accident victim has to file their lawsuit (or “statute of limitations”) is two years from the date of the accident. If a plaintiff does not file their lawsuit within the statute of limitations’ deadline, their claim will most likely be thrown out in court.
Preparing to file a lawsuit may be complicated depending on how many parties are involved and the severity of the injuries sustained. Be sure to act quickly and contact a Plano car accident attorney as soon as possible if you hope to recover.
Plano, Texas Car Crash Lawyers Offering Free Consultations on Injury Cases
If you were injured in a car accident, talk to an attorney before accepting any money from the other driver or the insurance companies. Our Plano car accident lawyers can help you understand what your case might be worth and how much you could be entitled to if you filed a lawsuit for your injuries. These damages are often higher than car insurance will provide and might be the best route to maximum compensation in your case. To schedule a free consultation to discuss your car accident claim, contact The Queenan Law Firm today at (817) 476-1797.