I Need An Auto Accident Lawyer In Dallas County, TX
Auto accidents occur daily in Dallas County, Texas, and victims of severe collisions are sometimes left with severe physical, mental, and financial damages. Thankfully, personal injury law allows you the avenue of civil court to hold the at-fault party in your case responsible for the losses you sustained. However, you do not have to face this burden without professional help. An experienced auto accident attorney will guide you through the legal process, protecting your rights and ensuring your receive a fair settlement as quickly as possible.
What Should You Do After an Auto Accident?
Those first few moments after a crash are inundated with shock and confusion. It is hard to prepare for a car crash, but there are steps you can take in the aftermath that will protect your right to recover the damages you suffered. What you should do includes:
- Call 911. If anyone at the scene needs emergency medical care, alert the 911 operator. If no one is severely injured, you can still contact 911 for the police. Texas law requires you to report any accident resulting in bodily injury, death, or vehicular damage sufficient to make it inoperable.
- Remain on the scene. Once the police arrive, you should wait for them to complete their investigation and permit you to leave. If you did not need police assistance at the scene, you should stay until you exchange information with the other driver.
- Give a statement to the police. The police will investigate the crash, including questioning everyone involved. Provide the police with a thorough, detailed account of what happened from your perspective.
- Document evidence. Use your phone to record or take photographs so the crash, including damage to the vehicles and the license plate of the other driver’s car. If you suffered a severe injury and could not complete this task, you have no reason to worry. Your attorney will investigate the case to collect evidence.
- Collect information from the driver and witnesses. You need the other driver’s name, contact, and insurance information. If you are unable to collect this evidence at the time of the accident, you should be able to find it in the police report.
- See a doctor for an evaluation. If you do not require an ambulance, you can still see your primary care physician or go to the emergency room or urgent care yourself to receive an examination.
Auto accident attorneys charge no upfront fees to listen to the details of your case, and they typically work on a contingency basis. Therefore, you have nothing to lose from speaking with an attorney. The more information you can provide, the better they can assess any possible outcome for your case, which is why you should contact an auto accident attorney immediately following the collision while the details are still fresh in your memory.
What You Should Not Do
There are two common mistakes that accident victims make following an accident that could damage your case:
- Talking too much about the accident. Avoid speaking to anyone other than the police officer taking your statement at the scene. You may feel angry or nervous and want to say something to the other driver, but you do not want to risk saying something that could cause issues with your negligence claim. Additionally, avoid discussing the case on social media or with anyone other than your attorney. Even if your social media pages are private, the insurance company could find a way to access that information and use it against you.
- Not getting a medical evaluation. A foundational basis for your lawsuit is the damages caused by your injuries. Seeing a doctor provides you with medical records, proving your injuries and ensures you get the care you need. If you do not see a doctor, it can be challenging to prove your injuries relate directly to the accident. Additionally, waiting too long for care could prompt the defense to claim you received your injuries elsewhere.
If you have questions about your actions following your accident and what to do to protect your right to compensation, an auto accident attorney can help you build your case and understand the evidence you need.
How Do You Know if You Need an Auto Accident Lawyer?
Texas is an at-fault auto insurance state. This means the at-fault party in the accident is responsible for the victim’s economic and non-economic damages. Therefore, if your accident resulted in no bodily injuries and minor property damage, you could likely settle the case with an insurance claim and no litigation. However, you should contact an attorney if any of the following apply to your case:
- You suffered severe injuries. Medical care is expensive, and accidents resulting in severe injuries warrant substantial medical bills. You should not have to fight for fair compensation while suffering from painful injuries.
- The insurance company is not cooperating. Suppose the insurance company ignores your attempts to communicate, delays the investigation of your claim, or tries to deny your claim without reason. In that case, they are likely trying to avoid validating your claim and delaying you long enough to miss the deadline to file a lawsuit.
- The at-fault driver was under the influence, driving recklessly, or acting with the intent to injure. In cases where the driver acted with no sense of responsibility for the safety of others on the road, you may have a claim for punitive damages in addition to compensation for your losses. Again, an attorney can help you understand the chances of receiving additional payments.
- The other party blames you for the accident. If the other party tries to displace negligence against you, you need an experienced attorney to help you fight the allegations and collect evidence to support your claim.
You need no specific reason to contact an auto accident attorney. Collect the questions you have before your consultation, so you have the chance to find the best move for your case.
When Should You Schedule a Consultation with an Auto Accident Lawyer?
You can contact an auto accident attorney at any point in the aftermath of the crash, including right there at the scene. While it is in your best interests to file a claim with the insurance company as soon as possible, there is no deadline. However, if you want to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party in your case, Texas mandates a two-year statute of limitations on car accident lawsuits. This means you only have two years from the date of your accident to file with Dallas County civil court. An auto accident lawyer can let you know quickly if they can take your case, and once they do, they will get started on the paperwork to file your lawsuit immediately.
At Fielding Law, our auto accident attorneys know the struggle victims of negligence drivers face. Our mission is to provide you with aggressive legal representation and kind, compassionate friendship. Your interests are our interests, and we have experience battling insurance companies for a fair and speedy settlement. Contact Field Law today for your free consultation if you suffered an injury or lost a loved one due to a careless driver in Dallas County, Texas. You can fill out the online case evaluation form or call us at (877) 880-4090. We are here to provide you with peace of mind and a plan to get your life back.
