You follow the rules of the road when you drive your car. Unfortunately, other motorists do not necessarily do the same. If a driver is negligent and slams their car into yours, hold them accountable for your losses. Partner with a Richardson car accident lawyer who can take legal action on your behalf.
The Texas Law Dog has recovered millions of dollars in compensatory damages for our clients. Tell us about your auto accident. From here, we can discuss your legal options with you and help you decide if now is the right time to sue any liable parties. Schedule a free case consultation with a Richardson personal injury lawyer.
Why You Should Hire a Lawyer if You Are Involved in a Car Accident
You expect a liable party to take responsibility for your auto accident. Regardless, this party or their insurance company is likely to do everything they can to avoid covering your losses. If they succeed, you will have to pay the costs of treating your injuries, repairing your car, and other accident-related expenses by yourself.
A Richardson car accident attorney understands liability in auto crashes. They can represent and advocate for you as you negotiate a settlement with a liable party’s insurance company. If no settlement is possible, your lawyer can file a lawsuit for you. They can explain what to expect during the car accident trial process and help you make informed decisions at each stage.
The Texas Law Dog shares legal FAQs with auto accident victims and their families. If you are considering a lawsuit against anyone who contributed to your car crash, we are here to help. Request a free case consultation with us.
When to File a Richardson Car Accident Lawsuit
According to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, the statute of limitations for a personal injury lawsuit is two years. This time frame applies to auto accidents. If you get hurt in a car crash caused by someone else, you must submit your lawsuit promptly. Otherwise, you could lose the right to get money from the liable party.
Talk to a car accident lawyer in Richardson within days of your auto collision. Your lawyer can file your lawsuit and build a case that resonates with a judge or jury. At the same time, they can negotiate a settlement for you.
Settlement negotiations are ongoing until your case goes to trial. If a liable party proposes a settlement, review the offer with your attorney. Just because you receive an offer does not mean you have to accept it. If a proposal is less than what you feel you deserve, decline it and continue with your litigation.
Richardson Car Accident Lawyer Near Me (817) 775-5364
What a Car Accident Lawsuit Is Worth
A car accident attorney in Richardson wants you to obtain compensation for your quantifiable and subjective losses. They provide insights into economic and non-economic damages relative to your case. Reasons you could receive these damages include:
- Medical care costs
- Costs of repairing or replacing your car
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Lost wages
In rare instances, a court can award punitive damages in conjunction with economic and non-economic damages. A judge or jury will provide these to deter a liable party from committing future acts of negligence. Your lawyer can answer your questions about what punitive damages are and whether you could receive these in your lawsuit.
How to Prove Negligence in a Car Accident Case
Your body of evidence is critical if you want to prove someone is responsible for your auto accident. Witness statements, accident scene photos, and other proof can help you show that a party was negligent. Ultimately, your lawyer uses evidence to highlight how the following elements of negligence were present at the time of your accident:
Duty of Care
This is a legal obligation for someone to comply with the law and avoid any acts that a reasonable person would consider to be reckless or careless. For example, a driver is expected not to travel faster than the posted speed limit. Thus, the driver has a duty of care to you and other motorists to follow this and other rules.
Breach of Duty of Care
If someone intentionally puts others in danger, they have violated their duty of care. For instance, if a driver decides to travel above the speed limit, they are breaching their duty of care to other motorists and putting these drivers and pedestrians at risk.
Causation
If your case requires a trial, your lawyer discusses the link between the duty of care that someone had, how this legal obligation was violated, and how these actions led to your car accident and injuries. They want to illustrate that the defendant’s actions harmed you.
Damages
An auto accident leaves you with medical bills, auto repair expenses, and other damages. Your attorney wants you to track what you pay to cover your accident-related costs. They can share evidence with the court to explain your damages and why the defendant should have to compensate you for them.
Your lawyer accounts for how the defendant will contest your argument. This allows your attorney to dispute the defendant’s claims. Meanwhile, your lawyer wants to make it clear that you are in no way liable for your accident. This is due to Texas’ modified comparative negligence statute.
How Modified Comparative Negligence Can Impact the Compensation You Get in a Car Accident Lawsuit
Your attorney offers an eBook guide and other legal resources to help you as you go through the legal process. They detail how modified comparative negligence works, as this rule allows the court to award partial damages in personal injury lawsuits.
Based on modified comparative negligence, you can get compensation if you are partly to blame for your auto accident. What you receive can be reduced by how much you are at fault. For example, a judge or jury may say that you are 20% liable for your auto collision. The defendant may have to cover 80% of your damages.
Modified comparative negligence prevents you from securing damages if you are more at fault than the other party involved in your auto accident. Therefore, if a judge or jury says you are primarily responsible for an auto crash, you may be ineligible for damages.
Our Richardson Car Accident Lawyers Protect Your Legal Rights and Best Interests
The Texas Law Dog is a Hopkins County native with a strong work ethic. We do what is necessary to get you money you can use to recover from your auto accident and injuries.
Trust us to help you with your car accident case. Contact us to get started.
