Denton Car Accident Attorneys

Every year, there are tens of thousands of motor vehicle accidents on Texas highways, and a high percentage of those accidents result in personal injuries to those involved. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, in 2017, there were 14,299 serious injury crashes with 17,546 people sustaining a serious injury.  In a place like Dallas/Fort Worth you will encounter drivers everywhere you go. In order to prevent these horrific accidents from occurring, motorists have a legal responsibility to uphold the highest level of safety and caution when driving on the road. When a car accident does occur, you should know what to do and what information to gather to facilitate your attorneys’ pursuit of your legal claim against the party that caused the accident.

Causes of Car Accidents

Individuals under the influence of alcohol, pedestrians, speeders, people driving at night, and drivers who flee the scene (hit and run) are most commonly responsible for auto accidents. Incidents of speeding and being unable to break in a timely manner are major causes of automobile accidents.  Auto accidents also occur when a person operates a car in a reckless, careless and/or unsafe manner. Commonly this includes ignoring traffic signals, following too closely, making an unsafe lane change, or being distracted by eating, texting, or talking on a cell phone.

In all of these cases, a person has been “negligent” in following general rules of automobile safety and using “reasonable care” in operating a car. The negligent person is considered to be at fault in causing the accident.

Car Accident Statistics

According to United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, Americans now drive an average of 13,476 miles per year and may see average traffic of 11,000 to 50,000 vehicles a day. The 2016 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data shows 37,461 people were killed in 34,436 motor vehicle crashes, an average of 102 per day. Records further indicate that there were 3,613,732 motor vehicle fatalities in the United States from 1899 to 2013.

Likewise, according to the Association for Safe International Road Travel, the Annual United States Road Crash Statistics are as follows:

• In 2017, 37,133 people died in road crashes each year
• An additional 2.35 million are injured or disabled
• Over 1,600 children under 15 years of age die each year
• Nearly 8,000 people are killed in crashes involving drivers ages 16-20
• Road crashes cost the U.S. $230.6 billion per year,or an average of $820 per person

According to the Texas Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Facts for 2017:

• In Texas, the 2017 death toll of motor vehicle traffic fatalities was 3,721 and was 3,794 deaths in 2016.
• There were no deathless days on Texas roadways in 2017.
• There were 552 people killed in head-on crashes in 2017.
• There were 14,299 serious injury crashes in Texas in 2017 with 17,546 people sustaining a serious injury.
• Fatalities in traffic crashes in rural areas of the state accounted for 52.4% of the state’s traffic fatalities. There were 1,950 deaths in rural traffic crashes.
• Single vehicle, run-off the road crashes resulted in 1,313 deaths in 2017. This was 35.29 % of all motor vehicle traffic deaths in 2017.
• In 2017 there were 761 people killed in crashes occurring in intersections or related to an intersection.
• Based on reportable crashes in 2017:
  • 1 person was killed every 2 hours 21 minutes
  • 1 person was injured every 2 minutes 4 seconds
  • 1 reportable crash occurred every 59 seconds
• Of all persons killed in vehicles where restraint usage was applicable and usage was known in 2017, 40.1% were reported as not restrained when the fatal crash occurred.
• 254,853 persons were injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2017.
• There were 501 motorcyclists (operators and passengers) killed in 2017.
• Fifty two percent (52%) of motorcyclists killed were not wearing helmets at the time of the crash.
• In 2017, there were 1,024 people killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes where a driver was under the influence of alcohol. This is 28% of the total number of people killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes.
• During 2017, more DUI – Alcohol crashes were reported in the hour between 2:00 am and 2:59 am than any other hour of the day.
• In 2017, there were 449 people killed in crashes involving distracted driving. This is a 2% decrease from 2016.

Faced with these statistics, motorists should be prepared for auto accidents, know how to handle themselves in an accident, and know in advance a reliable accident attorney. Our car accident attorneys at Chandler | Ross can assist drivers who are involved in car accidents.

What to Do After a Car Accident

After the confusion of a car accident, you have very limited time under stressful conditions to gather as much information as possible. Immediately after the accident – when everyone involved is still on the scene and the vehicles are still in place – is the best time to gather information that may be critical in proving responsibility for the accident. Failure to gather this information can permanently limit the compensation you receive for injuries and damage.

Everyone involved in an auto accident wants to leave the scene and continue with what he or she was doing before the accident. Before everyone leaves, make sure you have everything you need to assure that you can effectively handle the fallout from the accident.  We suggest writing down or printing these tips to follow if you are involved in an accident.

• Make sure everyone is safe.
• Assure that anyone who needs medical attention receives it as soon as possible.
• Call 911, and request that the local police department be dispatched the scene of the accident in order to make a report.
• TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES before any cars are moved or towed.
• If needed, call the local police department in order to make a report.  Absolutely do this if the other driver is rude, or argumentative in any way.
• Get contact and vehicle information from the other parties involved, including:
  • Name, address and contact information
  • Insurance carrier information
  • Driver’s license number
  • Vehicle license plate number.
• Gather as much information as possible. Anything you document or record may work to your advantage as you deal with the consequences of the accident.
• Obtain specifics about other cars involved in the accident: license number and insurance at a minimum.
• Obtain information from the other driver: name, driver’s license number, address, telephone number and insurance information.
• Obtain information from passengers: names, addresses and contact information.
• Obtain information from witnesses: names, addresses, contact information, and statements if possible.
• Take pictures of everything, including the following:
  • All vehicles
  • All damaged property
  • All license plate numbers
  • All drivers and passengers
  • Witnesses
  • Vehicles’ mileage
  • Street signs and/or lights
  • Emergency personnel
  • Insurance cards
• Diagrams or notations about the damage to each car.

• Seek medical attention. Symptoms of accident-related injuries do not always surface immediately. Go to an emergency room, urgent care service or your personal physician as soon as possible.
• Contact Chandler | Ross, PLLC immediately.
• E-mail us at Support@ChandlerRossLaw.com, and call us at 940-800-2500. After-hours e-mails will generally be returned immediately.  (We suggest saving this contact information in your phone NOW.)

Remember:  Contact Chandler | Ross, PLLC as soon as possible after an accident.  Do not say or do anything that would indicate that you accept responsibility for the accident. This is particularly important if there are police at the scene.

Getting Medical Treatment after a Car Accident

If you are severely hurt in a car accident and the police respond to the accident, you will be taken to the hospital via ambulance and provided with medical care. If your injuries are not as severe to require an ambulance, and even if your symptoms seem minor, please still visit a doctor and obtain a thorough examination. Be sure to explain ANY injuries or pain you may be experiencing, no matter how minor.  Unfortunately, some injuries are not always immediately noticeable right after an accident, and you may later need medical attention to diagnosis injuries that may not have been noticeable right away. These injuries may show up hours, days, or even weeks later. Some injuries may involve internal structural damage, bleeding or organ damage of which you are completely unaware.  Follow-up visits with your doctor are extremely important if you even suspect that something may be wrong.

Victims of car accidents can face terrible injuries that diminish their quality of life and leave them with huge medical bills.  Injuries resulting from car accidents could include:

• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Neck Injuries
• Back Injuries
• Muscular Injuries
• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Broken Bones
• Writ, Ankle and Knee Injuries
• Whiplash
• Paralysis
• Amputations
• Organ Damage
• Wrongful Death

After seeing a doctor, follow all treatment advice. First and foremost, seeing a doctor is necessary to ensure you understand the extent of your injuries and recommended treatment for those injuries. 

Unfortunately, if you are injured in an accident, medical bills will add up very quickly. As experienced car accident lawyers, we will review your case and advise you on property damages and continued medical treatment. 

We can usually assist you with obtaining medical treatment at no out of pocket cost to you.  We will also assist with you making claims with insurance companies and obtaining any medical treatment that you may need. Our car accident attorneys in Denton, Dallas, and Fort Worth will work to get you the highest possible compensation you deserve for your injuries. Contact us today for a free consultation. The attorneys at Chandler | Ross, PLLC are here to help. 940-800-2500.

Responsibility in a Texas Car Accident

Responsibility for the accident and for the healthcare and property costs associated with the accident depends on which person involved has been negligent and at fault.

Unfortunately, in order to receive compensation for injuries or property damage, the person injured has the burden of proof. He or she must prove:

• Who was negligent.
• That the motor vehicle accident caused the injuries and/or property damage.
• That the injuries or property damage deserve compensation.
• Proportions of fault. For example, in a multiple car pileup, one driver probably caused the accident initially, but other drivers, who might have been following too closely, could be considered to have partial responsibility.

Our Car Accident Attorneys at Chandler | Ross, PLLC have extensive experience researching the causes and responsibility in accidents, and in proving those cases in court. Contact Chandler | Ross, PLLC to discuss your accident and the resources we provide to help prove your claim and collect all damages you may be entitled to.

How Can Negligence Be Proven In Court?

Anyone who was injured as the result of a third-party driver’s negligence on the road may be entitled to legal compensation for his damages and bodily injuries. This also includes and extends to the passengers of the injured vehicle, even in situations where the driver may not have been injured in the car accident, but the passengers were. Proving negligence is what our team of aggressive litigation attorneys does day in and day out for our car accident client’s cases. Facts and evidence are gathered to be demonstrable and provable in front of the court and judge. Our law firm obtains the police report if there is one, speaks to witnesses, identifies the defendant’s insurance, obtains pictures of damages and/or injuries, and conduct a thorough investigation of the accident facts and claims.

Negligence in the eyes of the law results when another driver had a duty to drive and operate their car in a safe manner but failed to do so due to inadequate care. Our experienced Denton Car Accident Attorneys at Chandler | Ross, PLLC can identify legal arguments, strengths and visible weaknesses to your case when facts are gathered, and your case is evaluated by our team of attorneys. This analysis enables us to prove negligence exists and that it specifically caused you harm, potentially entitling you to legal monetary damages.

Examples of Driver Negligence

Any number of factors can cause a car accident, but some of the more common causes of are accidents include:

• Driving at unsafe speed
• Driver fatigue
• Changing lanes when unsafe
• Following too closely
• Disregard traffic signal or stop sign
• Failed to yield right of way
• Negligent or distracted driving (i.e. texting while driving)
• Driver inattention
• Speeding or traveling too fast for the conditions
• Drug or alcohol use

• Defective parts
• Mechanical failures
• Negligently entrust vehicle to driver
• Faulty evasive action
• Turned Improperly
• Reckless Driving
• Failure to check blind spot
• Failure to drive in a single lane of travel
• Failure to comply with the Texas Transportation Code

If any of these possible causes apply to your accident, please contact our experienced Denton Car Accident Attorneys at Chandler | Ross, PLLC.

Damages and Compensation in Car Accidents

Compensation in an auto accident is not necessarily limited to immediate injuries and repairs. If you have been injured, you may receive compensation for the following immediate and long-term costs.

• Immediate medical costs.These might include emergency room or urgent care visits, doctor visits, physical therapy, pain management, hospitalization, x-rays, MRIs, examinations, tests, and even surgeries.
• Long-term medical costs and life care.Sometimes long-term medical care, treatment and other rehabilitation are necessary. These can also be reimbursed if they are a direct result of the car crash.  These may be proven with a Life Care Plan.
• Pain and Suffering caused by an auto accident.The pain and limitations caused by your auto accident affect your ability to work, to share life with your family and to handle your routine day-to-day activities. There are real costs associated with the severity, duration, and nature of an injury in an auto accident.
• Lost wages.If a person is unable to work or must work reduced hours, lost compensation and wages can be considered as compensation. This applies even if a person was able to take medical leave or vacation time while recovering. Lost wages can still be recovered by people who are self-employed or who work on commission.
• Loss of Earning Capacity. In Texas, a plaintiff can recover damages for loss of earning capacity as part of his or her standard personal injury claim. These damages include the loss of past and future wages. Earning capacity is what a person could reasonably make based on his experience, education and other factors.
• Loss of consortium. These claims are derivative, meaning that the injuries to the spouse had to be the fault of the defendant for the non-injured spouse to have a claim. It is important to note that, under Texas law, you can only collect loss of consortium damages if your spouse suffered physical injury in an accident
• Punitive damages.Punitive damages are awarded for wrongdoing. They are not commonly allowed in car accident cases. However, sometimes punitive damages are appropriate. One example where this type of damage may be appropriate is an accident caused by a drunk driver.

With offices in Denton, Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, Chandler | Ross, PLLC and our Car Accident Attorneys are well positioned to provide the most effective, experienced and highly-skilled representation possible with a convenient location near you.  Our experienced Denton Car Accident Attorneys can quickly respond to an accident, gather necessary information and preserve evidence in order to maximize your chances of recovery.   Don’t wait, and don’t compromise – contact us today to see how we can help you.  In most cases, you pay nothing unless we are able to settle your case or win a verdict.  Our consultation is free.  Contact us now at (940)-800-2500 to schedule your free car accident case evaluation and consultation.