Denton Car Accident Attorneys

Fight for the Compensation You Deserve With the Help of an Experienced Denton Car Accident Attorney

We all risk a car accident every time we use the public streets. Many Denton drivers recognize this and take precautions. 

Some drivers, however, fail to use the reasonable care necessary to prevent a crash. They may speed, become distracted, use drugs or alcohol, or act in ways that raise the risk of a serious accident. 

When a car crash occurs on the road or highway, serious injuries or sometimes wrongful death can result. If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a Denton car accident, talk to the dedicated Denton car crash injury lawyers at Chandler Ross today. 

Denton Car Accident Statistics

The Texas Department of Transportation maintains statistics on crashes throughout the state and in each city and county. In Denton County in 2022:

• 319 people suffered serious injuries in car crashes, and
• 1,187 people suffered mild or moderate injuries.

Statistics for 2021 show that 20 people died in car accidents within the city of Denton and another 15 died in Denton County crashes. In 2022, these numbers jumped to 49 car crashes, claiming 51 total lives. According to the Denton Record-Chronicle, the 2022 numbers set a record for car crash deaths in Denton and Denton County. 

These numbers fit inside the larger context of car accident statistics in Texas and the United States. According to TXDOT, in 2023:

• 4.283 people died in collisions on Texas roadways,
• 18,752 people suffered serious car accident injuries, 
• 807 pedestrians died in vehicle collisions,
• 599 motorcyclists lost their lives on Texas roads,
• 105 bicyclists died after a crash with a motor vehicle. 

Five catastrophic accidents occurred in Texas in 2023, each of which claimed six or more lives. 

Top 4 Causes of Denton Car Accidents

TXDOT also records the causes of car accidents in Denton and throughout Texas. Common causes of these accidents include:

1. Drunk and drugged driving. Driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs is a common cause of serious accidents. In 2023, 1,090 people died in Texas crashes involving a driver who was under the influence of alcohol, according to TXDOT. In that year, more than 25 percent of all traffic deaths resulted from someone’s decision to drink and drive.
2. Distracted driving. In 2023, 403 people died in a car crash in Texas due to a distracted driver. Distractions can take many forms, including cell phone use, eating, talking to passengers in the car, or paying attention to something outside the vehicle that isn’t the road. 
3. Speeding. “Failed to control speed” was recorded as a contributing factor in 37,176 Texas crashes in 2023, according to TXDOT. Traveling faster than the posted speed limit or traveling too fast for conditions was connected to 194 deaths and 1,124 serious injuries on Texas roads that year. 
4. Failure to follow the rules of the road. Changing lanes when it’s not safe to do so, failing to stop at a red light or stop sign, making illegal turns at intersections, and failing to yield the right of way contributed to thousands of accidents and hundreds of serious injuries in Texas in 2023, according to TXDOT.

All of these common causes of car crashes make the roads more dangerous for everyone who uses them. They also represent failures to follow the rules of the road or to use reasonable care to prevent a crash. Those injured as a result may seek compensation for the harm done to them. 

Common Types of Serious Accident Injuries

The forces generated by a car accident can cause serious damage to any part or system of the body. Common types of serious accident injuries people can suffer in these accidents include:

• Brain, spinal cord, and nerve injuries,
• Head, neck, and back injuries,
• Broken bones, crush injuries, and amputations,
• Internal organ damage and internal bleeding, 
• Burn injuries,
• Lacerations and puncture wounds, 
• Scarring and disfigurement.

Other types of injuries may occur as well. Many people who suffer car accident injuries experience multiple injuries and injury types. Psychological trauma, including mental and emotional anguish and post-traumatic stress symptoms, are also common after a serious accident. 

Your Car Accident Compensation Claim

Car accident claims are a type of personal injury case in Texas. These cases must follow certain rules in Texas courts. 

Navigating these rules can be challenging. It’s important to work with an experienced attorney. Your lawyer can handle investigating your case, negotiating with insurance companies, and fighting for compensation – all while protecting your legal rights as you recover from your injuries. 

Time Limits For Denton Car Accident Cases

Texas law sets a time limit on filing personal injury claims after an accident. This time limit is known as the “statute of limitations.” 

Under the statute of limitations, you have two years from the date of an accident to file a claim in court. If you don’t file within these two years, you lose the opportunity to bring your case to court.

To protect your rights, talk to an attorney as soon as possible. Your lawyer will verify the exact deadline in your case and work to protect your opportunity to file your claim. 

What To Do After a Car Crash in Denton

After a car accident, you can take steps to protect your legal rights and support your case for compensation. Keep these steps in mind:

• Put safety first. At the scene of an accident, keep people out of the roadway if possible. Do not move a seriously injured person, however. Use lights and other signals to warn oncoming traffic.
• Get medical attention. In an emergency, you or someone else may call 911. If you didn’t get emergency care at the scene, see a doctor as soon as possible.
• Collect all your paperwork. Keep all your paperwork related to the accident and your injuries in a single safe place. 
• Don’t sign anything yet. Insurance may want you to sign a release or settlement. Don’t sign it without asking an attorney to review it first. If you sign, you might give up your opportunity to get the full, fair compensation you need. 
• Talk to a lawyer. An attorney can help you navigate these steps so you can focus on healing. 

If you weren’t able to follow these steps, speak to an experienced attorney. An attorney can investigate your case, gather evidence, deal with insurance companies, and help you secure the compensation you deserve.

Types of Compensation You May Pursue After A Denton Car Accident 

A personal injury case after a car accident seeks compensation for the losses an injured person suffered in the crash. To win compensation, the injured person has to demonstrate that someone else’s negligence caused their injuries. “Negligence” is typically defined as “breaching,” or failing to meet, a duty of care to prevent harm to others. 

Every person who uses Texas roads has a duty to use reasonable care to prevent accidents or injuries to others on the road. Breaching this duty can cause serious or even fatal injuries. 

Common forms of compensation included in Denton car accident claims include:

• Medical bills, including future medical bills for ongoing care,
• Lost wages, including future lost wages, if your injuries prevent you from returning to work.
• Property damage, such as the costs to repair or replace a damaged vehicle,
• Pain and suffering you endured from the crash and your resulting injuries,
• Loss of enjoyment of life, if your injuries prevent you from engaging in hobbies or activities you once enjoyed, and
• Compensation for mental and emotional anguish resulting from the crash or your injuries. 

Other forms of compensation may also be available, depending on the exact facts of your case. Talk to an attorney to learn more. 

Wrongful Death Claims

A wrongful death claim is available when a car accident injury claims a life. The injured person cannot file their own claim, since their injuries caused their death. Instead, surviving family members must file a claim on their loved one’s behalf. 

A wrongful death claim seeks two types of compensation. First, it seeks compensation for the deceased person. Similarly to a personal injury claim, this part of a wrongful death claim seeks compensation for losses like medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering the deceased endured before death. Funeral and burial expenses can also be compensated in a wrongful death claim. 

A wrongful death claim also seeks compensation for surviving family members. The loss of a loved one’s care, companionship, and support may be covered by a wrongful death claim. 

Talk To a Dedicated Denton Car Accident Attorney Today

Facing the aftermath of a serious car accident is tough. You may be fighting to handle basic tasks like eating, bathing, or dressing. You may be in pain, stuck in bed, and wondering how long your body will take to heal. You may worry about how you’ll pay the bills or if you’ll ever make it back to work again. You may fear you’ll never return to your favorite hobbies, help out around the house, or get to participate in family activities in the same way. 

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone – and you don’t have to fight for compensation alone. The experienced Denton car accident attorneys at Chandler Ross can help. We’ve helped clients throughout Denton and North Texas secure the compensation they need and deserve after a serious accident. 

To learn more, contact our office today to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation. We’ll do our best to answer your questions and help you make an informed decision about your case.