Decatur Personal Injury Attorneys

Personal, Professional Representation from Dedicated Decatur, Texas Personal Injury Lawyers

As the county seat of Wise County, Decatur, Texas is a small yet bustling community. Located at the junction of US 380 and US 287, Decatur sees plenty of traffic as residents and visitors commute for work, school, and recreation. 

All these activities make Decatur an interesting place to be. Yet they also increase the risk of a serious personal injury accident. If you’ve been injured in a Decatur accident, speak to an experienced Decatur, Texas personal injury attorney today. The team at Chandler Ross can help you fight for the compensation you need. 

Common Personal Injury Claims in Decatur and Wise County

Injuries are the most common cause of death for Texas residents under age 45, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). On average, 58 people in Texas die from injuries daily. 

Personal injury claims all involve a serious injury. These injuries, however, can occur in many different situations. Common causes of serious injuries in Wise County include roadway accidents, dangerous conditions at businesses, and work-related issues. 

Car and Truck Accidents

Thousands of car accidents occur in Texas each year, many in Wise County. In 2024, 26 accidents in Wise County resulted in a total of 35 deaths. This death total is twice as high as 2022’s rate, indicating significant risks on Wise County roads. 

Serious injuries were also common. In 2024, 86 people suffered “suspected serious injuries” in a Wise County crash. 

In Decatur in 2024, four people died and at least eight suffered serious injuries in vehicle collisions. Another 61 people suffered “minor” or “possible” injuries.

US 81/287 remains the deadliest road in Wise County. In 2024, 16 people died in crashes on US 81/287. While the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has plans to improve several intersections, safety remains a significant issue on 81/287 and US 380.

Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Motorcycle Accidents

Drivers and vehicle passengers aren’t the only ones who face significant risks on Decatur-area roads. Motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians can also be severely injured.

TxDOT data reveals that in 2024, 557 motorcycle drivers and 28 passengers died in motorcycle collisions in Texas. Another 2,532 motorcyclists and bike passengers suffered serious injuries.

In 2024, Texas saw 8,825 roadway crashes involving a bicyclist, pedestrian, or both. These collisions produced 846 deaths and 1,880 suspected serious injuries. Most of these deaths and injuries were inflicted on pedestrians. Ninety-seven percent of all crashes involved some type of injury to the pedestrian or bicyclist. 

Premises Liability

In Texas, a business has a legal obligation to keep its premises reasonably safe for visitors. When a condition can’t be immediately fixed, the business must warn its visitors. If you’ve ever seen a “wet floor” sign in a supermarket, you’ve seen an example of a business attempting to warn visitors about a potentially dangerous condition. 

When a business doesn’t keep its premises reasonably safe and fails to warn visitors, an injured person can seek compensation for the harm caused. Common dangerous conditions at Decatur businesses include:

• Water, debris, and other substances on floors that can cause a slip, trip, or fall,
• Broken and uneven flooring, torn carpeting, or floor mats,
• Broken or missing handrails and guardrails,
• Dangerous defects in furniture and other fixtures, 
• Broken lighting,
• Lack of security guards and other protective features.

Other dangerous conditions can also occur. If you’re injured at a Decatur business, speak to an experienced attorney. 

Work-Related Injuries

Many Decatur residents spend much of their waking time at work. Work-related injuries are thus a common occurrence in Decatur and throughout Texas. 

In 2023, 564 Texas workers suffered a fatal injury at work. The most common causes of workplace deaths included:

• Transportation incidents: Vehicle accidents accounted for 246 worker deaths in 2023.
• Explosions and fires: 11 people died from an explosion or fire at work in 2023.
• Slips, trips, and falls: 92 people died in a slip or fall accident at work in 2023. 
• Exposure to harmful substances and environments: Toxic chemicals, extreme temperatures, and similar exposure events claimed 57 workers’ lives in 2023. 
• Contact incidents: Being struck by or trapped in equipment or materials caused 86 worker deaths in 2023. 

Workplace accidents can also cause serious injuries. In 2023, Texas workers suffered non-fatal injuries at a rate of 1.8 injuries per 100 full-time workers.

Injured employees can seek assistance from workers’ compensation. Other forms of compensation may be available as well. Speak to an experienced attorney to learn more.

Wrongful Death: When An Injury Claims a Life

An injured person can file a personal injury claim to seek damages. But when the injured person has passed away due to their injuries, they cannot file their own claim. Instead, surviving family members must file a claim for the deceased person’s injuries and for their own losses. These claims are broadly called “wrongful death” claims.

Establishing a wrongful death claim can be challenging, especially when you’re already grieving the loss of your loved one. These claims can provide essential support to your family, however. They can also help you hold a negligent party accountable for their actions. 

Decatur, Texas Personal Injury Basics

Each personal injury claim involves unique facts. Yet all such cases must follow certain rules. Understanding these rules can help you navigate your claim and communicate with your Decatur personal injury lawyer.

What is a Personal Injury Claim?

A personal injury claim typically seeks money damages for injuries caused by someone else’s negligence. To prove a personal injury claim, the injured person must show that:

• The other party had a duty to use reasonable care to prevent harm,
• The other party “breached,” or failed to meet, that duty,
• The breach caused foreseeable harm to the injured person, and
• That harm can be addressed through money damages. 

To fight a personal injury claim, the other party might claim they had no duty, they didn’t breach a duty, you weren’t injured, or you were partly or totally at fault for your injuries. Succeeding in a personal injury claim requires you not only to prove your case but also to show these counter-arguments don’t apply. An experienced attorney can help you navigate this process. 

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim?

In Texas, most personal injury cases must be filed within two years of the date of injury. A case not filed on time will likely be dismissed from court. 

Typically, the two-year period starts from the date you are injured. Several factors can influence when this period starts and how it runs, however. Talk to an experienced attorney. A lawyer can calculate exactly when the deadline expires and help you file before that date arrives. 

What Damages Can I Recover in a Personal Injury Claim?

A personal injury claim seeks money damages as compensation for the harm you have suffered. Damages typically include both financial losses and non-financial losses. 

Common damages included in Texas personal injury claims include:

• Medical bills: Compensation for medical bills includes both bills you’ve already incurred and the costs of future medical care you may need.
• Lost wages: Compensation for lost wages can cover both wages you’ve already lost from missing work and money you won’t earn if your injuries prevent you from working again.
• Property damage: The cost to repair or replace damaged property, such as a totaled vehicle, can also be included in a personal injury claim. 
• Pain and suffering: A personal injury claim can compensate you for conscious pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and other non-financial losses.

Family members in a wrongful death claim can also seek funeral and burial expenses, as well as compensation for their own loss of their loved one. Talk to a lawyer about your losses and how to establish that you are owed compensation. 

What If A Criminal Case Is Also Underway?

Some personal injury situations result in criminal charges. A common example is a drunk driver who injures someone else on the road. The drunk driver may face DUI charges in criminal court. 

If you’ve been injured in such a situation, you can seek compensation in a personal injury claim, even if criminal charges were also filed. A criminal case is unlikely to compensate you fully for your losses. 

The outcome of criminal proceedings can affect your civil case, however. Likewise, the outcome of a civil case might affect a criminal case. For this reason, it’s best to talk to a knowledgeable Decatur personal injury lawyer if you need to seek compensation after becoming the victim of a crime. 

Contact Our Decatur Personal Injury Attorneys Today

If you’ve been injured in a Decatur, Texas accident, don’t wait. Speak to an experienced Decatur personal injury lawyer right away. 

The team at Chandler Ross has earned multiple distinctions for outstanding work representing injured people in Wise County and throughout North Texas. We’re here to provide the professional, focused representation you need after a serious injury. Contact us today to schedule a free, confidential case evaluation.