University Drive, also known as US-380, cuts straight through the heart of Denton, Texas. It connects the University of North Texas campus area to major commercial corridors, residential neighborhoods, and the I-35 interchange, making it one of the busiest and most accident-prone roads in all of Denton County. If you were hurt in a crash on University Drive, you have legal rights, and the team at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys is here to help you use them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
University Drive does not just carry local traffic. It serves as a primary east-west corridor for commuters, students, delivery drivers, and commercial vehicles moving across Denton County every single day. The road runs past Texas Woman’s University, near the Denton Square, through busy retail zones, and all the way to the I-35 interchange, one of the most congested stretches in the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TxDOT crash data shows that more crashes resulting in injuries occurred along US-380, particularly near the center of University Drive near Locust and Elm streets. That area is especially hazardous because Locust and Elm are both one-way streets, and drivers regularly travel the wrong way, creating serious collision risks at those intersections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The I-35 and University Drive (US-380) interchange is another well-documented hot spot for crashes. Drivers report that the University exit from I-35 northbound is consistently congested, with heavy braking caused by vehicles trying to merge from I-35W while others attempt to exit toward University Drive and US-380. That combination of high-speed merging and sudden stops creates the perfect conditions for rear-end collisions, sideswipe crashes, and chain reaction pileups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The road also passes near Denton ISD schools along its eastern stretch near North Mayhill Road, adding school-zone traffic and distracted drivers to an already difficult mix. A multi-year, $160.6 million widening project on US-380 in Denton and Collin counties has reached functional completion, delivering new lanes, grade separations, and pedestrian improvements, but construction phases created years of hazardous driving conditions and crashes. Even with improvements, the volume of traffic on this corridor means accidents continue to happen regularly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you were hurt on University Drive, whether near the Denton Municipal Airport area, the Alamo Drafthouse, or anywhere along the corridor toward Loop 288, you deserve a full and fair recovery. Contact the personal injury lawyers<\/a> at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys for a free consultation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Crashes on University Drive happen for many reasons, but certain patterns show up again and again. Understanding what caused your crash matters because it directly affects who is liable and how strong your claim is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Distracted driving is a major factor on this corridor. Distracted driving contributed to 380 deaths in Texas in 2024, and in 2023 it caused over 94,000 crashes and 403 fatalities statewide. With so many shopping centers, restaurants, and businesses lining University Drive, drivers are constantly looking away from the road. Texas Transportation Code Section 545.4251 prohibits the use of a handheld device while driving, and a violation of that statute in a crash that causes injury creates a negligence per se argument for the injured party. That means if the driver who hit you was on their phone, the law is already working in your favor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speeding is another persistent problem. The posted speed limits on US-380 vary across different segments, but many drivers treat the wider sections like a highway, pushing speeds well above what is safe for an urban corridor with intersections and pedestrian crossings. Failure to yield is also common, especially at the busy cross streets near downtown and near the university campuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drunk driving crashes happen on US-380 too. In 2024, over 16,000 crashes in Texas involved driving under the influence of alcohol, resulting in more than 500 fatalities. When a drunk driver causes a crash, Texas recognizes exemplary damages under Chapter 41 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, and when a driver’s conduct rises to gross negligence, a civil jury can award damages beyond compensatory recovery to punish the behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Commercial vehicles, delivery trucks, and rideshare drivers also travel this corridor heavily, especially near the retail zones west of I-35. Crashes involving those vehicles often bring additional layers of liability, including employer liability and federal trucking regulations under 49 CFR Part 390. An experienced car accident attorney<\/a> can identify every responsible party and pursue maximum compensation on your behalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texas law gives injured crash victims the right to pursue compensation from the at-fault driver. The legal foundation is negligence, which requires proving that the other driver owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, caused the crash, and caused your injuries. Every driver on University Drive owes every other driver and pedestrian a basic duty of reasonable care under Texas common law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texas uses a modified comparative fault system. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001, you can recover damages as long as you are found less than 51 percent responsible for the crash. If you are found 20 percent at fault, your compensation is reduced by 20 percent. If you are 51 percent or more at fault, you cannot recover at all. Insurance companies know this rule, and they will often try to shift blame onto you to reduce or eliminate their payout. Do not let them do that without a fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texas Transportation Code Chapter 550 sets out your duties after a crash. If you are in a crash that results in an injury, fatality, or vehicle damage, Texas law requires you to take certain steps outlined in Chapter 550, including immediately stopping at the accident scene or as close to it as possible and avoiding obstructing traffic when able.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The TxDOT CR-3 crash report is a critical document in any claim. Under Texas Transportation Code Section 550.065, crash reports can be released on written request to any person directly concerned in the accident, including any person involved in the accident, the authorized representative of any person involved, and the owner of a vehicle or property damaged in the accident. Getting that report early, reviewing it for errors, and preserving all evidence from the scene are steps your attorney will handle right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texas also sets a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003. That clock starts on the date of the crash. Missing that deadline means losing your right to recover, so do not wait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A serious crash on US-380 can turn your life upside down. Medical bills pile up fast. You may miss weeks or months of work. The physical pain from whiplash, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, or spinal injuries can be severe and long-lasting. Texas law allows you to seek compensation for all of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Economic damages cover your actual financial losses. That includes past and future medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and property damage to your vehicle. Non-economic damages cover your pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life. These are real losses, and Texas law recognizes them fully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texas requires all drivers to carry minimum liability coverage of 30\/60\/25 under Transportation Code Section 601.072. That means $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 total per accident, and $25,000 for property damage, but those numbers were set years ago and do not reflect current medical costs. A serious injury, such as a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord damage, can generate hospital bills that exceed those limits within the first day or two of treatment. That is why identifying all available insurance coverage, including underinsured motorist coverage, is so important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texas has one of the highest uninsured driver rates in the country, estimated at approximately 20 percent, meaning one in five cars on Texas roads may have no coverage at all. If an uninsured driver hit you on University Drive, your own uninsured motorist coverage may be your primary source of recovery. A skilled car accident lawyer<\/a> will review every policy in play and fight to maximize what you receive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Past results in any case do not guarantee the same outcome in another case. Every claim turns on its own facts, evidence, and applicable law. What we can promise is that Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys will work hard to build the strongest possible case for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you call Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500, you get a team that knows Denton. We know University Drive. We know the intersections where crashes cluster, the insurance companies that cover drivers in this area, and the Denton County courts where cases are resolved. That local knowledge matters when building your claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From day one, we take over the heavy lifting. We gather the TxDOT CR-3 crash report, preserve traffic camera footage and physical evidence, identify all at-fault parties, and communicate with insurance adjusters on your behalf. You focus on healing. We focus on your case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When expert testimony is needed to prove how a crash happened or how severe your injuries are, we work with qualified accident reconstruction experts and medical professionals. Under the standard established in Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, 509 U.S. 579 (1993)<\/em>, expert testimony must meet reliability and relevance standards before it can be used in court. We make sure any expert we bring in meets that bar and can withstand cross-examination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We also deal directly with insurance adjusters so you do not have to. Insurance companies have one goal after a crash, and that is to pay as little as possible. They may delay your claim, dispute your injuries, or argue that you share fault for the crash. We know those tactics, and we push back hard. Whether your case resolves through a fair settlement or goes to trial in the Denton County courthouse on West Hickory Street, we are prepared to fight for you every step of the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We handle cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. There are no upfront costs and no hourly fees. If you were hurt in a crash on US-380, reach out to the car accident attorney<\/a> team at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys today. You can also connect with our car accident lawyer<\/a> team serving the broader Denton County region. Call us at (940) 800-2500 or visit us online to schedule your free consultation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Content prepared by Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, whose principal office is located in Denton, Texas. All attorneys practicing with this firm are licensed in the State of Texas. Past case results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future matter, as every case depends on its own unique facts and applicable law.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss that deadline, you lose your right to recover compensation. There are some situations, such as crashes involving a government vehicle, where the deadline can be shorter. For example, claims against Texas state agencies may require written notice within 180 days of the crash under the Texas Tort Claims Act. The safest move is to contact an attorney as soon as possible after your crash so no deadlines are missed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule under Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001. As long as you are found less than 51 percent responsible for the crash, you can still recover damages. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if your total damages are $100,000 and you are found 20 percent at fault, you recover $80,000. Insurance companies often try to inflate your share of fault to reduce their payout, which is exactly why having an attorney in your corner matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, call 911 and make sure everyone involved gets any needed medical attention. Under Texas Transportation Code Chapter 550, you are required to stop, remain at the scene, and provide your information to the other driver. Get the names, contact information, and insurance details of everyone involved. Take photos of the vehicles, the road, and any visible injuries. Seek medical care even if you feel fine, because some injuries like whiplash or traumatic brain injuries do not show symptoms right away. Then call Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500 before speaking with any insurance adjuster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, you may still have options. If you carry uninsured motorist coverage on your own auto policy, that coverage can pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages when the at-fault driver has no insurance. Texas does not require drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage, but it is available on every policy. Texas has one of the highest uninsured driver rates in the country, so this coverage is worth having. An attorney can review all available policies and identify every possible source of recovery for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No. Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys handles car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. There are no upfront costs and no hourly charges. You can call us at (940) 800-2500 for a free consultation to discuss your case, understand your rights, and find out what your claim may be worth, all at no cost to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCommon Causes of Crashes on US-380 in Denton<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Texas Law and Your Rights After a US-380 Crash<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Compensation Can You Recover After a University Drive Accident?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys Handles US-380 Accident Cases<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
FAQs About University Drive (US-380) Accident Claims in Denton<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How long do I have to file a claim after a crash on University Drive in Denton?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What if I was partially at fault for my US-380 accident?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What should I do right after a crash on University Drive?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Can I get compensation if the driver who hit me on US-380 has no insurance?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Does Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys charge upfront fees for US-380 accident cases?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n