Dallas Car Accident Lawyer

How Can Our Dallas Auto Accident Attorneys Help You?

If you were in a car accident in Dallas or in the state of Texas, we can help!

The Dallas auto accident lawyers of Tate Law Offices, P.C., can provide many services to you after a car accident, including:

Providing a free consultation that carries no obligation to you
Compiling the evidence needed to prove your accident case
Consulting with our network of experts in fields such as accident reconstruction, mechanical engineering, medical care, and life-care planning
Assisting you to receive quick and effective medical treatment for your auto accident injuries
Dealing with all insurance companies on your behalf and setting up all claims
Helping you to get your car repaired or replaced
Working to get you a rental car so your transportation needs are met
Fighting for a top-dollar settlement for your injury claim
If necessary, filing a lawsuit for the accident and going to trial
Keeping you updated throughout your case
We will be there for you even after your case is completed.

To learn more, please see Our 10 Promises to You. We take our clients’ welfare seriously. Your case is important to you, and it is important to us, too.

When Should You Get A Lawyer for a Car Accident?

While it won’t hurt to get a lawyer in any car accident case, you should strongly consider hiring a personal injury lawyer if your case involves any of the following situations:

You sustained severe injuries – If you sustained a serious injury or one that is expected to take a long time for you to recover, it is a good idea to hire an experienced motor vehicle accident lawyer. You may be facing expensive medical bills, prolonged time away from work, and other significant consequences for which you should be compensated. A lawyer can help fight for what is fair.
You became disabled because of the accident – If you suffered a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or another disabling injury, do not hesitate to contact us for help. Your case may involve significant financial damages. You may also need an expert witness to testify about your projected loss of earning capacity. The insurance company will do what it takes to try to lessen the damages. We will be your trusted ally to fight for what is right.
Liability is unclear – Texas is an at-fault insurance state, meaning that the at-fault party is responsible for paying for the damages they cause through their own negligence. If the insurance company claims that their insured did not cause the accident or that you contributed to the accident, you might need to hire a lawyer and conduct an independent investigation into the motor vehicle accident.
The insurance company denies your claim – If the insurance company refuses to pay for your damages, your only way of receiving compensation for the injuries you sustained may be to sue. You will certainly need a lawyer to help you with this process.

Is It Worth Getting A Lawyer for a Minor Car Accident?

Before you decide to handle your claim on your own, remember this: Insurance adjusters work for insurance companies. They only have one goal in mind: to make money. They are seasoned negotiators and will try to minimize the value of your claim as much as possible. Even if you experienced relatively “minor” injuries, these injuries can still add up to thousands of dollars in medical expenses, lost wages, and other economic and non-economic damages. Having an experienced lawyer on your side is essential if you hope to receive fair compensation.

If you’re not sure whether you need a lawyer, contact us for a free, no-obligation case review. We can let you know whether you really can do this alone or if it would be in your best interest to hire a lawyer.

Five Steps You Should Take After A Dallas Car Accident

If possible, we suggest that you take the following steps:

01 Get medical attention right away

If you were not taken from the crash scene in an ambulance or have not gone to the doctor yet, do so now. Serious injuries can have delayed symptoms. Tell the doctor you were in a crash. Follow your treatment plan. Keep all of your medical bills. If you do not have health insurance, please let us know. We will work to assist you in getting medical care.

02 Take pictures of the damage to your vehicle and the other person’s vehicle, if possible

Photographs can be very important in telling the story of how a wreck occurred. If your car is in your possession, take pictures of it. If it has been towed, we will work with you to acquire the photos.

03 Write down the names and phone numbers of any witnesses to the accident

The witnesses to the accident are typically the best source to determine how the wreck occurred. If there are no witnesses, don’t worry. We will look at other evidence to use as proof in your case.

04 Don’t talk to the insurance company

You might think that you should call the insurance companies (yours and the other driver’s) yourself. This is simply not true. Insurance companies are always hard at work, attempting to deny settlement payments or pay minimum amounts of money for car accidents and related injuries and losses. Additionally, insurance companies may record phone calls and use portions of what you say in attempts to deny you fair compensation. Our accident attorneys take care of all insurance company communications for our clients so their statements cannot be taken out of context and used against them. If any insurance company calls you, just tell them your lawyer will be in touch with them. We will report your wreck and deal directly with their adjusters and attorneys.

05 Call Tate Law Offices, P.C. as soon as possible

Typically, the sooner we are involved with the case, the better. We will work to secure important evidence to build your case and advise you on the important steps to take in order to have a strong claim. Our consultations are always free.

Broken bones
Cuts and lacerations
Burns
Herniated or bulging discs
Soft tissue injuries (such as whiplash or tendon tears)
Spinal cord injuries (paralysis)
Traumatic brain injury

Our goal is to maximize the value of each one of our clients’ cases. We will gather all of your medical records and work records and consult with experts to seek just compensation for you and your family, including:

Car rental and car repair or replacement
Past and future medical expenses
Lost income and lost future earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Mental anguish
Disfigurement
Loss of consortium and loss of services
Emotional distress
Physical Impairment

If the defendant driver in your case was either grossly negligent or engaged in willful conduct, we may also seek punitive damages in order to punish and deter such behavior.

Please see our section on wrongful death and survival damages to learn more about the damages sought if you lost a loved one in a car crash in Dallas.

How Do You Negotiate a Car Accident Settlement?

To receive the maximum settlement value for your claim, you will need convincing evidence of the following:

Liability – You will need to show that the other driver was negligent. An accident report, video, photos of the vehicles’ damage, and eyewitness testimony can all help establish this.
Medical records – You will need medical records that clearly connect your injuries to the accident. Doctors’ notes, test results, and other medical documentation can help establish this connection.
Lost wages – Missing time from work can help indicate that your injury was serious and caused you to suffer financially. Check stubs and documentation from your employer can help prove these damages.
Other damages – Property repair estimates, travel expenses to medical appointments, and other documentation that shows how the accident affected you can further support your claim.

How Do Insurance Companies Determine Settlement Amounts?

Insurance companies determine settlement amounts based on the damages you suffered, what they believe you will accept and the likelihood that you will go to court if you do not receive a fair offer. Every accident claim is different, so two people who make a claim based on similar injuries may have a very different outcome. If the insurance company believes that you will accept a smaller amount, it will not offer a bigger settlement. It is critical to have a personal injury lawyer’s help to ensure that you have the best chance of a fair outcome.

What Is Fair Compensation for Pain and Suffering?

There is no specific formula or rule about how pain and suffering damages should be calculated in Texas. If a case goes to trial, the jury is instructed to determine what amount would fairly compensate the victim for their pain and suffering.

In practice, many insurance companies use a multiplier method to compute pain and suffering compensation. The insurance company adds up all of your economic damages like your medical expenses and lost wages. Then, it multiplies the sum by a number between 1.5 and 5. Minor injuries that do not require extensive medical treatment will yield a lower multiplier number. Life-threatening injuries or other serious injuries will yield a higher multiplier.

Insurance companies may use other approaches to determining pain and suffering compensation. Our job is to get our clients the maximum compensation available for all sources of their damages, including pain and suffering.

How Long Does It Take to Receive an Offer of Compensation?

It depends on the factors involved in your case. Many insurance claims can be resolved in a few months while others may take longer. Some of the factors that affect the length of your claim include:

Your injuries – We will recommend that you wait until your injuries have fully healed or that you have reached maximum medical improvement before accepting a settlement. This is because we want to know the full value of your medical expenses, as well as the expenses you are likely to incur in the future so that we can fight for full compensation.
The insurance company – Different insurance companies may have different numbers of claims to resolve or fewer insurance adjusters to handle them.
Whether you have a lawyer – A common tactic that some insurance companies use is to delay making a fair offer of compensation. They hope you will get desperate and accept their offer when they finally make it. Our team can help hold the insurance company accountable and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Contact Tate Law Offices Today

If you were hurt in a car wreck and would like more information about your legal rights and options, contact Tate Law Offices, P.C.. Our personal injury law firm is dedicated to helping you secure maximum compensation for your injuries. Our car accident attorneys have extensive experience handling these claims and will fight to protect your rights. We can discuss how we can help during your free case evaluation.