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Car Accident Lawyers

OVER 3,000

CASES WON

OVER 99%

SUCCESS RATE

30+ YEARS

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PROVEN RESULTS

$13.5 MILLION

Total Recovery

Car Accident

Fatality

$1.8 MILLION

Total Recovery

Truck Accident

Spinal Injury

$9.5 MILLION

Total Recovery

Defective Product

Brain Injury

$6.5 MILLION

Total Recovery

Workplace Accident

Head Injury

$10.75 MILLION

Total Recovery

Motorcycle Wreck

Head Injury

$864,000

Total Recovery

Truck Accident

Spinal Injury

Helping You Recover from Your Injuries & Win Against Big Insurance Companies

Every day the Dallas-Fort Worth car accident lawyers at Tate Law Offices fight for people like you throughout Texas so that you can recover from your injuries and damages. We’re here to assist you 24/7 and answer your questions regarding auto accidents involving injuries, in cases of all sizes.

EN ESTA PÁGINA
Dallas Car Accident

What Should You Know about Your Car Accident?

Here are a few things you should be aware of regarding your accident:

  1. The faster you put a car accident lawyer to work for you, the stronger your case will likely be. Gathering evidence quickly and starting a case out in the right direction is very important. Please don’t wait to call us for a free consultation.
  2. According to one major insurance company, claims represented by a lawyer settle for 2 to 3 times more than those that are unrepresented – many of our cases are 10 to 15 times.
  3. Auto insurance companies benefit from making the accident claims process as confusing and difficult as they possibly can.
  4. You should never speak to an insurance company or anyone except for your lawyer about your auto accident. It is ok to speak to a police officer.
  5. A police report DOES NOT legally determine who is at fault in an auto accident. Police reports often contain errors. A police report must be proven to be admissible in court. It’s not uncommon for a judge to disallow a police report so that the jury never sees it.
  6. Your injuries should be treated by a qualified medical doctor right away. We can assist you with your medical treatment.
  7. If you don’t have health insurance don’t let this stop you from going to the hospital.
  8. Even if the other driver does not have auto insurance, you might still be able to collect. So, don’t be discouraged if your car accident involves an uninsured driver.
  9. NOTHING about the claims process is structured to work to your benefit. If an auto insurance company doesn’t think a jury is going to make them pay for an auto accident, they are inclined to pay as little as possible (in some cases, nothing).
  10. Depending on the details and severity of your injuries and damages you may not need a car accident lawyer. If this is the nature of your case, this site provides many of the details you will need to handle a minor case without a lawyer. For more information, please see When Should You Get a Lawyer for a Car Accident? section below or the Related Information on Car Accidents section on the right

 

To learn more about the steps you should take after a car accident, please see What to Do Immediately After a Dallas Car Accident.

How Can Our Auto Accident Attorneys Help You?

If you were in a car accident and were injured in the Dallas area or anywhere in the state of Texas, we are here to help.

Even if you don’t have health insurance our lawyers can help you get medical care.

Our car accident attorneys can help you find the right medical professionals when you are not sure who to see after an accident. We work with highly qualified medical professionals and facilities, so our clients get top notch treatment. By doing so our clients receive two primary benefits:

  1. You will have a great chance at a full medical recovery
  2. Your case will be supported by medical evidence to help achieve maximum settlement value

 

The car wreck lawyers of Tate Law Offices will provide many other services to you after a car accident, including:

  • Covering the legal costs of your car accident case, including court costs, if we take your case to court
  • Swiftly and thoroughly collecting the evidence needed to prove your accident case
  • Consulting with our network of experts in fields such as accident reconstruction, mechanical engineering, medical care, life-care planning, etc.
  • Dealing with all insurance companies on your behalf
  • Helping you to get your car repaired or replaced
  • Helping get you a rental car so your transportation needs are met
  • Fighting for a top-dollar settlement for your injury claim
  • Keeping you updated throughout your case


Our clients are very important to us, and we are there for you during and after your case is completed.

If you’re ready to get answers call us now at (972) 499-4813
or any time 24/7 for a free initial case review. Or contact us via chat or our contact form.

What Can You Expect to Recover in a Dallas Car Accident Claim?

Senior Man Using Cellphone After Car Accident

The laws covering Texas car accidents provide various types of relief to those injured in vehicle collisions.

Our injury lawyers will gather all of your records: medical, work and others. When necessary, we will consult with economic experts and other experts to seek just compensation for all possible economic and non-economic damages you’ve suffered from your auto accident, including:

Senior Man Using Cellphone After Car Accident

Economic Damages

  • Past and future medical expenses
    • Bills from hospitals, doctors, and medical services
    • Prescription medications
    • Physical therapy or rehabilitation costs
    • Cost to make your home accessible for related disabilities
    • Needed medical equipment
  • Lost income, lost future earning capacity, lost business opportunities
  • Car rental and car repair or replacement

Non-Economic Damages

  • Pain and suffering
    • Discomfort
    • Mental anguish
    • Anxiety, depression, mental disorders such as PTSD
    • Loss of enjoyment of life
    • Emotional distress
  • Disfigurement and scarring
  • Loss of Consortium
  • Physical impairment

Other Types of Damages

  • Punitive damages in cases involving gross negligence
  • Wrongful death and survival damages in cases where death is involved
“I was injured in an accident at the end of 2014. I have never been involved in an accident and it was 100% the other drivers fault. I was injured and my back had bleeding around the spine in 2 areas and 6 dislocated ribs, as well as injury to my right hip. I did not know if I should get an attorney, but Tate Law Offices, P.C., answered my questions and made me feel more at ease. ”
Lora Cunningham
Dallas Car Accident Client Testimonial

Punitive Damages in Dallas Car Accident Cases

Man Driving

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

In Dallas-Fort Worth and Texas punitive damages from auto accidents have limits set at the greater of $200,000 or 2X the amount of the economic damages awarded by a jury, with an additional amount equal to non-economic damages up to $750,000.

As an example, in a spinal injury car accident case involving gross negligence, if the jury awards $1.2 million for economic damages and $1 million for non-economic damages. The maximum possible amount for punitive damages is $3,150,000 (2X $1.2 million + $750,000).

Wrongful Death and Survival Damages in Car Accident Cases

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

If you’re ready to get answers call us now (972) 499-4813
or any time 24/7 for a free initial case review. Or contact us via chat or our contact form.

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Filing A Car Accident Claim In Texas

What Happens in a Dallas Auto Accident Claim or Lawsuit

Most of the car accident claims that our lawyers are involved in do not result in a lawsuit because we are able to settle them before a lawsuit is filed. However, if we believe that a lawsuit would be beneficial for you, we will advise you and obtain your permission to file suit in order to maximize compensation.

Dallas and Texas car accident claims include the following steps:

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Investigation

Our lawyers have experience with a wide range of motor vehicle accident cases, including rear-ending, side-impacts, head-on collisions, rollover wrecks and single-car crashes. We know what to look for when investigating each type of wreck.

Our car accident attorneys will work with our investigators and experts to answer the key questions at this stage in your case:

  • Why did your crash occur?
  • Who was responsible?

Typically, in a car accident case, we will seek to determine if another party’s negligence caused the crash. Negligence generally means that another person acted (or failed to act) as a reasonable person would under the same or similar circumstances. Negligence in car accidents includes:

  • Speeding – Driving faster than the posted speed limit or too fast for traffic and weather conditions or the design of the road.
  • Aggressive driving – Running through a red light or stop sign at an intersection, tailgating, weaving through traffic, failing to yield or making dangerous passes.
  • Drunk driving – Driving with a blood alcohol concentration beyond the legal limit of 0.08 or driving while impaired by any combination of alcohol, prescription or illegal drugs.
  • Distracted driving – Driving while texting or talking on a cell phone or while engaging in any other distracting activity such as interacting with passengers or pets in the car.
  • Drowsy driving – Driving despite being heavily fatigued or while falling asleep at the wheel – an issue that arises often in crashes caused by truck drivers and other drivers engaged in work activity.

However, fault is not always another driver’s error. Your attorney will also consider whether your accident or injuries were caused by:

  • Faulty car repairs – A mechanic who failed to make a repair as warranted, which in turn caused your car to be unsafe
  • Design or manufacturing defect – An auto company or parts manufacturer whose tires, brakes or steering column failed due to a defect or whose safety features such as a seat belt or air bag failed to function properly.
  • Dangerous road conditions – A government agency that allowed a road to fall into disrepair, which in turn, led to your crash. 
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Filing an Insurance Claim and/or Pursuing Litigation

After we fully investigate your case, we will collect the evidence necessary and file a detailed claim with the insurance company. In most cases, we can settle a case without the need to engage in litigation. However, if the insurance company refuses to pay fair value, we will file a lawsuit to attempt to force them to pay you what we believe your case is worth.

During the lawsuit process, we will work towards a settlement by directly negotiating with insurance company attorneys. If no settlement is reached, we will proceed to trial.

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Resolution

After a settlement is reached or a verdict is obtained on your behalf, we can take steps to collect the amount owed to you, resolve any claims or liens on your recovery by health care providers or others and disburse payment to you. We will not charge you any legal fee or case costs unless we are successful in recovering compensation for your losses.

Please see our Case Results section for examples of cases our law firm has handled that have resulted in substantial recoveries for our clients.

Get Your Free Case Review

Let one of our personal injury lawyers review your case, explain your legal options, and answer all your questions in a free case evaluation.

Featured FAQ

WHEN SHOULD YOU GET A LAWYER FOR A CAR ACCIDENT?

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. Insurance companies typically do not pay large settlements unless a lawyer is involved.

You became disabled because of the auto 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 likely involves very significant financial damages. You may also need an expert witness to testify about your projected loss of earning capacity and life care needs.

Liability is unclear – Texas is an at-fault insurance state, meaning that the at-fault party is responsible for paying for the damages they caused by their negligence. If the insurance company claims that their insured did not cause the auto accident or that you contributed in part to the accident, you might need to hire a car accident lawyer and conduct an independent investigation into the motor vehicle accident.

The insurance company denies your claim – It is best not to wait to see if your claim is denied. Even if accepted the amount an insurance company will pay without a lawyer is likely very small. However, if the insurance company has refused to pay for your damages, your only way of receiving compensation for the injuries you sustained may be to hire a lawyer to pursue the case.

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 vehicle damage, and eyewitness testimony can all help establish this.

Medical records – You will need medical records that clearly connect your injuries to the auto accident. Doctors’ notes, test results, and other medical documentation can help establish this connection. The better qualified the medical doctor the stronger your case will be.

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 along with medical records showing you were unable to work.

Pain and mental anguish – proof of your pain and suffering is an important element in collecting top value for your claim.

Physical Impairment – evidence of short and/or long term inability to perform certain tasks.

Other damages – whether it is vehicle repair bills or other various expenses you incurred, all losses should be presented to the insurance company.

Have you ever heard of someone getting a large settlement from an insurance company by representing himself/herself? It virtually never happens. This is because if an insurance company knows it will not be sued it will offer only minimal money on a case or deny it outright. However, once a lawyer is involved, an insurance company evaluates a case based on the likely verdict if the case were to go to court. This usually results in a much larger settlement offer and increases the likelihood of the case settling out of court.

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, our lawyers work with your medical doctors to show how your injuries (physical and mental) affected you.

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 negotiate claims differently. We have experience with almost every insurance company and know what tactics they use.

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 dangle a small amount of money. Our team can help hold the insurance company accountable and fight for the maximum amount of 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 car accident 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.

You will want to ask a car accident attorney several questions to assess the breadth of their skillfulness in their ability to produce great outcomes with car accident cases. The length of time a law firm or attorney has been in business will give you an idea of how well they may be able to handle your injury accident. Here are some questions to ask when interviewing the attorneys you are considering for your accident case:

Has the attorney taken several cases to court? What have the outcomes of these cases been? An attorney should be able to offer examples of significant verdicts for car accident cases. Cases similar to yours should be part of a law firm’s history of wins in the courtroom.

Their experience needs to be directly relevant For example, a case involving a large truck, such as a tractor trailer or freight truck is a substantially different in numerous respects than an accident case involving only autos such as cars or sport utility vehicles. The lawyer you choose should have expertise in your specific kind of case.

Is the attorney currently working on cases similar to yours? If the car accident law firm currently has case like yours, it indicates that their business is healthy and they able to handle the costs of taking an auto injury claim to court. Litigating a complex case can require a considerable amount of funds, due to the need for various elements such the court fees, investigation, the hiring of expert witnesses for testimony, producing economic models, accident reconstruction, other forms of evidence and a number of other strategic components utilized to convince a jury that the claims being made are valid and the affects of the injuries will be life-changing if you or a loved on have been seriously injured. Can the attorney handle these expenses?

Has the attorney handled car accident cases in Texas? A qualified car accident attorney will be able to select the best of the available courts in which to litigate your case in Texas or the state you are in.

You should easily be able to find reviews and ratings for the attorneys you are considering. But, you may want to also ask the accident attorney provide references. Also check resources such as Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum to determine if an attorney has handled complex cases.

Legally Reviewed By

Legally Reviewed By Tim Tate Box Image

Tim Tate, of Tate Law Offices, PC, has represented victims of injuries day-in and day-out throughout the state of Texas as well as in numerous other states throughout America over the last two decades. In addition to being licensed as an Attorney at Law by the Supreme Court of Texas, Tim is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association for Justice, both of which advocate and advance the rights of injured victims against insurance companies. 

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