Dallas Personal Injury Lawyers and Legal Counsel

Benefits to hiring Texas accident lawyers after a mishap results in personal loss in Dallas.    

Accidents are ranked as the third leading cause of death in Texas, and their occurrence may decrease a person’s quality of life and increase their living expenses.  The Dallas accident attorneys at the Cooper Law Firm will fight for client rights to compensation for injuries and property damage loss utilizing Texas State laws that support reparation to accident victims.  Dallas Texas personal injury attorneys are familiar with abrupt approaches from insurance adjusters who have a desire to close out claims before an accident victim has time to assess the total impacts to their well-being.  It is important to contact legal counsel shortly after an accident to determine a case-focused approach to address losses from a mishap in Dallas Texas.

Attorneys will build a case by:

  • sending investigators to the scene,
  • reviewing police, witness, and medical reports,
  • hiring financial experts for loss valuation,
  • assessing cause of the accident, and
  • drafting and filing complicated insurance and legal documents.

Statute of limitations.

After an accident in Dallas, it is important for victims to understand that they have limited time to take legal action against negligent parties.  The Texas statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death actions is two years from the time the injury, or death.  Government entities require a shorter filing time at 180 days for tort claims and cap damages depending upon the government unit involved.  The state and municipalities allow up to $250,000 per person and $500,000 per incident. All other levels of government allow for $100,000 per person and $300,000 per incident.

Damages.

 Personal injury lawyers in Dallas will explain how loss valuations determine the compensatory damages requested for lost wages, medical bills, medical care, and treatment, plus household expenses, and non-economic loss for pain and suffering, loss of consortium, or  companionship.  Exemplary (punitive) damages are contingent upon proving that a defendant deliberately, with reckless disregard, acted in a manner to cause harm to another person, such as driving while impaired.  Punitive damages must be sought in a separate case, after compensatory damages have been awarded are Texas law limits that amount to two times the actual damages up to $750,000 in total damages, or $200,000.

Motor vehicle accidents in Dallas TX.

Dallas Texas accident data from 2020 revealed 35,294 crashes with 1,088 of those accidents involving driving under the influence of alcohol, or drugs.  It is best to consult with an accident lawyer at Cooper Law Firm shortly after an accident occurs to ascertain possible, or necessary action that may be taken to protect individuals, or their loved ones from financial and emotional devastation associated with bodily injury, property loss, and wrongful death.

Texas is a “fault state” and the party found to be responsible for the accident will have to compensate the other party involved in the accident. Texas utilizes the 51% rule, whereby an injured person can be up to 50% responsible for an accident and still collect damages, but if an individual is 51% responsible, or more for the accident, there will be no recoverable compensation. When claim fault cannot be resolved between insured parties, a court action will enable a judge, or jury to decide assigned fault.  Dallas Auto accident attorneys can help with fault disputes over insurance requirements.  Drivers are required to file accident reports with Texas Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days of an accident when the accident resulted in fatality, injury, or property damage of $1,000 or more.

Personal injury law in Dallas TX.

When individuals are injured due to the action, or inaction of another person, they may be able to recover compensation when fault and/or liability can be proven for the resultant harm. The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Dallas Texas allows two years to file a lawsuit from the date the injury occurred, was discovered, or should have been discovered through reasonable care. A personal injury attorney in Dallas TX can apprise individuals of any deviations from that timeline and advise accident victims on plausible damage recovery.

Premise liability in Dallas TX.

Dallas accident attorneys can help victims take legal action if an injury was caused by poor property conditions, including improper maintenance, upkeep, or unforeseen interactions with occupants on the premises. An invitee may be owed a duty of care, but a trespasser may not be owed that same duty. Consultation with an accident lawyer may discover if Homeowners’ insurance will cover damages when a proper claim is filed.

Medical malpractice in Dallas TX.

Texas medical malpractice actions occur when a person is injured while under the care of a licensed medical professional. Legal action must be filed within the two year statute for injury, but victims should always check with a medical malpractice attorney in Texas to ascertain if there are deviations from that timeline. Punitive damages are capped at either two times the amount of compensatory damages plus the non-economic damages found by a jury not to exceed $750,000, or $200,000, whichever is greater.

Workers’ compensation in Dallas TX.

When a person becomes injured on the job, or contracts an illness that is job-related, they should hire the services of a workers’ compensation attorney in Dallas Texas who can assist with a claim for monetary damages. Injuries may be caused by an accident, or event that results in a physical injury, a medical condition caused by repetitious use of a body part, or conditions associated with the workplace environment itself.  Legal counsel can act as an intermediary with the Texas Workers’ Compensation Claims Division on a client’s behalf.

Wrongful death in Dallas TX.

Family members, or legal representatives must file a wrongful death legal action within two years and a Texas wrongful death attorney in Dallas can assist with damage valuations and timelines relevant to each case. Compensation may cover medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages.

Accident victims should take steps to minimize additional stress by hiring competent legal counsel at the Cooper Law Firm who can objectively speak on their behalf in a courtroom, and work toward damage recovery.

Cooper Law Firm
N. Eric Cooper
Address: 501 N Third St,
Longview, TX 75601

Telephone ; (903) 297-0037
Toll-Free: 1-855-297-HURT (4878)
Facsimile: (903) 236-0035

Sources.

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.16.htm#16.003

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.101.htm

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.41.htm

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/docs/TN/htm/TN.550.htm

https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/division/traffic/law-enforcement/crash-records.html

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.601.htm

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.74.htm

https://www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/index.html

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.71.htm