Fort Worth Personal Injury Lawyer

Accidents that lead to unintentional injuries happen at such a high rate that it’s impossible to track them all. While not every accident is serious, some of these events can lead to significant losses and even life-long implications for the injured.

When that happens, it’s necessary to identify what caused the accident.

The cause of your accident will dictate the legal options available to you. If someone else owed you a legal duty of care and failed to uphold it, you might be able to file a personal injury lawsuit. If successful, a lawsuit can help you cover the past and future expenses associated with your losses.

Knowing your legal rights, investigating the cause of your accident, and collecting evidence is hard enough on its own, but handling all of this on top of an injury can feel impossible. For that reason, you should discuss your situation with a Fort Worth personal injury lawyer who can help you make an informed choice on how to handle the matter.

Here at DFW Injury Lawyers, we know how frustrating it is to deal with a mountain of financial losses as a result of someone else’s poor decisions. Learn more about how filing a personal injury lawsuit can potentially help you get justice and compensation for your losses below.

What Can a Fort Worth Personal Injury Lawyer Do for You?

If you’ve never pursued a personal injury claim before, then you might not know about the many benefits of hiring a personal injury lawyer.

After being injured in an accident caused by someone else, your first thought may be that the other party should step up and pay for your losses. Unfortunately, people rarely do this without legal intervention. Instead, the burden of proving and recovering compensation for your losses will be on your shoulders.

The main advantage of hiring a personal injury lawyer is that you’ll be able to rely on their knowledge, expertise, and experience to help you file a strong personal injury lawsuit at the outset. This will inevitably lead to better outcomes.

Your lawyer will first help you determine if you even have the basis to pursue compensation. From there, they’ll help you value your losses. Using this information, you can make a better decision on whether it makes sense to take legal action.

If you decide to go forward, then your lawyer will help you collect evidence, negotiate with insurance adjusters and the other party, file all your paperwork, uphold your rights, and help you get the maximum possible level of compensation.

Determining Negligence in a Personal Injury Claim

Determining whether negligence exists in your personal injury situation is paramount to your case. Where no negligence exists, no legal claim is possible.

Negligence, in brief terms, means that one party had a legal duty to provide for the care of another party, and the first party failed to uphold that duty. That failure to take reasonable care is called negligence under the law. In personal injury claims, the negligent party may be held financially responsible and legally liable for the accident.

Texas courtrooms work on a modified comparative negligence standard, which means that your overall compensation award can get reduced based on your own level of negligence. For instance, if you were texting on the phone and another driver was speeding and an accident results, then your own negligence might result in a smaller settlement.

Common Types of Personal Injuries

Personal injury accidents range in severity. Typically, a claim for compensation isn’t pursued unless the injuries are substantial. Here are some of the most common types of injuries that result in personal injury claims:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Back injuries
• Whiplash injuries
• Paralysis
• Spinal cord injuries
• Loss of limbs
• Third of fourth-degree burns

All of these types of injuries lead to significant and long-term losses. Below, we’ll go over in more detail how and why these types of injuries often lead to legal claims.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injuries are life-altering. These injuries occur when the brain suffers damage, which can result in temporary (or permanent) personality changes, memory loss, and mobility problems. Sometimes, a TBI can leave a person unable to remain independent or work. These individuals may need permanent care providers.

Even when a TBI outlook isn’t this severe, those who suffer from these injuries usually have to re-learn skills, cope with various debilitating symptoms, and more. Losses aren’t limited to the costs associated with the medical care needed to cope, either. Injured individuals will also likely suffer from lost wages and emotional distress.

After an accident that results in a TBI, consider contacting a Fort Worth personal injury lawyer to talk about what happened. With such substantial losses on the line, you want to be sure that you explore all possible avenues for compensation.

Back Injuries

Another common reason for filing personal injury claims is back injuries. Back injuries can manifest in the form of:

• Herniated discs
• Fractured vertebra
• Back sprains or strains
• Degenerative spinal disorders as a result of trauma to the back

Since your spinal cord directs your movement, any injury to it can cause serious mobility problems.

Whiplash Injuries

Whiplash is a very serious neck injury that often results from accidents. Whiplash happens when a person’s neck is forced forward then backward (or the opposite) with such force that it has a lasting impact on the area’s muscles, nerves, discs, and tendons.

Whiplash can impact a person’s ability to work, and it can lead to serious pain, too.

If you’re facing pushback from parties attempting to minimize your whiplash injuries, you should consult with Fort Worth whiplash injury attorneys to ensure you get a fair deal.

Paralysis Injuries

Serious accidents can cause paralysis. Paralysis means an inability to control one’s movements.

Paralysis injuries range in severity. Complete paralysis leads to an inability to sense, feel, or control any movement below one’s spinal cord. An incomplete injury means that the person may still retain some motor functions or feelings. Paralysis can also occur only to the bottom half of the body, or it can include one’s hands and arms.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries are a type of back injury that can lead to paralysis. These types of injuries can also result in a host of other symptoms, too, though depending on where the injury occurs and how serious it is overall.

When Should I Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer?

While unintentional injuries happen daily throughout Fort Worth, not every accident gives rise to a personal injury claim. In general, you should contact a personal injury lawyer when:

• You’ve experienced an accident that you think was someone else’s fault
• Your accident caused an injury
• Your injury led to specific losses

Under these circumstances, a Fort Worth injury lawyer can help you determine if seeking filing a personal injury lawsuit is in your best interests. With that in mind, contact a local injury attorney as soon as it’s possible to after everyone’s injuries have been cared for. The sooner you contact a lawyer, the greater your chances are at securing a favorable legal outcome.

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

In Texas, laws limit the amount of time you have to file a personal injury claim after an accident. In general, the statue of limitations in Texas is two years. If you do not seek out a claim within that two year period, then you may forfeit your right to compensation.

There are a few exceptions to this rule, though, including:

• When maritime laws are involved
• The claimant is a minor at the time of the accident
• The claimant is a sex crime victim

Sometimes, the statute of limitations in Texas doesn’t start until the person discovers, or should have reasonably discovered, their injuries. In some cases, the injuries aren’t discovered immediately.

For instance, if a medical device caused an injury, then the patient may not even realize their injuries are the result of medical device until later. In these types of scenarios, the statute of limitations begins when the injuries are discovered and not when the accident happened.

Common Accident and Fort Worth Accident Statistics

There are several types of accidents that often lead to personal injury lawsuits in Fort Worth. Here is an overview of some of them:

• Car accidents
• Trucking accidents
• Motorcycle crashes
• Animal bites
• Slip and fall accidents
• Wrongful death cases

Below, we’ll go over some of the most common accidents and statistics that reveal how often these types of scenarios play out.

Car Accidents

Every driver who gets behind the wheel assumes an automatic legal duty to provide for the care of everyone else on the road. Unfortunately, many drivers do not take this duty of care seriously. Some drivers engage in negligent driving behaviors like drinking and driving, driving while distracted, and even causing a collision and fleeing the scene.

Fort Worth has some very dangerous intersections including on I-35W and Western Center Blvd, East Lancaster Avenue and Riverside Drive, and Texas 360 at Texas 183.

If you get involved in a crash, you need to know what steps to take after a car accident to protect your rights. If you were in an Uber or Lyft accident, then make sure that the police file a report regarding the accident and then get in touch with a Fort Worth car accident lawyer.

Trucking Accident

Texas is a huge state, so it’s no surprise that so many truckers are frequently traversing through Fort Worth. Sadly, crash statistics show that Texas has the highest number of trucking fatalities in the country.

Trucking accidents are usually very serious due to the size, weight, and speed that truckers travel. When trucks collide with smaller vehicles, the devastation is often extreme. Even when fatalities don’t occur, the injuries can still be life-altering and permanent. If you are involved in a trucking accident, then it might be a good idea to talk to a Fort Worth personal injury lawyer about the circumstances of your crash.

Trucking accidents can be complicated due to multiple parties being involved. Several parties could potentially be found negligent including:

• The truck driver
• The trucking company
• The trucker’s loading company
• The trucker’s maintenance company
• A third driver who may have caused a multi-car accident

Considering the severity of the injuries, the level of losses, and the complexities of a trucking accident claim, it’s usually best to talk with a lawyer before filing an injury claim.

Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents are another type of accident that often leads to a personal injury lawsuit being filed. The main reason for this is because motorcycle accidents can cause debilitating injuries. Bikers who get into a crash can get launched from their bikes, causing them to smash into the pavement. Even with the right protective gear, a motorcycle collision is still going to cause some serious injuries.

Vision Zero is a relatively new global movement that aims to spread awareness about the seriousness of road safety. The initiative seeks to help everyone become more aware of the factors that contribute to safe driving including travel speed, driver behaviors, policies and laws, technology, and roadway design.

Bicycle Accidents

Crash statistics show that there were two pedal cyclist fatalities in Fort Worth in 2021, making up 1.6% of the nation’s overall bicyclist fatalities. A pedal cyclist includes bicyclists and other cyclists that ride on two-wheeled, non-motorized vehicles, tricycles, and unicycles.

When cars hit bicyclists, the results are usually serious for the biker considering the size and speed difference between a car and bike.

Animal Bites

Fort Worth is the 30th worst city for dog bites according to the United States Postal Service. Pet owners in Fort Worth have a legal duty to keep their pets contained. If a dog does bite someone, then the pet owner might be held legally responsible for the costs of that injury. A Fort Worth dog bite lawyer can help you determine your legal options under these circumstances.

Slip and Fall

A slip and fall accident happens when someone loses their balance and suffers an injury. Depending on where that slip and fall accident occurred, the injured individual might have legal recourse. Under premises liability laws, for instance, property owners have a legal duty to provide for the safety and care of people on their property. Parties subject to these laws may include:

• Business owners
• Home owners
• Parking lot owners
• Other property owners
• Cities in charge of sidewalks or parks

If your slip and fall leads to substantial injuries, then it’s worth your time to consider where the accident occurred and whether the property owner was negligent in maintaining their property.

Wrongful Death

Unfortunately, some of the types of accidents listed out above can result in fatalities. Wrongful death lawsuits are a type of personal injury lawsuit where a death has occurred. The surviving loved ones can still seek out a claim to cover expenses in the form of medical bills before their loved one’s passing, burial costs, loss of financial support, emotional distress, and more when the necessary elements to seek out a claim are present.

Workplace Accidents in Fort Worth, Texas

Workplace accidents are another common type of accident that can lead to a legal claim. In many situations, workers can seek out compensation for a work-related accident through their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance policies. In other cases, however, if an employer does not carry workers’ compensation or if a third party’s negligence (such as a contractor or property owner) caused an accident then a personal injury lawsuit may be filed.

For instance, a contractor may have been knowingly violating OSHA’S standards and encouraging employees to do the same. Some of the top 10 cited OSHA standards are extremely serious, like ensuring construction workers get the proper fall protection training. A failure to follow these rules can lead to a lawsuit.

Construction injuries are one of the leading causes of work-related personal injury claims. This is in part due to the dangerous nature of the job and the severity of construction injuries. An accident lawyer in Fort Worth can help you pursue the compensation you deserve through a personal injury claim.

What Compensation Can You Get in a Personal Injury Case?

The amount of compensation you can get in your personal injury case will vary depending on the circumstances of your accident, the extent of your losses, and other factors like how much your own negligence contributed to your accident.

Here are some of the most frequently awarded types of compensation you can get in a personal injury claim:

• Lost wages
• Present and future medical bills
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium
• Temporary or permanent disability

The amount of compensation you can get will also hinge on the quality of the lawyer you hire to represent you. If you’re able to, then look for a Fort Worth personal injury law firm with great past results. This type of representation can help increase your odds of achieving a greater settlement.

Fort Worth Personal Injury Cases FAQs: Knowing Your Rights and Fighting the Fight

Do you have more questions? Learn answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about personal injury claims in Fort Worth below.

How Will I Pay My Bills After an Accident?

Texas is an at-fault state. That being said, if you think someone else may have caused your accident, then it may be worth your time and effort to consider the possibility of filing a lawsuit. A personal injury lawsuit can help you recover from the costs of any medical bills, property damage, or other losses stemming from the accident.

Do I Have to Go to Court?

Maybe. The good news is that most personal injury claims settle outside of court, so you usually will not need to attend a hearing. Even so, it’s best to hire a legal team that has extensive courtroom experience just in case the other side is refusing to offer a fair settlement.

How Much Does an Injury Lawyer Cost?

DFW Injury Lawyers works on a contingency fee basis. This means that you don’t owe us a fee until and unless there is a recovery for your injury case. This also means that clients who are already attempting to deal with significant financial losses won’t have to shell out a lot of money upfront to obtain representation.

Instead of asking you to pay for representation at the outset, DFW Injury Lawyers will offer you a free legal consultation. During this meeting, we’ll discuss what happened, your losses, and more. We will help you make an informed decision on whether seeking out a claim is worth your time and effort based on the information you provide. If you do have a claim, then we will help you file your claim. We won’t get paid until you receive your settlement check.

A Fort Worth Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help With a Free Case Review

If you were injured in an accident that was someone else’s fault, then it might make the most sense to reach out to a Fort Worth personal injury lawyer. Without talking to an attorney, you may not be aware of the legal options available to you. That could leave you shelling out a lot of money for the losses you’ve endured.

With a lawyer’s help, you can better understand the circumstances of your accident, who caused it, and whether any legal duty of care existed in your situation. If all the necessary elements to pursue a claim exist, then your attorney can help you make an informed choice on whether or not to seek out compensation from the responsible party.

Here at DFW Injury Lawyers, our team handles a wide variety of personal injury claims. We’d love to help you analyze your situation to determine if you could potentially seek out a claim for compensation.

Schedule a risk-free case review with our office now to learn more.