Wichita Falls and Dallas car accidents are a common occurrence, often resulting in physical, emotional, and financial challenges. If you can understand the legal aspects of car accidents, you can protect your legal rights and navigate the process much more effectively.
Types of Car Accidents
Car accidents vary in severity and cause, with the most common types including:
- Rear-end collisions: Occurs when one car hits the back of another, often due to distracted driving or sudden and abrupt stops.
- T-bone accidents: Occurs when one vehicle crashes directly into the side of another, which often happens at intersections due to one driver running a stop sign or stop light.
- Head-on collisions: Occurs when two vehicles run directly into each other’s front, typically due to wrong-way driving or loss of control. These among the most dangerous types of car accidents.
- Sideswipes: When two vehicles traveling in the same or opposite directions graze each other, often while changing lanes.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
Below are a few of the common causes of car accidents in Wichita Falls and Dallas:
- Distracted driving: Texting, eating, or using in-car technologies can divert attention from the road and result in car accidents.
- Speeding: Driving above the speed limit reduces reaction time, leading to more severe car accidents.
- Drunk driving: Alcohol impairs judgment, coordination, and reaction times, all which contribute to causing car accidents.
- Weather conditions: Rain, snow, or fog can create hazardous driving conditions, increasing the likelihood of car accidents.
- Running red lights or stop signs: This type of reckless driving can lead to serious intersection collisions, often referred to as “T-bone” car accidents.
Steps to Take After a Car Accident
If you're involved in a car accident, taking the right steps is crucial to protect yourself legally and medically:
- Ensure safety: Check yourself and others for injuries, call an ambulance if necessary, and get to safety.
- Call the police: You should call the police for any car accident, even if it is small because having an official police report can help prove your car accident claim.
- Exchange information: Collect contact, vehicle, and insurance information of the other driver. Additionally, be sure to collect witness contact information.
- Document the scene: Take photos of the damage, road conditions, and any other relevant details. Gather witness information if available.
- Seek medical attention: Some injuries, like whiplash, may not be immediately apparent. Always get checked by a healthcare provider.
- Report the accident: Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to file a claim.
- Contact a Wichita Falls and Dallas Personal Injury Car Accident Lawyer: We will give you a free evaluation of your case and offer you helpful information on how to proceed even if you decide not to hire us.
Legal Considerations in Wichita Falls and Dallas Car Accidents
Determining fault is a key factor in Wichita Falls and Dallas car accident cases, which influences insurance payouts and legal claims. Texas is a modified comparative negligence state, which means that each party can be assigned a percentage of fault, and damages are awarded based on that percentage. However, if you are found to be 50% or more at fault, you are barred from recovering anything.
In serious accidents, victims may pursue legal action to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. It’s often beneficial to consult with an experienced Wichita Falls and Dallas car accident lawyer, who can guide you through the legal process and help maximize your recovery.
Statute of Limitations for Wichita Falls and Dallas Car Accidents
Each state has a statute of limitations, or time limit, within which you must file a lawsuit after a Wichita Falls or Dallas car accident. In Texas, the statute of limitations for car accident claims is 2 years from the date of the car accident.
Contact a Wichita Falls and Dallas Car Accident Lawyer
Car accidents can be overwhelming, but knowing how to respond can make a significant difference. By understanding your rights and responsibilities, and seeking appropriate legal advice, you can protect yourself and ensure fair compensation for any damages or injuries. If you or anyone you know has been in a car accident in Wichita Falls or Dallas, contact our car accident lawyer either by calling one of the numbers listed below or filling out our contact form. For Wichita Falls car accidents, contact us at 940-569-4000. For Dallas car accidents, contact us 945-295-0014. We will give you a free evaluation of your case and offer you helpful information on how to proceed.