FAQ About Car Accidents
Answers you can trust from experienced Dallas car accident lawyers
You probably have a lot of questions about your Texas car accident, especially if another driver caused your collision. How much is your injury claim worth? Should you file a lawsuit or accept a settlement? Who can you sue? And how much time do you have to take legal action?
All of these questions – and many more – are very important. That’s why you must have accurate information about your accident. Otherwise, you won’t be able to make informed decisions about your car accident claim.
Fortunately, you have come to the right place. Our knowledgeable Dallas car accident lawyers at The Marye Law Firm thoroughly understand how the legal system works. That’s because we have more than two decades of experience handling such complex cases. When you have our legal team on your side, you can be sure that we know exactly what we’re doing every step of the way.
What is your question?
Below, you can find the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about car accidents in Texas. If you don’t see your specific question listed below, don’t worry. We can answer your question when you meet with us in person for your free case evaluation. And even if you do see your question listed below, make sure you talk to an attorney at our law firm. Every car accident is different – and so is our approach to each case. Contact us. We can help.
- How much is my car accident worth?
- What can I be compensated for?
- Who’s responsible for paying for my car accident?
- Who decides who’s at fault?
- What if I was partially at fault?
- Should I accept a settlement offer?
- Can I ask for more money?
- Can I sue the other driver?
- Can I sue anyone else?
- How much time do I have to file a lawsuit?
- Should I hire a car accident lawyer?
- Why should I hire The Marye Law Firm?
How much is my car accident worth?
The value of your car accident claim should include all your accident-related expenses. What you might not realize is how many expenses you can – and should – be compensated for. It’s not just short-term expenses immediately after your accident. Your settlement or verdict should include long-term expenses years after your accident. As a result, the total value of your accident claim could be thousands of dollars or significantly more. The best way to know is to talk to an experienced car accident lawyer.
What can I be compensated for?
As explained, your settlement should include all of your accident-related expenses – past, present, and future. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, such expenses might include:
- Ambulance fees
- Emergency medical care
- Vehicle repairs or replacement costs
- Follow-up doctor’s appointments
- Follow-up surgery
- Prescription medications
- Replacement income while you’re recovering from your accident injury
- Lost future income if you cannot return to work due to a permanent disability
You might also be able to recover non-economic damages for your accident. Such compensation often includes pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and other items that don’t have a direct financial impact but which are real nonetheless.
Who’s responsible for paying for my car accident?
Texas has a type of at-fault car insurance system. This means the at-fault party is responsible for compensating injury victims for all their accident-related expenses. Often, that means the at-fault driver’s insurance company must pay for your accident.
This might sound straightforward. But if you have been injured in a crash caused by someone else, odds are you know how hard it can be to get the money you deserve for your injury-related expenses. Insurance companies for the at-fault driver often do everything they can to avoid paying you, even if it’s their responsibility to do so. This is why you need a lawyer on your side, standing up for your rights.
Even if there’s an official police investigation, it’s not up to the investigating police officer or Texas state trooper to decide who’s at fault. They’re simply focused on finding out whether any laws were broken. Instead, insurance companies often have a lot to say when it comes to deciding who was at fault – and who’s responsible for paying for the accident. This is why it’s critical that you have an experienced lawyer on your side involved in such important discussions. Otherwise, you might not get the money you deserve for your crash.
What if I was partially at fault?
The short answer is your injury claim might be smaller. This is because Texas has what’s known as a “modified comparative fault” insurance system, also sometimes referred to as “modified comparative negligence.” Under this system, the amount of money you receive for your accident claim will be reduced by the percentage that you were responsible for, provided that the other driver was at least 51 percent at fault. For example, if your car accident claim is valued at $100,000 and you are found to be 30 percent at fault, you would only receive $70,000 since your claim would be reduced by 30 percent. This is why it’s important to have an experienced lawyer advocating for your rights and finding evidence that shows you did not cause your collision.
Should I accept a settlement offer?
Many times, the at-fault driver’s insurance company will make a settlement offer soon after your accident. You might be tempted to accept such an offer, especially if you already have a lot of medical expenses, vehicle repair bills, and lost income due to your accident. But it’s important to understand that once you accept a settlement offer, that’s it. Your case is settled and you can never again ask for additional money for your accident, even if your future accident-related expenses turn out to be significantly higher than expected. This is why it’s important to carefully consider such an offer before agreeing to accept it. Otherwise, you might regret doing so and be forced to pay for future expenses out of pocket.
Yes. What many people don’t realize is they have the right to ask for more money for their accident – as long as you have not already accepted a settlement offer. Often, the at-fault driver’s insurance company will make a settlement offer and insist that’s the most they can pay you. Don’t believe them. Many times, insurance companies are willing to pay injury victims more than their initial settlement offer if there’s a sufficiently strong case for that amount. That’s why it’s important that you have an experienced lawyer on your side, demanding the maximum financial compensation you deserve.
In most cases, yes, you can file a lawsuit against the driver who caused your car accident. That’s how the law works in Texas, which has an at-fault car insurance system. But just because you can sue another driver doesn’t mean that your legal case will be straightforward. If you take legal action against the other driver, be prepared for them to fight back. When that happens, it’s important that you have a lawyer on your side, building the strongest possible legal case on your behalf.
Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be able to file a lawsuit or take legal action against another person or business responsible for causing your car accident. For your lawsuit to be successful, you need evidence demonstrating that the person or business you’re suing directly or indirectly caused your car accident. Examples include:
- At-fault driver’s employer, if they were on the job when the accident happened.
- Car manufacturer that built a car with defective parts that caused your accident.
- Bar, restaurant, or liquor store that sold alcohol to the drunk driver who caused your crash.
How much time do I have to file a lawsuit?
Texas has very strict deadlines for taking legal action. You only have two years from the date of your car accident to file a lawsuit or take other legal action. This is due to Texas’ statute of limitations law. If you miss that two year deadline, you likely forfeit your right to take legal action against the at-fault party. As a result, you could end up having to pay for your accident-related expenses out of your own pocket. That’s why it’s critical that you don’t miss this deadline and don’t miss out on your opportunity to demand the money you deserve.
Should I hire a car accident lawyer?
You might think you don’t need an attorney if another driver clearly caused your Dallas car accident. But there are many reasons why you should hire a car accident lawyer. Most importantly, your attorney will make sure your accident gets the attention it deserves. Far too often, insurance companies – especially ones representing the at-fault driver – do everything they can to downplay the severity of accidents and reduce injury claims. Your lawyer can take them on and make sure they take your accident seriously.
Car accident claims can be complicated. An experienced attorney knows how to navigate through the legal system and build a strong case. This is why it’s critical that you have an experienced Dallas car accident lawyer after your crash.
Why should I hire The Marye Law Firm?
The law firm you choose to handle your car accident can make a dramatic difference in the outcome of your legal case. That’s why it’s critical that you have a dedicated, experienced, knowledgeable law firm representing you after your crash. We believe The Marye Law Firm is the right choice for many reasons.
In particular, our Dallas car accident lawyers personally handle every case from start to finish. We won’t hand you off to someone else. And we’ll keep you informed every step of the way. That way, you will know exactly what’s happening and can be part of the entire process. We’re in this together with you.
We also have more than two decades of legal experience in the greater Dallas area. As a result, we know how the legal system works when it comes to car accident claims. We know which strategies can be the most effective. That’s the secret to our success – we get right to work building strong, effective legal cases.
Get the law firm that gets results. Contact us
Car accidents can have serious consequences. Take your injury claim seriously right from the start. Contact our law firm and schedule your free case evaluation with a Dallas car accident lawyer you can count on in a crisis.
The Marye Law Firm – we’re serious about winning your case.
