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Car accidents are so common that you or someone you know has probably been in an accident at some point before. However, not all accidents are easy to walk away from, and many drivers and passengers are badly hurt. The person who caused the accident should be brought to justice, and you deserve fair financial compensation.
Car crashes can happen for all sorts of reasons, and understanding how yours happened may help us determine who is responsible and what evidence we need to prove it. Negligent drivers often cause accidents, and things like distractions and traffic violations are common. Many drivers choose to go through insurance to get compensation. Unfortunately, the other driver might be uninsured, or they might not have enough insurance to cover your damages. In that case, your lawyer can help you file an injury lawsuit.
Call The Queenan Law Firm at (817) 476-1797 to get a free case evaluation from our car accident attorneys.
How Car Accidents Might Happen Around Coppell
The exact cause of a car accident is hard to say, as each accident is unique, and many different factors might play a role. Determining the cause of your accident may be crucial, as it may inform our car accident lawyers about who is to blame and how we can prove your claims.
Coppell is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area and sits among a complex network of roads and highways. Driving is often necessary for many to get around, and accidents can happen almost anywhere.
Negligent driving is a common cause of collisions and may include distractions, intoxication, and ordinary traffic violations (e.g., speeding, ignoring signs). Remember, not all instances of driver negligence are criminal offenses. The negligent driver in your case may be held liable in civil court without facing any consequences in criminal court.
Other accidents may stem from unsafe driving conditions where drivers do not adjust their driving to be safer. For example, driving in the rain or at night in low-visibility conditions requires more defensive driving and slower speeds. Drivers who fail to adjust to these conditions may be held responsible for any resulting accidents.
Filing an Insurance Claim for a Car Accident
Car accidents and insurance claims go hand-in-hand, and many drivers cover their damages through insurance. Drivers are legally required to have insurance, making it arguably the most common way to deal with accidents.
When it comes to car insurance, Texas is an at-fault state, and you may file a third-party claim with the other driver’s liability coverage. You must present evidence of the other driver’s fault and convince the insurance company of your claim before they will pay for anything.
Sometimes, insurance is not enough, or it is totally unavailable. If the other driver is uninsured or fled the scene, you may need to file a claim with your uninsured motorist coverage if you have it. If the other driver fled, we may need to work with the police to find them, as they may want to investigate and charge the driver with a hit-and-run violation.
If insurance does not work out, you can take other legal action to get compensation. Many people choose to file personal injury claims to get the compensation they need, and your case should not be restricted by things like insurance policy limits.
The Right Time to File a Car Accident Case in Coppell
Many people struggle to decide whether to seek legal assistance and take legal action after a car accident. It can be a big commitment, and nothing is guaranteed. While you should not make such an important decision lightly, you should talk to an attorney about your options as soon as possible.
According to the statute of limitations under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a), car accident victims in Texas normally have 2 years from the date of their accident to file their claims in court. If they miss this deadline, they may not be able to file their case at all.
What if the other driver fled the scene? It is difficult, maybe even impossible, to file a lawsuit if we do not know who the defendant is. According to § 16.063, the time that the defendant is outside the State of Georgia and cannot be reached by long-arm statutes may not be factored into the limitation period. However, we must be doing our due diligence to find them.
Gathering Proof of Your Claims in a Car Accident Case
Proving your case in court or in an insurance claim requires strong evidence. A great place to begin gathering evidence is the scene of the accident. Many drivers take photos of the crash scene while they wait for help to arrive. These photos are often used in insurance claims, but they can also be very helpful in a court of law, depending on the facts disputed by the defendant.
Other drivers might have seen the accident. They might even have stopped to help and speak to the police. Their names may be in the police report, and we can find them so they can testify in your case. Your own testimony is also important, as you may have to explain your non-economic injuries like pain, suffering, and distress.
If a car accident is very complicated, such as a multi-vehicle accident, an accident reconstruction expert may be necessary to help explain how everything happened. These experts may review police reports, crash scene photos, witness statements, and other details about the crash to scientifically recreate how the crash likely occurred. Their testimony may be very compelling to a jury and difficult for a defendant to dispute.
Talk to Our Coppell Car Accident Attorneys About Starting Your Case
Call The Queenan Law Firm at (817) 476-1797 to get a free case evaluation from our car accident attorneys.