Carrollton, TX Car Accident Lawyer

Car accidents are one of the most common types of accidents that people experience.  While many car accidents involve vehicle damage only, some people face moderate to severe injuries in these crashes.  If you were seriously hurt in an accident in Carrollton, TX, you could be entitled to substantial financial compensation.

A Carrollton, TX car accident lawyer can help you file a claim with the insurance company or with the courts to get you the compensation you need.  Many claims lead to months of negotiation before you see a resolution, and all the while, you may be dealing with medical bills and lost wages.  If you have serious injuries from a car accident, talk to an attorney as soon as possible about your potential case.

For a free legal consultation on your car accident case, contact the Carrollton, TX car accident lawyers at The Queenan Law Firm. Our attorneys are available to schedule a free case consultation so you can learn more about your next steps.  Call us at (817) 476-1797.

Insurance Claims vs. Lawsuits for Car Accidents in Carrollton

If you were injured in a car accident, you may have a choice between an insurance claim and a lawsuit.  Texas is an at-fault state, which means that victims of car crashes usually file claims against the other driver’s insurance.  Whoever is at fault is the one who pays.  Other states use no-fault insurance systems where each driver files with their own insurance and gets compensation regardless of fault.  Under the Texas system, the driver who caused the crash ends up being the one who pays.

Even though insurance is required for all drivers in Texas, it is still somewhat of a secondary system.  This means that you are not required to file an insurance claim, and you can instead take the at-fault driver to court.  This can sometimes mean a better payout for you, especially if the insurance company was working to limit your damages by refusing to cover certain medical expenses or pain and suffering damages.

Unfortunately, you usually cannot make an insurance claim, accept the payout, and then go to court later to claim additional damages.  Usually, you have to decide whether you will take the money from the insurance company or go to court.  There are many factors to consider, such as the following:

• How much insurance is willing to pay
• What damages the settlement covers (future lost wages, pain and suffering)
• How long it will take to go to trial
• How urgently you need the money

In many cases, victims who are struggling financially after an injury will need quick payouts and may be more inclined to settle.  Ultimately, most cases end up settling because insurance companies are unwilling to go through the time and expense of trial.  However, you should always have an attorney review your case and determine whether the settlement is appropriate before you accept.  Our Carrollton car accident lawyers can help.

Damages for Carrollton Car Accident Cases

If you were injured in a car accident in Carrollton, there are a variety of different damages you could be entitled to.  Typically, these damages can be categorized as either “economic” or “non-economic” damages, with economic damages being the kinds of harms that have clear price tags.  The following are some of the most common types of damages claimed in car accident cases:

Vehicle Damage

Payments for your vehicle damage are economic damages that usually have a clear price attached.  After getting your vehicle’s damage appraised, you will know how much should be paid to repair or replace your vehicle.  Cars are usually “totaled” if the price of repairs is more than the remaining value of the vehicle, in which case they simply pay out the total price of the vehicle.

Medical Expenses

While repairing your vehicle might be a big concern, repairing your body should be the most important concern after a crash.  If you needed to be hospitalized, to undergo immediate surgery, or to spend time in physical therapy or rehabilitation because of your injuries, medical expenses could be a major part of your case.  You may be able to claim current and past medical expenses, potentially even getting money for ongoing care needs like wheelchair ramps and physical therapy.  Adding up all the bills is the best way to calculate these economic damages.

Lost Wages

If you were in the hospital or your injuries were too severe for you to work, you could claim damages for lost wages.  These could include the cost of past paychecks you missed, totaled up and claimed as economic damages.

Lost Earning Capacity

If your injury left you with a disability or long-term injury, it could be hard to go back to work in the future.  Attorneys can hire economic experts to help project your lost earnings going forward so that you can claim these economic damages alongside the other financial impacts of the accident.

Other Economic Damages

Other miscellaneous expenses also arise from car accidents.  Things like childcare costs while you go to doctor’s appointments or alternate transportation to and from the hospital can all add up.  Talk to a Carrollton car accident lawyer about claiming compensation for these damages.

Pain and Suffering

The physical pain and mental suffering you face from your injuries do not have a price tag attached, but they can be claimed as non-economic damages.  Calculating these damages is often difficult, so talk to an experienced Carrollton car accident attorney for help.

Call Our Carrolton Car Accident Injury Lawyers for a Free Case Consultation

For help understanding your options for compensation after a car crash, contact the Carrollton car accident lawyers at The Queenan Law Firm today.  To set up your free consultation, call (817) 476-1797 right away.