Anderson Injury Lawyers | August 23, 2024 | Car Accidents
Last year, more than 250,000 people were injured in car accidents in Texas. These statistics also include over 18,000 cases of serious injuries. Additionally, there were over 4,000 fatalities reported.
Car accidents often happen quickly and without warning, leaving you reeling in the aftermath, whether you’re injured or not. You might naturally feel guilty, especially if loved ones are in the car and they suffer injury or death.
However, when another driver is at fault for your accident, you can seek compensation for injuries and damages. What if the at-fault party’s insurance provider delays or denies your claim? Your path to recompensation may not be easy.
Most people don’t have the resources to fight insurance giants on their own, but you don’t have to attempt that journey alone. An experienced car accident lawyer will represent your best interests, negotiate for a fair settlement, and prepare for court if necessary. What can you expect when you’re involved in a crash that wasn’t your fault?
Assigning Fault In Texas
Texas is an at-fault state for car insurance, meaning that the person at fault is responsible for covering the costs of damages and injuries resulting from the collision.
Still, you need to prove who was at fault before you can receive compensation. Your account of the events might not be enough if the at-fault driver tells a different story or tries to place the blame on you.
You may have to provide evidence like photos and videos from the scene of the accident, witness statements that corroborate your version of events, and a police report. If you’re unable to collect evidence at the scene due to injuries, ask a passenger in your vehicle or a witness at the scene for help.
Most Common Causes of Car Accidents
Whether you’re involved in a side collision, a head-on accident, or a rear-end crash, it’s unlikely that the other driver hit you on purpose. It’s more likely that the at-fault driver was engaged in one or more risky driving behaviors. What are some of the most common causes of car accidents?
Speeding
Speeding is frequently cited among the common factors contributing to vehicle collisions. On average, speeding is a factor in 28% of fatality crashes in the United States, leading to over 10,000 deaths annually.
This includes drivers who are not only exceeding the speed limit but also simply driving too fast for unfavorable road conditions, such as roadway disrepair, poor or no lighting, or inclement weather. Speeding can increase stopping distance, the possibility of losing control of the vehicle, and the severity of a crash, all of which are bad news for anyone involved.
Driving Under the Influence
Drugs and alcohol inhibit the user’s ability to make good decisions and cause impairment to:
- Visual function
- Divided attention (performing two tasks simultaneously)
- Coordination
- Reaction times
- Concentration
- Information processing
- Motor functions required for steering, braking, and maintaining lane position
These impairments, in turn, play a role in the occurrence of DUI crashes that cause injuries and fatalities. About 32% of fatality crashes in the United States involve drunk driving, contributing to a death every 39 minutes, on average.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving contributes to thousands of fatalities in vehicle crashes each year.
Some of the most common distractions resulting in accidents include:
- Daydreaming
- Cell phone use
- Rubbernecking
- Passengers in the vehicle
- Eating/drinking
- Adjusting vehicle controls and equipment
- Pets/insects moving in the vehicle
Even a few seconds of distraction is enough to cause a car crash. A vehicle traveling at 60 miles per hour will cover the length of a football field in six seconds, which means a driver looking down for just a few moments to read a text message or adjust the air conditioning could easily miss stopped traffic ahead.
Drowsy Driving
Drowsy driving doesn’t cause as many accidents or fatalities as drunk driving, but the number isn’t small. It is estimated that drowsy driving contributes to about 21% of fatal car crashes each year. Unfortunately, these numbers may not be entirely accurate, as the impact of fatigue on driving is often underestimated.
Common Injuries In Car Accidents
Even if you’re involved in a minor fender bender, you and the passengers in your vehicle could suffer a variety of injuries.
Some of the most common injuries include:
- Neck and back injuries like whiplash, herniated discs, spinal cord injuries, and paralysis
- Concussion, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and facial lacerations and bruising
- Soft tissue injuries like bruising, sprains, and strains
- Hard tissue injuries like joint dislocation and broken bones
- Organ damage, such as heart attack, penetrating or concussive force, and internal bleeding
- Loss of limb
- Loss of life
The trauma of an accident could also cause mental and emotional issues, such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD, that impede recovery.
Types of Compensation In Car Accident Cases
When you’re involved in an accident, the last thing you probably want to do is fight a long court battle for compensation. Therefore, law firms typically try to negotiate with insurance providers to quickly reach a fair settlement that covers your costs.
If a case does go to trial, the law allows for several different types of compensation, including economic and non-economic. Economic damages refer to actual economic loss, which could include the costs of medical care and rehabilitation, lost wages (including future loss of earnings), and so on.
Non-economic damages could include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental or emotional pain or anguish
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement
- Physical impairment
They may also include injury to reputation.
Don’t Fight Insurance Companies On Your Own
Insurance providers have the resources to outlast you when it comes to recovering damages. They can delay and deny your claim until you accept a fraction of what your claim is worth or simply give up. A qualified lawyer will negotiate for a fair settlement on your behalf so you can focus on recovering from an accident.
Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in Texas
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth or Dallas and need legal help, contact our car accident lawyers at Anderson Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation. We proudly serve Tarrant County, Dallas County, and throughout Texas.
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office
1310 W El Paso St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 294-1900
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office (Secondary)
6618 Fossil Bluff Dr # 108, Fort Worth, TX 76137
(817) 631-4113
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Dallas Office
408 W Eighth St Suite 202, Dallas, TX 75208
(214) 327-8000
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Dallas Office (Secondary)
6301 Gaston Ave suite 610, Dallas, TX 75214
(469) 457-4711
