Texas uses fault-based auto insurance. This means that every vehicle owner must buy liability insurance that pays anyone injured by the vehicle’s driver in a car accident. In most cases, an insurance claim against the at-fault driver will provide your only option for getting compensated for injuries caused by their negligent driving.
After suffering an injury in a crash, many accident victims wonder, “Do I have to go to court after a car accident in Dallas?” An injury attorney from Anderson Injury Lawyers will try to settle your claim for a fair settlement value. But if the insurer in Dallas, TX, refuses to offer a fair settlement, your lawyer will need to file a lawsuit to continue your pursuit of injury compensation.
Contact our legal team to learn about your rights and options after a car accident in the area. We provide a free initial consultation to review your case, call us at (214) 327-8000.
How Anderson Injury Lawyers Can Help You Get Compensation After an Auto Accident In Dallas, TX
Anderson Injury Lawyers has been helping injured clients in Dallas, Texas, since its founding in 2007.
Our Dallas car accident lawyers have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in financial compensation for injured people just like you.
After you suffer an injury in Dallas, our attorneys can help with the following:
- Evaluating your claim and explaining your legal right to pursue injury compensation
- Filing your insurance claim and tailoring a negotiating strategy to try to settle your claim
- Using our decades of experience to fight aggressively in court if your case doesn’t settle
A car accident claim takes skill, knowledge, and experience to resolve on fair terms. Contact Anderson Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your car accident injuries and how we can help you pursue compensation for them.
How Many Car Crash Lawsuits Happen In Texas?
According to the Texas Department of Transportation statistics, the state had 132,693 traffic accidents that led to injury or death in 2022. These crashes caused:
- 2,354 fatalities
- 11,747 incapacitating injuries
- 69,316 minor injuries
- 110,520 complaints of pain with no visible injury
Not all these people had injury claims. Many were hurt in single-car accidents and had no one to blame for their injuries. And at least some of those injured in multi-vehicle crashes were at-fault drivers who caused the crash that harmed them.
On the other end of the spectrum, some people suffered such minor injuries that they chose not to pursue a claim even though they had the legal right to do so. Finally, the people injured in crashes in 2022 still have time before reaching their deadlines. The statute of limitations in Texas is two years from the date of the accident. As a result, these victims have until 2024 to file.
In 2022, the Annual Statistical Report of the Texas Judiciary reported the following:
- 36,032 new motor vehicle injury cases filed in Texas state district courts
- 10,947 new motor vehicle injury cases filed in county courts
The difference in these courts is the amount of money at stake. County courts can only take cases involving less than $10,000 in damages. Thus, lawyers file the biggest cases in the district court.
How Dallas Car Accident Claims Get Resolved
Most car accident victims do not go to court. Motor vehicle injury claims almost always start with an insurance claim describing your accident and the injuries you suffered. It includes supporting documentation like the crash report and your medical records.
An insurance adjuster will review your claim and decide whether to accept it. If they accept the claim, they will offer a settlement that will probably be low. However, your injury lawyer will negotiate with the adjuster for a better settlement. If you and the insurer reach a mutually agreeable settlement, you will release your claim and get paid without going to court.
Numerous claims get settled in this way, but many others will not. In those cases, your injury lawyer files a lawsuit against the at-fault driver, and their insurer generally joins the case as a defendant.
From the numbers above, almost 47,000 people filed motor vehicle injury lawsuits in Texas state courts in 2022. But even after filing a lawsuit, the vast majority of them never went to court. According to the 2022 Annual Statistical Report, only 4% of the car accident cases closed by judges ended with a trial verdict. Instead, most cases ended with:
- Dismissal by the court
- Default judgment against the at-fault driver
- Change of venue to a different court
- Settlement
Statistically speaking, it’s very unlikely that your case will make it to court or trial. Even if a lawsuit is filed, settlement negotiations can still continue. Oftentimes, the pretrial discovery process unearths crucial evidence.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Dallas Car Accident Lawyers
Your Dallas car accident lawyer will need to present evidence and legal arguments to secure an out-of-court settlement of your claim. Contact Anderson Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss how we can help you resolve your car crash case.
Our law firm handles all types of car accident cases:
- Chest Injuries
- Distracted Driving Accidents
- Defective Tire Accidents
- DUI Accidents
- Head-On Crashes
- Highway Crashes
- Hit-and-Run Accidents
- Intersection Crashes
- Lane Change Crashes
- Left-Turn Accidents
- Parking Lot Accidents
- Rear-End Crashes
- Rollover Accidents
- Speeding Accidents
- SUV Rollover Accidents
Additional Dallas Car Accident Resources
- Car Accident FAQs
- Car Accident Liability
- Common Injuries from Car Accidents
- Do I Need a Lawyer After a Hit and Run Accident in Dallas?
- Who Will Pay My Medical Bills After a Car Accident in Dallas?
- How To Get Money After A Car Accident Without A Lawyer in Dallas
- How To Obtain an Accident Report in Dallas, TX
- Most Dangerous Roads/Intersections in Dallas, TX
- What Does a Car Accident Lawyer Do?
- What to Do After a Dallas Car Accident?
- When To Hire a Lawyer After a Car Accident in Dallas
- Who Is At Fault For My Car Accident?