Dallas Car Accident Lawyer

Statistically speaking, someone is injured in a car accident every 14 seconds. Those are only numbers of course, until you or someone close to you is involved in a serious crash.

There are few things scarier than being involved in a serious accident. In the span of a few seconds, your life can change dramatically. Recovering from your injuries can be a long and stressful process, but the Dallas car accident lawyers at Montgomery Law are here to help you from beginning to end. We handle all communication with the insurance company, we’ll always look after your best interests, and best of all, we take all car accident cases on a no-win no-fee basis.

Our team understands how difficult the aftermath of a car wreck can be. You may be worried about your ability to return to work, to pay your bills, and to resume your normal life. At Montgomery Law, our primary goal is to ensure that you get the medical care you require as well as the monetary compensation you deserve.

We’re more than happy to answer your questions 24 hours a day by phone or email, and to discuss your car accident questions free of charge. If you decide to have us help you with your claim, you will never be charged a fee unless (and until) we win your case and hand you a check.

If you’ve been hurt (or have lost a loved one) in a Dallas-area car accident, call the attorneys at Montgomery Law today at 214-720-6090 (local) or 1-833-720-6090 (toll-free) for a free consultation.

Most people have been involved in a minor fender-bender before. In collisions like this (which only involve property damage), the process is often pretty straightforward. These types of insurance claims are generally resolved easily and without the need for an attorney. So why do car accident attorneys like us exist?

Well, if you’ve ever attempted to handle a car accident claim that involved an injury (or know someone who has), you probably already understand the value of having a lawyer on your side. Insurance companies are pretty ruthless…

Unlike car accident claims involving property damage only, claims involving an injury (even minor injuries like soreness) are handled very aggressively by insurance companies. The process can often be extremely contentious, and the adjuster assigned to your case will do everything they can to delay, deny, and defend. Understand that the goal of the insurance company is always to pay out as little as possible on every claim; that’s their business model. They will use every tactic to deflect liability, reduce the value of your case, and/or deny your claim entirely.

The role of a personal injury attorney is to advocate on behalf of the victim; to look out for their best interests and to handle all communication with the insurance company. Your attorney will also thoroughly investigate your case in order to put together the strongest possible claim for compensation. This includes:

• Collecting evidence of negligence on the part of the other driver;
• Qualifying (and quantifying) your damages/losses to prove the true value of your claim;
• Issuing an official demand backed up by the threat of a lawsuit;
• Working with the insurance company to negotiate a fair and quick settlement, and/or;
• If necessary, filing a lawsuit and proving your case in a courtroom.

One important thing to note is that, according to research conducted by the Insurance Research Council (IRC), car accident victims who were represented by an attorney recovered, on average, 3.5 times more than those who did not hire a lawyer. Just realize that you only get one shot at bringing your claim, and working with the Dallas car accident lawyers at Montgomery Law will give you a significant advantage when it comes to recovering the money you and your family deserve.

Let’s face it: After a car wreck, one of the biggest concerns for victims is money. You may be out of work and struggling to pay your monthly bills—on top of your ever-increasing medical expenses. The good news is that there’s no financial risk in hiring a car accident injury attorney. In fact, our law firm can even help set you up with medical treatment at no out of pocket cost (regardless of whether or not you have health insurance).

Unlike other types of law firms, Montgomery Law operates on a strict no-win, no-fee (contingency) basis. In the simplest terms, this means that you never pay us anything out of pocket. If we’re successful with your case, a percentage of your settlement/award is allocated as attorney fees. If we don’t put money in your pocket, you literally never owe us a dime.

A contingency arrangement puts the goals of your lawyer squarely in line with your own. Since we don’t charge by the hour, you can trust that we’ll work efficiently to get you the best possible recovery in the shortest amount of time possible. We take this financial risk so that you don’t have to, and because we’re confident in our ability to get you every dollar you’re rightfully owed.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), more than 244,000 Texans were injured in motor vehicle accidents last year alone. Statistically speaking, Texas sees one reportable car crash every 57 seconds, one injury accident every 129 seconds, and one fatal accident every one hours and 57 minutes.

Of course motor vehicle collisions are not limited to just passenger cars. There are a number of different types of accidents that occur with alarming frequency in Texas. The circumstances of your car accident can have a major impact on your rights, your legal options, as well as the value of your potential claim. Use the links below to learn more about how the following factors can affect your claim:

Automobile accidents can be caused by any number of contributing factors, including speeding, reckless driving, intoxication, drowsiness, distracted driving, inattention, failure to yield, and so much more. Some crashes may even involve multiple vehicles with overlapping insurance policies. Ultimately though, the underlying cause of most car accidents is driver negligence (failure to use reasonable care).

All drivers have a legal “duty of care” to obey traffic laws and drive in a reasonable fashion in order to avoid injuring others. When a driver fails in this duty and causes an serious car accident, they can be held liable for 100 percent of the victim’s related losses.

The actions you take immediately following a car accident can be critical to your ability to claim and recover compensation. While some of these steps may not be possible if you were seriously injured, doing as much as you can will help ensure that you have the best chance at a successful outcome.

First, if you are seriously injured, call 911 and wait on first responders to come to the scene. Even if you were not seriously injured or transported to the hospital, it’s very important that you seek medical attention as soon as possible. Failure to do so may result in your entire claim being denied.

Second, collect as much evidence as possible. Try to take photos of the accident scene, gather contact information from the other driver(s) and any witnesses, and keep track of any and all records related to the crash. Write down or take a photo of the other driver’s insurance information and be sure to get the driver’s name and phone number while you’re at it.

Third, ask the responding officer for a crash report number. Having this number will make it easier for you (or your lawyer) to obtain a copy of the accident report from the police as soon as it becomes available.

Fourth, when you are able, write down as much as you can remember about the accident in detail. Try to be as accurate as possible about what happened and when certain events occurred. Make these notes as soon as possible after the accident when your memory is fresh.

After you’ve exchanged information with the other driver, do not volunteer additional information to them or their insurance company. If you’ve hired a lawyer, simply direct anyone who attempts to contact you about the crash to speak to your attorney.

The most important thing that you can do to protect yourself after a car wreck is to immediately discuss your case with a personal injury lawyer. Unlike the insurance company, your attorney is obligated to advocate for your best interests. Working with a skilled Dallas car accident attorney will no doubt put you in the best position to recover the money that you and your family truly deserve.

If you were not seriously injured in your accident, it may be tempting to try and negotiate a settlement directly with the insurance company. Unfortunately, this ignores the reality of the situation: an insurance company’s prime objective to pay out as little as possible on every single claim.

Insurance companies are for-profit businesses. Their goal is not to make sure that you get the money and care you deserve, but to save their company money. While this may be your first serious accident, insurance adjusters handle claims like yours every single day. They’ve learned how to take advantage of car accident victims in this vulnerable state, and the truth is that they have no reason to play fair with an unrepresented claimant.

Many times, the first tactic that insurance companies will use is to play nice up front by telling you that everything will be covered by them in the end. They’ll tell you to continue getting treatment and to send them your medical bills—only to reverse course several months down the line when you’re already in over your head. Their goal is to frustrate the victim into accepting a settlement worth far less than the case is actually worth.

Insurance companies will needlessly (and intentionally) stall at every turn. They’ll sometimes claim that they can’t contact the other party for weeks on end. They may argue that your injuries aren’t as serious as you claim or are unrelated to the accident. They might even deny liability when the evidence clearly shows you weren’t at fault.

Insurance companies have teams of on-staff attorneys who begin looking for reasons to deny your case and reduce their liability the moment your claim is filed. They know that if you allow them to control the process (i.e., you don’t hire a lawyer), that they’ll always hold the upper hand. The only way to level the playing field is to have an attorney on your side who’s looking out for your best interests at every turn. You want a lawyer who’s willing to take your case to trial if need be, and one who has beaten the insurance company in court before.

At Montgomery Law, our job is to work for you. Let us handle the insurance company while you focus on your recovery.

In Texas, the “statute of limitations” dictates that personal injury victims have only two (2) years before they are legally barred from seeking any type of recovery following a car accident. If a lawsuit is filed after this date, it will almost certainly be summarily dismissed.

There are a few important exceptions to Texas’ two-year statute of limitations. First, wrongful death survival action claims must be filed within one (1) year of the date of the victim’s death. Second, if the claim is against a government entity in Texas (such as in an accident with a city bus), notice will generally have to be filed with the city within 45 to 90 days of the accident. If notice is not filed in time, you lose your right to seek compensation.

While the statute of limitations may seem harsh, it does serve a purpose. As time passes, it becomes increasingly difficult to collect evidence in a case. Memories fade, witnesses may move away, and vital evidence may become lost or destroyed. Even if the statute is far away, it is critical that you speak to a Dallas accident lawyer as soon as possible after your crash.

If you have questions about your legal rights (or how the statute of limitations may impact your case) we’re happy to provide this information to you free of cost by phone or email.

Depending on the type of accident and the severity of the crash, a collision can result in relatively mild to extremely serious injuries. However, there are some injuries that occur more frequently than others, including:

• Cuts, contusions, and bruises
• Broken bones
• Back and spine injuries, including paralysis
• Whiplash and/or neck injuries
• Head and brain injuries
• Compartment syndrome
• Burns or disfiguring scars

While some of these injuries are fairly minor and may require just a few weeks or months to heal, others may result in disfigurement, chronic pain, amputation, and/or permanent disability. All of this may affect your ability to earn a living and carry on with your normal activities, and should be included as part of your resulting personal injury claim.

Even though you may not initially feel much pain, it’s generally a good idea to seek medical attention after any car accident. This is particularly true if you have any initial soreness in your neck or back. Remember, it’s the victim’s duty to mitigate their damages. In many cases, symptoms of injuries such as whiplash or a concussion are very mild at first. Without prompt treatment, these conditions may become difficult to manage (and difficult to prove even came from the crash).

It can often be difficult to determine the value of a car accident case early on. This is because any case’s potential value is heavily dependent upon multiple factors (e.g., the extent of the injuries suffered, overall expected damages, liability issues, insurance coverage, etc). The best way to get a general idea of your case’s actual value is to speak with someone who deals with car accidents like yours on a daily basis (again, we’re available 24/7 for a free consultation).

When we say “damages,” we’re talking about injuries and losses suffered in the crash; what you’re seeking to be compensated for. Damages include economic losses (such as medical bills, lost wages, and property damage) and non-economic losses (like pain & suffering and reduced earning capacity). In rare instances, victims may even be awarded punitive damages if the facts of the case merit them.

In the majority of car accident cases, a victim’s economic damages will likely include their resulting medical expenses (including expected future costs), property damages, as well as lost wages. The typical car accident victim’s non-economic damages often include compensation for pain and suffering, disfigurement, loss of consortium, loss of enjoyment of life, and more. While it can be difficult to put an exact dollar figure on something like one’s pain and suffering, our law firm’s considerable experience handling personal injury cases helps us put together a strong case for why the insurance company should pay you what you’re truly owed.

It’s also important to note that accident victims should never entertain the idea of settling until they’re done treating and know the full extent of their medical expenses (including the possibility of future medical care or rehabilitation). Consider a situation where an insurance company offers you $10,000 to settle your case early on, and you decide to counter at $20,000. They’ll still say no, but let’s say that your condition doesn’t improve (or deteriorates to the point where you’re unable to return to work). Your losses may now be in the six figures. Unfortunately, since they have you on a recorded call verbally agreeing to accept $20,000, they have no reason to ever offer you a penny more—and they won’t.

In the United States, about 95 percent of all car accident injury claims settle way before litigation. In other words, you’re unlikely to ever set foot in a courtroom in most circumstances. Instead, your car accident lawyer will attempt to negotiate a settlement before filing a lawsuit. If an agreement cannot be reached, then your lawyer will file a lawsuit with the court and represent you in trial.

As your attorney, we will tell you exactly what to expect at each stage of the case. We will give you our advice and counsel, and keep you updated throughout the entire process. We will always look out for your best interests, and will not accept a settlement offer without your express approval. Best of all, you’ll never pay us a penny unless we win your case.

Montgomery Law is a top-rated Dallas car accident law firm dedicated to helping personal injury victims recover the compensation they deserve. Since our firm’s founding, we have devoted ourselves as fierce advocates for personal injury victims and the families of those wrongfully killed.

Because our accident attorneys work on contingency, there is no financial risk in having us help with your claim. Consultations are always free, and we’re available 24 hours a day to answer your questions and explain your legal rights moving forward. Shoot us an email today, or call Sadat Montgomery (the Car Wreck Cowboy) at 214-720-6090 (local) or 1-833-720-6090 (toll-free) to learn how we can help.