Blogs - Page 10 of 10 - McKinney Personal Injury Lawyer

What Is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident in Texas?

After being injured in a car accident, you will likely seek a settlement on behalf of the at-fault driver’s insurance. In Texas, there have been nearly 13,000 car accidents annually that have resulted in severe injury. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to another driver’s negligence, you may be eligible for compensation. 

Dale R. Rose is an experienced car accident injury attorney who has been helping clients in Texas for nearly 25 years. When pursuing a car accident settlement, you may be wondering what amount you should be expecting. Knowing the average settlement for car accidents in Texas can help you figure out when you are being offered a fair amount. 

The Average Car Accident Settlement in Texas

After being involved in a car accident and filing a claim, you may likely be offered a settlement from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Your settlement amount will not be the same as any settlement before or after yours. This is because many factors determine the exact amount that a car accident settlement will be, and your case is unique. Due to this, there is not an exact average of what you can expect to collect in a car accident settlement. However, a Texas car accident attorney may be able to help you calculate and estimate a realistic and fair sum for settlement. And an attorney may likely get you more for damages that you can get on your own. 

What Factors Determine the Amount Offered for Your Settlement?

Every settlement amount will be different depending on that particular car accident claim. Depending on the liability, the type and severity of your property damage and injuries, the amount you are awarded can vary greatly. Some other factors that may determine your settlement amount are:

  • Current or ongoing medical bills
  • Rehabilitative therapy costs
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of earning potential
  • Pain and suffering

In pursuit of seeking compensation for any of the above damages, your car accident injury lawyer will likely ask you to provide them with the following items to give to the insurance company as proof of damages:

  • Medical records and physician statements
  • Medical bills
  • Police reports
  • Photographs of the accident site or scene
  • Witness statements from the scene of the crash
  • Accident reconstruction report

A huge benefit of having the help of a car accident injury attorney with experience handling claims in Texas is that they will get the information needed for you to build your injury claim for the best possible settlement. 

Why It’s Important to Negotiate Your Settlement 

In Texas, it is required that insurance companies offer and negotiate settlements in good faith. With that being said, any experienced car accident injury attorney will tell you that you should never accept the first offer given to you by an insurance company. If you do, you may be cheating yourself out of thousands of dollars you may desperately need to cover medical bills and other costs. 

Most insurance companies will pull out all the stops to attempt to downplay your injury claim, in turn offering you the lowest settlement they can because you don’t know the information that they need to get you the best offer. However, an experienced car accident attorney may be able to help you negotiate the settlement amount, build your claim, and help you get the best possible settlement amount for your case.  

Get Help with Your Car Accident Settlement from a Texas Injury Lawyer

Being involved in an accident can leave you with injuries and damages that can completely alter your way of life. Whether you are suffering physically, financially, or both following a car accident, Dale R. Rose is prepared to help you with your Texas car accident injury claim. Serving as a practicing injury attorney since 1992, Dale R. Rose offers each client top-of-the-line care when helping them build a car accident injury claim. Offering award-winning legal services, you can schedule a consultation by filling out our contact form or calling (972) 634-7673.

4 Common Causes of Motorcycle Crashes in Texas

Driving a motorcycle can be a fun and exhilarating means of transportation, but it is no secret that motorcycles can be very dangerous. Compared to drivers in closed, four-wheel vehicles, drivers and passengers on motorcycles are left much more vulnerable to hazards in the event of an accident. With over 5,000 motorcyclists dying annually in motorcycle crashes, staying alert and practicing safe driving methods while operating a motorcycle is crucial. 

Motorcycle crash injury attorney Dale R. Rose has been helping victims in the state of Texas for nearly 25 years. While a crash can occur for an infinite number of reasons, there are four common causes often to blame for Texas motorcycle crashes. 

The 4 Common Causes of Texas Motorcycle Crashes 

Over the years, the number of motorcycle crashes has dropped significantly, but it does not change the fact that motorcycle crashes are still common in Texas. Texas is known for dangerous roadways, and motorcyclists are left exposed and at mercy to the multitude of hazards on the roads. Motorcycles are less visible to other drivers and are far less stable. The following are the most common causes of motorcycle crashes in Texas:

Failure to See the Motorcyclist

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reported that more than 40 percent of motorcycle accidents occur when a driver turns left without checking or not seeing a motorcyclist in their path. In this scenario, a motorcyclist may be going straight, passing, or overtaking another vehicle. It is imperative to always check your surroundings and be alert when making a left turn. 

Because motorcycles are smaller than other cars or trucks, when a driver checks their blind spot, they may not see the motorcycle and cause a severe accident. This is why it is always so important to do a check of any blind spot when making turns or changing lanes. 

Dangerous Weather Conditions

Texas drivers are prone to be caught in dangerous weather conditions that make roads slick or hazardous to drive on. However, due to motorcycles having only two wheels—making them far less stable than other vehicles—motorcyclists are left vulnerable when severe weather catches them out on a drive. Dangerous weather can cause motorcyclists to become disoriented or even spin out, causing an accident. 

Lane Splitting

Lane splitting is when motorcyclists ride along the line that divides two lanes of traffic and often occurs during slowly moving traffic to save time. Due to motorcyclists getting dangerously close to vehicles during this maneuver, it can often lead to crashes. While there is no explicit law prohibiting lane splitting, the law states that drivers must remain in a single lane, essentially making lane splitting illegal. 

Failure to Obey Traffic Signs and Signals

Traffic signals and signs are there to help keep all drivers safe. When a driver runs a red light, speeds past a stop sign, or turns right when they are in a left turn only lane, there is a risk for an accident. Always be sure to be alert when you are driving so as not to fail to obey traffic signals. 

Get Help from a Skilled Texas Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorney

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Texas, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. Whether you have incurred medical costs from your injuries, lost wages, or property damages, you should not have to pay out of pocket for an accident you did not cause. Dale R. Rose is an experienced Texas injury attorney helping victims of motorcycle accidents get the compensation they are owed. 

Dale R. Rose is an award-winning injury lawyer with extensive experience handling motorcycle injury claims. Complete our contact form or call (972) 634-7673 for a free consultation.

4 Steps to Take after a Car Accident in Texas

Car accidents can happen in an instant, but they leave long-lasting consequences for the victim. Medical bills and property damage costs add up quickly. The injured party may even be out of work, only adding to their financial stress. However, when another party’s negligent actions are to blame, you might be entitled to financial compensation. Obtaining the compensation needed to cover accident-related costs can be challenging, but following these four steps may make the process easier.

One crucial step many accident victims fail to make is hiring an injury attorney. An experienced Texas car accident attorney will know the ins and outs of the state’s injury laws and can guide you through the legal process.

Call 911 after a Car Crash in Texas

While the immediate aftermath of a car accident can be overwhelming, you must call law enforcement. Police officers can write an accident report that details the specific information regarding the accident and identifies the parties involved. The information in the report is crucial if you have to file a claim later.

Furthermore, Texas law requires you to report a car accident if the crash caused a severe injury, death, or damage to a vehicle that makes it unsafe. After you call the police, you must stay at the accident scene. Leaving may result in a criminal hit-and-run charge.

Document the Car Accident

While you wait for police officers to arrive, you should photograph the accident scene. Pictures are an excellent source of evidence. Take photos from multiple locations, but make sure that both vehicles are in the shot. You should also take up-close pictures to show damage. Photographing your injuries at the accident scene may also be helpful.

In addition to taking pictures, you should use this time to gather information from the other driver. You will want their name, contact information, insurance policy number, vehicle registration number, vehicle make and model, and driver’s license number. Your insurer and attorney will need all of this information when filing a claim.

Seek Medical Attention Following a Car Accident

It is best to seek medical attention immediately following a car accident. Even if you feel only minor pain, you should still contact a doctor. Injuries can take time to fully manifest, but a doctor may diagnose and treat such injuries before they worsen. A doctor can also diagnose any internal injuries, such as organ damage or internal bleeding.

In addition to your injuries worsening without medical treatment, an insurance company may try to reduce or deny your claim if you do not take this step. Insurers will argue that your injuries were either not as severe as you claimed or that an unrelated accident caused your injuries. Do not risk the compensation needed to cover medical bills; schedule a doctor’s appointment right away.

Notify Your Insurance Company

You should contact your insurance company and notify them of the accident. The agent will likely ask you questions regarding the accident that you should answer honestly. Do not try to mislead the insurer because it may harm your claim later. You may have to file against your insurance if the other motorist is uninsured or your injuries exceed their insurance limit.

While you want to inform your insurance company of the accident, you should not discuss the case with the other driver’s insurer. Their insurer will look out for their best interests, meaning they may employ tactics to reduce or deny your claim. It is crucial that you not speak to them until after you have consulted with a Texas injury attorney.

Skilled Texas Car Accident Attorney to Fight for You

If you were in a car accident in Texas, contact Attorney Dale R. Rose. With nearly 25 years of experience and over 155 jury trials under his belt, Attorney Rose dedicates himself to representing those injured because of another’s negligent actions. Having represented accident victims, small businesses, large corporations, and criminal defendants, he brings a unique perspective to each case he represents.

When you partner with Attorney Rose, you can be confident that he will do everything possible to ensure the responsible party is held accountable for their negligence. To schedule a free consultation, call (972) 634-7673 or complete our contact form today.

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