Legally Reviewed by Dale R. Rose on October 21, 2026
Collin County roads see thousands of collisions every year. If you have been injured in a wreck, you are likely facing mounting medical bills, lost wages, and uncertainty about what comes next. Even if you share some fault for what happened, Texas law may still allow you to pursue compensation, but the sooner you act, the stronger your position.
From the moment a wreck is reported, the other driver’s insurance company begins working to minimize what it pays out. Rose Knows Law is a McKinney personal injury law firm, and attorney Dale R. Rose brings 27 years of experience and more than 165 first-chair jury trials to every car wreck case he handles. He has litigated in 54 Texas counties and knows how insurers evaluate and undervalue claims. When you work with Rose Knows Law, you work directly with Dale throughout the process, never a case manager or associate.
⚠ Time-Sensitive Texas Filing Deadline
Car wreck victims in Texas generally have two years from the date of the collision to file a lawsuit, with limited exceptions. Waiting may cost you your right to recover anything.
Rose Knows Law handles car wreck cases across McKinney and Collin County on a contingency-fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Types of Car Wreck Cases We Handle
Understanding what type of collision you were involved in helps you clearly explain the circumstances to police, doctors, and your attorney. Common car wreck cases Rose Knows Law handles include the following:
Rear-End Collisions
When drivers follow too closely, the risk of a rear-end collision increases significantly. Under Texas law, all drivers must maintain a safe following distance. If the trailing driver was too close and caused the wreck, you may be able to hold them liable for your injuries. Our rear-end wreck attorneys may help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Side-Impact Collisions
Also called T-bone crashes, side-impact collisions occur when the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another. These wrecks often happen at intersections and may result in serious injuries to occupants on the impacted side, where the vehicle offers the least protection.
Head-On Crashes
Head-on crashes are among the most devastating types of collisions. They occur when two vehicles traveling in opposite directions collide, typically on two-way roads or divided highways. Injuries from head-on crashes are frequently severe or fatal.
Distracted Driving Crashes
Anytime a driver takes their eyes off the road or hands off the wheel, they create a hazard for everyone nearby. Our distracted driving attorneys have experience holding negligent drivers accountable for the harm their inattention causes.
Drunk Driving Crashes
Driving under the influence impairs judgment, slows reaction time, and dramatically increases the likelihood of a serious collision. Our drunk driving wreck attorneys pursue full compensation for victims injured by impaired drivers in McKinney and Collin County.
Truck and Commercial Vehicle Crashes
Collisions involving commercial trucks often involve more than one responsible party and more than one insurance policy. Our McKinney truck accident lawyer page explains how those claims differ from a standard car wreck claim.
Our rollover accident lawyers and hit-and-run accident lawyers handle two of the most serious types of wrecks.
Common Causes of Car Collisions
Texas is one of the most heavily traveled states in the country. With McKinney’s rapid population growth creating increasingly congested conditions on US-75, US-380, and local roads throughout Collin County, collisions are more likely to occur. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, Texas recorded 14,905 serious injury crashes in 2024. Common driver errors that cause wrecks include speeding, tailgating, running red lights and stop signs, fatigued driving, reckless lane changes, and failure to yield. When a driver’s negligence causes a wreck that injures you, you have the right to pursue compensation for the full scope of your losses.
How a Car Wreck Attorney May Help Your Case
Partnering with an experienced McKinney car wreck attorney may significantly benefit you as you navigate the aftermath of a serious collision. Several ways Rose Knows Law may provide assistance include:
Legal Knowledge. Car wreck attorneys are well-versed in the nuances of Texas personal injury law, including the specific standards relevant to your case. This allows Dale to navigate legal complexities and protect your rights throughout the process.
Thorough Investigation. Dale conducts thorough investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collision, gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, analyzing police reports, and collaborating with reconstruction professionals when necessary to build a strong case.
Determining Liability. Establishing fault is fundamental in car wreck cases. Dale works to determine who was responsible for the collision, considering factors such as negligence, distracted driving, and reckless behavior, and builds a record that holds up under scrutiny.
Dealing With Insurance Companies. Insurance companies are trained to minimize payouts. Dale handles all communication with insurance adjusters and negotiates on your behalf to pursue a fair settlement that accounts for the full scope of your losses, past and future.
Valuing Your Damages. Calculating the full extent of your damages goes beyond immediate medical bills. Dale considers long-term medical costs, rehabilitation expenses, lost earning capacity, and the emotional toll of the collision to ensure you are not shortchanged.
Courtroom Representation. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, Dale is fully prepared to take your case to trial. With more than 165 first-chair jury trials across more than 54 Texas counties, he has the courtroom experience to present a compelling case before a judge and jury.
What Compensation May I Recover for My Injuries?
Texas is a comparative liability state, so you must show that the other driver’s negligence caused the wreck and your resulting injuries. A successful claim may allow you to recover compensation for:
- Medical bills, including emergency care, surgery, and hospitalization
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Vehicle repair or replacement costs
- Pain and suffering
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy costs
- Emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, or PTSD
- Loss of consortium for the impact on your relationship with your spouse
- Future medical expenses for long-term care required as a result of the collision
Insurance companies may try to persuade you to settle quickly and without legal counsel. They do this because they know an attorney will understand how to properly value your claim and account for future costs. You have one opportunity to receive full and fair compensation, so make sure you are guided by an attorney focused solely on your best interests.
What to Do After a Motor Vehicle Wreck
In the immediate aftermath of a collision, it is natural to feel overwhelmed. Taking the right steps protects both your health and your legal rights.
Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone has been hurt. If it is safe to do so, move your vehicle out of traffic to prevent further collisions. Exchange contact and insurance information with all involved parties, and document the scene with photos and videos of the vehicles, road conditions, and any visible injuries. Gather contact information from any witnesses and notify your insurance company. Even if you feel fine, see a doctor as soon as possible, because injuries that are not immediately apparent may surface hours or days later.
Additional steps that may strengthen your case include keeping a written record of your symptoms and how the injuries affect your daily life, avoiding signing any releases or settlement documents before consulting an attorney, and preserving all evidence, including medical records, repair bills, and any communications with insurers. Avoid posting about the wreck on social media until your case is resolved.
Common Injuries From Car Wrecks
Car wrecks may cause whiplash, back and spine injuries, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, internal injuries, and psychological harm such as anxiety. This is general information and does not diagnose or establish the cause of any injury, and a medical professional should evaluate any symptoms you notice after a wreck.
Not all injuries show up immediately after a collision. As adrenaline fades, injuries that were not initially apparent may become serious. Seeing a doctor right away benefits both your health and your claim, as insurance companies may argue that a delayed visit is evidence you were not seriously hurt, or that your injuries arose from a separate incident. Documented medical evidence from the start also gives your case a stronger foundation if it goes to trial, where your treating physician may be asked to testify about the nature and extent of your injuries.
Can You Pursue Compensation if You Were Partially at Fault?
Texas is a comparative liability state. You may seek compensation for your injuries even if you were partially at fault, as long as you are not found to be more than 50 percent responsible for the collision. If your degree of fault is assessed at 50 percent or less, your compensation will be reduced proportionally to your level of responsibility.
This framework underscores the importance of a thorough investigation. Gathering evidence and building a strong case early helps demonstrate the other driver’s contribution to the collision and prevents insurers from overstating your share of the blame.
Holding Drivers Accountable for Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of collisions on North Texas roads. Distractions include any activity that takes a driver’s attention away from the road, such as texting, talking on the phone, eating, adjusting the radio, or interacting with passengers. Under Texas law, texting while driving is prohibited, and our texting and driving wreck attorneys are prepared to hold negligent drivers accountable for the harm they cause.
When a distracted driver causes a collision that results in serious injuries, they may be held legally responsible for the resulting damages. Dale R. Rose has a track record of pursuing justice for those injured by distracted drivers throughout Collin County and surrounding areas.
Elements of Negligence in a Car Wreck Claim
Texas uses a comparative liability system, so those injured in a car wreck may have legal grounds to file a claim against the responsible driver. A successful claim typically requires showing that the other driver owed you a duty of care, breached that duty by violating traffic laws or driving negligently, and caused the collision, and that the collision caused injuries and other compensable damages.
Every person in Texas owes other drivers and pedestrians a duty to operate their vehicle responsibly. If the other driver breached this duty, causing your collision, you may be eligible to recover compensation for your losses. At Rose Knows Law, every case is investigated thoroughly to determine cause and fault, and our approach is tailored to the specific facts of your situation.
How a Car Wreck Claim Moves Forward
A claim often begins with an investigation. The attorney gathers the police report, photographs, witness statements, surveillance footage, vehicle data, medical records, and insurance policies, then presents the claim to the insurer and negotiates.
Many claims resolve through settlement. If the insurer will not offer fair compensation, the case may proceed to a lawsuit, and the timeline depends on the injuries, the medical treatment, and how the insurer responds.
Statute of Limitations for Car Wreck Claims
Under Texas law, a personal injury lawsuit from a car wreck must generally be filed within two years of the date of the collision, with limited exceptions. In a wrongful death case, the two years begin on the date of death, not the date of the wreck. You may review the statute on the Texas Legislature’s website.
Missing the deadline may permanently bar your claim, no matter how strong the evidence is. Insurers may also encourage a quick settlement before you understand the full extent of your injuries, so speaking with an attorney promptly protects both your deadline and your claim.
Protecting Your Rights After a Wreck
Because wrecks occur without warning, protecting your rights in the aftermath may feel overwhelming. Beyond seeking immediate medical care, gather and preserve evidence early. Photos, witness statements, and police reports all strengthen your case. If you were unable to collect evidence at the scene, return as soon as possible, or ask your attorney to assist. If the collision occurred near a business, security footage may capture what happened.
Be careful when speaking with the other driver’s insurance company. Statements you make early in the process may be used against you later. Dale R. Rose handles all communications with insurers on your behalf. If you have been hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, our uninsured and underinsured motorist attorneys may help you explore all available options for recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from people injured in car wrecks in McKinney and Collin County.
Do I have a valid car wreck case?
You may if another driver’s negligence caused your injuries and you suffered measurable harm, such as medical bills or lost income. A free consultation allows us to review the facts and explain your options.
What is the deadline to file a car wreck lawsuit in Texas?
Texas law generally requires a lawsuit within two years of the date of the collision, with limited exceptions. For wrongful death, the two years begin on the date of death.
How much does it cost to hire a car wreck attorney?
Consultations are free, and Rose Knows Law works on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
May family members file a claim if someone died in a car wreck?
Certain surviving family members may bring a wrongful death claim under Texas law. Because the filing deadline is strict, it is important to speak with an attorney promptly.
What if I was partly at fault?
You may still recover compensation if you are found 50 percent or less responsible, although your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. An attorney may help gather evidence that shows what actually happened.
I was hurt on US-75 or US-380 near McKinney. Does the location matter?
The location may affect which agency responded and which reports and footage exist, but your claim is still governed by Texas law. Crashes on busy roads such as US-75 and US-380 often involve several vehicles, and an attorney may help gather the reports and any available footage.
Contact Rose Knows Law for a Free Consultation
Dale R. Rose has 27 years of experience and has tried more than 165 first-chair jury trials in over 54 Texas counties. Rose Knows Law is a boutique firm, which means you work directly with Dale on every part of your case, and consultations are free. We serve injured people in McKinney, Allen, Frisco, Plano, Anna, Melissa, Princeton, Prosper, Celina, and the rest of Collin County.
Our fee is contingent on a recovery, so you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. If you were hurt in a car wreck in McKinney, contact our office to schedule your free consultation.