Auto Accident Injury in Fort Worth, TX

Have you suffered an injury due to a car accident in Fort Worth? If so, your life may never be the same again. Injuries from a car accident can interfere with your ability both to work and to enjoy everyday activities. They can also be incredibly painful. As such, you need an auto accident attorney who understands the laws in and around Fort Worth, TX that will fight for your legal rights and help you receive the financial compensation you deserve.

Auto Accident Injury Statistics in Fort Worth, Texas

In 2023, Fort Worth recorded a total of 13,249 vehicle accidents. Of these, 4,809 resulted in injuries, while 106 were fatal crashes. With a population of over 935,000 residents, this translates to about 1,416 accidents per 100,000 people. The leading causes of these accidents include speeding, distracted driving, and alcohol impairment. Fort Worth also experiences a high volume of traffic incidents on major roadways, such as I-35W and SH-183.

What to Do After an Auto Accident

It’s important to be prepared in the event you are a victim of a car accident. Below are the steps to remember immediately after your crash.

Receive Immediate Medical Attention

The most critical step after an auto accident is to seek immediate and proper medical treatment. Even if you think your injuries are minor, a thorough medical evaluation is essential to rule out internal injuries or conditions that may not present symptoms right away. Prompt treatment not only safeguards your health but also establishes a medical record that could be vital if you decide to file a claim later.

File a Police Report

Even if no one sustained injuries, you still need to call 911 and request law enforcement assistance. When officers arrive, jot down each one’s name and badge number. Answer their questions honestly, but don’t volunteer any unasked-for information, especially your thoughts on exactly what happened or who caused the car accident. Be sure to ask the officers for the number of their police reports. Also ask when and where you can get a copy of it, including how much it will cost you.

Fort Worth car accidents involving drunk drivers, injuries, fatalities, or more than $1,000 in property damage must be reported immediately to the police. You must stay at the crash scene and call 911. You can obtain a copy of the crash report online through the Fort Worth Police Department’s Public Report Access portal.

Gather the Appropriate Documentation

While waiting for officers to arrive after a car accident, collect information from all other drivers involved in the accident, including the following:

• Full name, address, phone number and email address
• Driver’s license state and number
• Auto insurance company name, policy number, and phone number

Use your cell phone to take pictures of each driver’s license, auto insurance card, your vehicle, and each additional vehicle involved in the car accident. Don’t rely on verbal communication. Having as much information as possible will only help you and your case later on. Try to keep this exchange as civil and friendly as possible. However, do not apologize for causing the accident or indicate in any way that you think you may have caused it. 

Recovering Damages After an Auto Accident Injury

After surviving a car accident, the emotional and economic toll it takes can be staggering. You are not only dealing with the mental anguish that comes with being involved in a crash, but you may also be experiencing severe physical harm as well.

Common injuries associated with motor vehicle accidents include:

• Burn injuries
• Back and neck injuries, such as whiplash
• Brain and head injuries
• Broken bones
• Spinal injuries
• Soft tissue injuries

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, traffic crash deaths in Texas cost $5.7 billion in 2018. This staggering amount is made up of $43 million in medical costs and a shocking $5.66 billion in work loss costs. Motor vehicle occupants represented 72% of this cost, while motorcyclists represented 12%, and pedestrians and bicyclists represented 16% and 1% respectively. Fort Worth experienced almost 3% of total Texas car accident fatalities, putting the city’s cost at over $170 million.

Hiring a car accident lawyer ensures you have the financial ability to cover any losses that have occurred as a result of a crash. An auto accident attorney will also help you handle the paperwork that you will have to complete from insurance companies. This boosts your odds of receiving the insurance compensation you deserve.

Auto Accident Laws in Texas

Liability Laws for Fort Worth

When car accidents happen, it is essential to determine who bears responsibility for the resulting damage and medical bills. Determining fault impacts everything from your insurance claim and level of liability to the amount of confusion you may endure during the claims process. 

According to the Texas Department of Insurance, Texas is a “fault” insurance state. This means any driver can be held liable for damages and injuries they caused in a car accident in Fort Worth. Most people protect themselves from this liability by purchasing auto liability insurance. In fact, Texas requires you to have at least $30,000 of coverage for injuries per person, limited to $60,000 per accident. Additionally, you must have at least $25,000 of coverage for property damage.

Statute of Limitations in Fort Worth

Each state has its own tort laws that determine the statute of limitations on a claim. In some states, this gives you just one year to file a claim in court, while some others may give you up to six years. The statute of limitations for auto accidents in Texas is two years. If you live in Fort Worth, this means you only have two years from the date of your auto accident to file a suit.

This is why it is important to consult with an attorney immediately after your car crash. Don’t wait and risk losing out on any compensation they can recover.

Work With an Experienced Auto Accident Lawyer Near Fort Worth, TX

After a car accident, you have enough to worry about. We can help you find an auto accident attorney for your unique case. Get the financial restitution that you deserve if you’re the victim of someone else’s conduct. We can even help you connect with legal help across Texas state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an attorney in your area!

About the Author

Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.

With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.