Fort Worth Car Accident Lawyer

What To Do After a Car Accident in Fort Worth

If you’re hurt and in shock, knowing what to do in the immediate aftermath of a collision in Fort Worth can be difficult. You’ll need to make decisions and act quickly, but it is essential that you take the right steps when doing so. The steps you take after a car accident can have an impact on your ability to recover maximum compensation for your injuries and damages.

Although every car crash is different, our personal injury attorneys generally recommend taking the following steps.

Call 911 and Assess for Injuries

After an auto accident, call 911 and ask that an ambulance and police officer be sent to the scene. Allow emergency responders to evaluate your condition and, if necessary, transport you to the hospital.

While you wait, evaluate the condition of others who were involved in the crash. Never move anyone who appears to be suffering from a head, neck, or back injury, as this could cause them to suffer further harm.

Take Pictures and Videos of the Accident Scene

Before you leave the scene of the accident, use your phone to take pictures and videos of the car collision. Do your best to capture evidence that will disappear quickly or that can potentially be altered later on. When building personal injury claims, our car accident lawyers frequently work with pictures that show:

• Time of day or weather conditions that might have limited visibility.
• Road signs or landmarks that prove where the accident took place.
• Road debris, skid marks, and other evidence that may not last.
• Damage to all involved vehicles.
• Visible injuries, including cuts and bruises.

If in doubt, take more pictures than you think you will need. You and your personal injury lawyer can sort through these images later to determine what is relevant to your Fort Worth car accident lawsuit.

Exchange Information

Section 550.023 of the Texas Transportation Code requires drivers involved in auto accidents to exchange the following information:

If asked, a driver must produce and show their driver’s license upon request. If the other driver involved in your auto accident refuses to provide this information, ask the responding police officer to help facilitate the exchange. Be sure to tell your Fort Worth car accident attorney if the other driver seemed hesitant to share this information, as it could be an indication that they believe they caused the wreck.

File an Accident Report

Not every car accident has to be reported to the police. Section 550.062 of the Texas Transportation Code requires you to report an accident that caused:

• Injury or death, or
• Property damage of $1,000 or more.

When an officer responds to the scene of an accident where there was an injury, death, or property damage of at least $1,000, they will create and file a police report. You may also file your own accident report within 10 days of the crash on the TxDOT website.

If a police officer declined to create a report, but you believe your accident warranted one, file one anyway. This report can be an invaluable source of evidence if you suffered injuries and need to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

See a Doctor

Seek timely medical treatment as soon as possible after a car accident. Even if you think you are only suffering from minor injuries, post-crash adrenaline frequently masks symptoms of more serious injuries. If you were not transported by ambulance to the hospital after your accident happened, you generally have two other options for medical care:

• Go to the nearest emergency room
• Schedule an appointment with your regular doctor

Do not hesitate to seek immediate medical treatment if you have a headache that won’t go away or gets worse, clear fluid leaking from your nostrils or ears, or intense pain in your chest, neck, or back. Never ignore or try to explain away troubling symptoms, as failing to seek medical care in a timely manner could negatively impact your ability to recover compensation. The insurance company will frequently use any excuse to deny compensation, even a delay in going to the doctor.

Meet With a Fort Worth Car Accident Lawyer

We encourage all injured victims who have been involved in a car accident to contact and meet with a Fort Worth car accident lawyer. Even if you believe you are not seriously injured enough to warrant legal representation or think you are prepared to take on the insurance company on your own, most law offices will provide an initial consultation at no charge. This meeting is an excellent opportunity to discuss your case with a personal injury lawyer who has experience and knowledge of handling car accident cases.

At Buckingham & Vega Law Firm, we are pleased to offer a free consultation to victims of car crashes in the Fort Worth and greater Tarrant County area.

Not sure if you can afford to work with a Fort Worth car accident lawyer? We take most cases on a contingency fee basis, so you'll never pay upfront.

Common Car Accident Injuries

Although no two Fort Worth car accidents are exactly alike, many car accident victims suffer from similar injuries, including:

After an accident, you should work closely with a doctor to secure a diagnosis and determine the extent of your injuries. Go to all of your medical appointments and take any medications as prescribed.

It is your doctor’s job to determine the type of injuries you suffered in the accident, and it is our job to make sure you have the financial support to make a full recovery.

Possible Liable Parties in a Car Accident Case

So who is responsible for your car accident injuries? If you were hit by a driver that was texting or under the influence at the time of the wreck, then you already know that you can hold them responsible for their actions. Drivers are not the only parties that can be named in personal injury cases, though.

A Fort Worth car accident lawyer from Buckingham & Vega Law Firm will investigate your case to determine whether any of the following parties might also be liable:

If you do not identify all liable parties in your case, you will miss out on vital compensation. Contact a Fort Worth car accident lawyer today to discuss who might be at-fault for your accident.

Hit-and-Run Accident Liability

Liability becomes much more complicated in cases involving hit-and-run accidents. In order to recover compensation, a victim must typically turn to their own insurance company. A car accident attorney who is skilled in injury law can help you determine whether you have coverage that will appropriately address your damages.

Texas law requires that all drivers be offered the option of purchasing personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. PIP pays for your medical care, lost wages, and property damage related to your accident, regardless of fault.

Your uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage will also kick in if you suffer injuries because of a hit-and-run driver.

Keep in mind that your insurer is not your friend. As a profit-oriented business, their goal is to make money, not to pay out compensation. If your own insurance company is refusing to offer you a fair settlement, contact a Fort Worth car accident lawyer right away. The longer you wait, the less likely you are to secure maximum compensation for your damages.

What Makes Buckingham & Vega Law Firm Different?

Since 1999, our team of trial attorneys has been committed to helping injured victims navigate the complex legal world of personal injury law. We have dedicated our professional careers to advocating for those who are at risk of being taken advantage of by the insurance company.

We believe that the best car accident lawyer for your case is right here at our law firm. We invite you to schedule a free initial consultation so that you can meet with one of our car accident lawyers in a confidential, no-obligation setting. We’re confident that, after this meeting, you’ll understand what makes us stand out.

We Investigate the Cause of Your Car Accident

Recovering the compensation you need to make the best possible recovery is not easy when the insurance company is refusing to accept your version of events. When you work with a Fort Worth car accident lawyer from Buckingham & Vega Law Firm, you can confidently pursue your claim knowing that we:

• Reviewed all available dash cam and traffic cam footage.
• Spoke with eyewitnesses and analyzed their statements.
• Requested cell phone records from the time of the accident to determine whether the other driver was distracted at the time of the wreck.
• Analyzed the police accident report for evidence and amended any factual errors.
• Reviewed your medical records and bills to determine how much you are owed for your injuries.
• Contacted relevant specialists, including accident reconstruction experts and medical professionals willing to testify on your behalf.

Don’t settle for an attorney who isn’t willing to fully investigate every facet of your case.

We Value the Worth of Your Claim

There is no second chance to go back to the insurance company and ask for more money. Once you agree to a settlement, that’s as much as you’re ever going to get. You need to be confident in your attorney’s ability to accurately value the worth of your claim the first time. Most car accident cases we handle involve compensation for two types of damages—economic and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

Your economic damages are your verifiable monetary losses. These typically include:

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are your non-financial losses. While these might not have a specific monetary value, our Fort Worth car accident lawyers know the importance of correctly accounting for your:

We Work Within the Statute of Limitations

The statute of limitations for filing a car accident lawsuit in the state of Texas is two years. This is the time limit you have to take legal action for a crash in which you suffered injuries or other damages.

While two years might seem like a lot of time, it will pass much faster than you anticipate, and the clock begins ticking the moment the accident occurred. A Fort Worth car accident lawyer from Buckingham & Vega Law Firm has the skill and legal know-how to craft a strong case within this timeframe.

While we build your case, you can focus on your recovery, knowing that the calendar won’t close on your right to take legal action.

We Aim To Settle but Prepare for Court

The majority of car accident cases in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and elsewhere in Texas are settled through negotiations. Only a small percentage of claims ever go to court.

While we always strive to negotiate an out-of-court settlement, we acknowledge the small possibility that things may go to trial. For this reason, our seasoned trial lawyers prepare for court even as we are in the negotiations process so that we are never caught unaware.

We don’t want you to be afraid of going to court, either. Our lawyers have successfully recovered millions on behalf of former clients.

We See You as a Whole Person

Car accident injuries can range from minor to severe, and no two victims will experience the same injury quite the same way. As car accident attorneys, we will identify how your injuries have impacted your life by first getting to know you as a person.

We explore what your life looked like before the accident, including what hobbies you engaged in, where you worked, and your level of physical activity. This information will help us prove just how deeply your life has been affected by the crash.

Buckingham & Vega Law Firm Will Fight for You

Our attorneys are dedicated to getting our clients full and fair compensation when they’ve suffered damages from a car accident. We won’t let the insurance company bully you into accepting a settlement that doesn’t fully address your missed paychecks, medical bills, and other damages.

Contact us to schedule your free consultation. We’ll match you with a Fort Worth car accident attorney who will explain your legal options and answer all of your questions.