TATE LAW OFFICES PC Texas Injury Lawyers with Proven Results CALL US Home Car Accident Dallas Car Accident Lawyer At Tate Law Offices, P.C., we understand how devastating a car accident can be. We want to ease your burden. We can take care of your car accident case, while you take care of yourself. We are highly skilled and dedicated Dallas accident attorneys who have many years of experience with helping crash victims and their families in Dallas and areas throughout Texas. Contact us today for a free consultation. A Dallas car accident lawyer from our firm can personally review your case and guide you through your legal options. Ultimately, we can seek the maximum amount of compensation for the losses you have suffered and help you to get your life back on track. ON THIS PAGE How Can Our Dallas Auto Accident Attorneys Help You? If you were in a car accident in Dallas or in the state of Texas, we can help! The Dallas auto accident lawyers of Tate Law Offices, P.C., can provide many services to you after a car accident, including: Providing a free consultation that carries no obligation to you Compiling the evidence needed to prove your accident case Consulting with our network of experts in fields such as accident reconstruction, mechanical engineering, medical care, and life-care planning Assisting you to receive quick and effective medical treatment for your auto accident injuries Dealing with all insurance companies on your behalf and setting up all claims Helping you to get your car repaired or replaced Working to get you a rental car so your transportation needs are met Fighting for a top-dollar settlement for your injury claim If necessary, filing a lawsuit for the accident and going to trial Keeping you updated throughout your case We will be there for you even after your case is completed. To learn more, please see Our 10 Promises to You. We take our clients’ welfare seriously. Your case is important to you, and it is important to us, too. When Should You Get A Lawyer for a Car Accident? While it won’t hurt to get a lawyer in any car accident case, you should strongly consider hiring a personal injury lawyer if your case involves any of the following situations: You sustained severe injuries – If you sustained a serious injury or one that is expected to take a long time for you to recover, it is a good idea to hire an experienced motor vehicle accident lawyer. You may be facing expensive medical bills, prolonged time away from work, and other significant consequences for which you should be compensated. A lawyer can help fight for what is fair. You became disabled because of the accident – If you suffered a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or another disabling injury, do not hesitate to contact us for help. Your case may involve significant financial damages. You may also need an expert witness to testify about your projected loss of earning capacity. The insurance company will do what it takes to try to lessen the damages. We will be your trusted ally to fight for what is right. Liability is unclear – Texas is an at-fault insurance state, meaning that the at-fault party is responsible for paying for the damages they cause through their own negligence. If the insurance company claims that their insured did not cause the accident or that you contributed to the accident, you might need to hire a lawyer and conduct an independent investigation into the motor vehicle accident. The insurance company denies your claim – If the insurance company refuses to pay for your damages, your only way of receiving compensation for the injuries you sustained may be to sue. You will certainly need a lawyer to help you with this process. Is It Worth Getting A Lawyer for a Minor Car Accident? Before you decide to handle your claim on your own, remember this: Insurance adjusters work for insurance companies. They only have one goal in mind: to make money. They are seasoned negotiators and will try to minimize the value of your claim as much as possible. Even if you experienced relatively “minor” injuries, these injuries can still add up to thousands of dollars in medical expenses, lost wages, and other economic and non-economic damages. Having an experienced lawyer on your side is essential if you hope to receive fair compensation. If you’re not sure whether you need a lawyer, contact us for a free, no-obligation case review. We can let you know whether you really can do this alone or if it would be in your best interest to hire a lawyer. Five Steps You Should Take After A Dallas Car Accident If possible, we suggest that you take the following steps: 01 Get medical attention right away If you were not taken from the crash scene in an ambulance or have not gone to the doctor yet, do so now. Serious injuries can have delayed symptoms. Tell the doctor you were in a crash. Follow your treatment plan. Keep all of your medical bills. If you do not have health insurance, please let us know. We will work to assist you in getting medical care. 02 Take pictures of the damage to your vehicle and the other person’s vehicle, if possible 03 Write down the names and phone numbers of any witnesses to the accident 04 Don’t talk to the insurance company 05 Call Tate Law Offices, P.C. as soon as possible Get Your Free Consultation Name* Phone* Email* What Happened? HAVE AN ATTORNEY CONTACT ME Legally Reviewed By TIM TATE Tim Tate, of Tate Law Offices, P.C., has represented victims of injuries day-in and day-out throughout the state of Texas as well as in numerous other states throughout America over the last two decades. In addition to being licensed as an Attorney at Law by the Supreme Court of Texas, Tim is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association for Justice, both of which advocate and advance the rights of injured victims against insurance companies. 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VIEW OUR RESULTS... What Happens In A Dallas Auto Accident Claim Or Lawsuit? Most of the car accident claims that our lawyers are involved in do not result in a lawsuit because we are able to settle them before a lawsuit is filed. However, if we believe that a lawsuit would be beneficial for you, we will advise you and obtain your permission to file suit. Generally, most Dallas car accident claims include some of the following steps: Investigation Our lawyers have experience with a wide range of car accident cases, including rear-ending, side-impacts, head-on collisions, rollover wrecks and single-car crashes. We know what to look for when investigating each type of wreck. Our car accident attorneys will work with our investigators and experts to answer the key questions at this stage in your case: Why did your crash occur? Who was responsible? Typically, in a car accident case, we will seek to determine if another party’s negligence caused the crash. Negligence generally means that another person acted (or failed to act) as a reasonable person would under the same or similar circumstances. Negligence we typically discover in car accidents includes: Speeding – Driving faster than the posted speed limit or too fast for traffic and weather conditions or the design of the road. Aggressive driving – Running through a red light or stop sign at an intersection, tailgating, weaving through traffic, failing to yield or making dangerous passes. Drunk driving – Driving with a blood alcohol concentration beyond the legal limit of 0.08 or driving while impaired by any combination of alcohol, prescription or illegal drugs. Distracted driving – Driving while texting or talking on a cell phone or while engaging in any other distracting activity such as interacting with passengers or pets in the car. Drowsy driving – Driving despite being heavily fatigued or while falling asleep at the wheel – an issue that arises often in crashes caused by truck drivers and other drivers engaged in work activity. However, fault is not always another driver’s error. Your attorney will also consider whether your accident or injuries were caused by: Faulty car repairs – A mechanic who failed to make a repair as warranted, which in turn caused your car to be unsafe. Design or manufacturing defect – An auto company or parts manufacturer whose tires, brakes or steering column failed due to a defect or whose safety features such as a seat belt or air bag failed to function properly. Dangerous road conditions – A government agency that allowed a road to fall into disrepair, which in turn, led to your crash. Filing an Insurance Claim and/or Pursuing Litigation After we fully investigate your case, we will collect the evidence necessary and file a detailed claim with the insurance company. In most cases, we can settle a case without the need to engage in litigation. However, if the insurance company refuses to pay fair value, we will file a lawsuit to attempt to force them to pay you what we believe a case is worth. During the lawsuit process, we will work towards a settlement by directly negotiating with insurance company attorneys. If no settlement is reached, we can proceed to trial. Resolution After a settlement is reached or a verdict is obtained on your behalf, we can take steps to collect the amount owed to you, resolve any claims or liens on your recovery by health care providers or others and disburse payment to you. We will not charge you any legal fee or case costs unless we are successful in recovering compensation for your losses. Please see our Case Results section for examples of cases our law firm has handled that have resulted in substantial recoveries for our clients after all of their medical bills and legal expenses were paid. Get Your Free Case Review Let one of our personal injury lawyers review your case, explain your legal options, and answer all your questions in a free case evaluation. CALL US CHAT WITH US EMAIL US What Can You Expect To Recover In Dallas Car Accident Claim? At Tate Law Offices, P.C., we understand the serious nature of the injuries that Dallas car accident victims and their families face. The severity of these injuries depends on the weight of the vehicles involved in the collision, the speed at which the vehicles were traveling and the location of the impact. Car accident injuries can include: Broken bones Cuts and lacerations Burns Herniated or bulging discs Soft tissue injuries (such as whiplash or tendon tears) Spinal cord injuries (paralysis) Traumatic brain injury Our goal is to maximize the value of each one of our clients’ cases. We will gather all of your medical records and work records and consult with experts to seek just compensation for you and your family, including: Car rental and car repair or replacement Past and future medical expenses Lost income and lost future earning capacity Pain and suffering Mental anguish Disfigurement Loss of consortium and loss of services Emotional distress Physical Impairment If the defendant driver in your case was either grossly negligent or engaged in willful conduct, we may also seek punitive damages in order to punish and deter such behavior. Please see our section on wrongful death and survival damages to learn more about the damages sought if you lost a loved one in a car crash in Dallas. How Do You Negotiate a Car Accident Settlement? To receive the maximum settlement value for your claim, you will need convincing evidence of the following: Liability – You will need to show that the other driver was negligent. An accident report, video, photos of the vehicles’ damage, and eyewitness testimony can all help establish this. Medical records – You will need medical records that clearly connect your injuries to the accident. Doctors’ notes, test results, and other medical documentation can help establish this connection. Lost wages – Missing time from work can help indicate that your injury was serious and caused you to suffer financially. Check stubs and documentation from your employer can help prove these damages. Other damages – Property repair estimates, travel expenses to medical appointments, and other documentation that shows how the accident affected you can further support your claim. How Do Insurance Companies Determine Settlement Amounts? Insurance companies determine settlement amounts based on the damages you suffered, what they believe you will accept and the likelihood that you will go to court if you do not receive a fair offer. Every accident claim is different, so two people who make a claim based on similar injuries may have a very different outcome. If the insurance company believes that you will accept a smaller amount, it will not offer a bigger settlement. It is critical to have a personal injury lawyer’s help to ensure that you have the best chance of a fair outcome. What Is Fair Compensation for Pain and Suffering? There is no specific formula or rule about how pain and suffering damages should be calculated in Texas. If a case goes to trial, the jury is instructed to determine what amount would fairly compensate the victim for their pain and suffering. In practice, many insurance companies use a multiplier method to compute pain and suffering compensation. The insurance company adds up all of your economic damages like your medical expenses and lost wages. Then, it multiplies the sum by a number between 1.5 and 5. Minor injuries that do not require extensive medical treatment will yield a lower multiplier number. Life-threatening injuries or other serious injuries will yield a higher multiplier. Insurance companies may use other approaches to determining pain and suffering compensation. Our job is to get our clients the maximum compensation available for all sources of their damages, including pain and suffering. How Long Does It Take to Receive an Offer of Compensation? It depends on the factors involved in your case. Many insurance claims can be resolved in a few months while others may take longer. Some of the factors that affect the length of your claim include: Your injuries – We will recommend that you wait until your injuries have fully healed or that you have reached maximum medical improvement before accepting a settlement. This is because we want to know the full value of your medical expenses, as well as the expenses you are likely to incur in the future so that we can fight for full compensation. The insurance company – Different insurance companies may have different numbers of claims to resolve or fewer insurance adjusters to handle them. Whether you have a lawyer – A common tactic that some insurance companies use is to delay making a fair offer of compensation. They hope you will get desperate and accept their offer when they finally make it. Our team can help hold the insurance company accountable and fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact Tate Law Offices Today If you were hurt in a car wreck and would like more information about your legal rights and options, contact Tate Law Offices, P.C.. Our personal injury law firm is dedicated to helping you secure maximum compensation for your injuries. Our car accident attorneys have extensive experience handling these claims and will fight to protect your rights. We can discuss how we can help during your free case evaluation. Meet Our Personal Injury Attorneys CHRIS REHMET next slide TIM TATE next slide CLAIRE TATE REHMET next slide BART SMITH next slide Featured FAQ HOW DO I GET THE MOST MONEY FOR MY CASE? IS THERE A BENEFIT TO BEING REPRESENTED BY A LAWYER? SHOULD I TALK TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY? HOW DO I PAY MY MEDICAL BILLS? HOW DO I COLLECT MY LOST INCOME? SEE ALL FAQS “This law office is the only firm that I would ever suggest to friends and family. I was significantly hurt in a motorcycle accident. Tim and his staff went to bat for us and took care of everything. They helped us deal with our insurance company and get us benefits I didn’t even know we had. They then fought for us in all of the other proceedings and won a wonderful settlement.” ISAAC NELSON Dallas Personal Injury Client Testimonial “I was injured in an accident at the end of 2014. I have never been involved in an accident and it was 100% the other drivers fault. I was injured and my back had bleeding around the spine in 2 areas and 6 dislocated ribs, as well as injury to my right hip. I did not know if I should get an attorney, but Tate Law Offices, P.C., answered my questions and made me feel more at ease. ” LORA CUNNINGHAM Dallas Car Accident Client Testimonial “In 2014 I was involved in my first auto accident. It left me with a totaled vehicle and a back injury. I had no medical insurance and finding a doctor to see me was next to impossible. After numerous calls to doctor’s and the insurance company I was getting nowhere and had no idea what to do next. Luckily, I stumbled upon Bart Smith and all the wonderful staff at Tate Law Offices, P.C.” MANDEE SIMPSON Dallas Car Accident Client Testimonial READ ALL TESTIMONIALS Awards & Certifications “TOP ATTORNEY” —AVVO RATING Personal Injury Tim Tate MILLION DOLLAR ADVOCATES FORUM Multi-Top Trial Lawyers in America™ Tim Tate & Chris Rehmet Life Members TEXAS TRIAL LAWYER ASSOCIATION Tim Tate & Chris Rehmet BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU A+ Rating Tim, Claire, and Chris CALL US CHAT WITH US EMAIL US DALLAS OFFICES (GALLERIA AREA) Tate Law Offices, PC 13355 Noel Rd #1167 Dallas, Texas 75240 United States (US) (972) 426-2884 Directions Hours FORT WORTH OFFICE (DOWNTOWN) Tate Law Offices, PC 777 Main ST #600 Fort Worth, Texas 76102 United States (US) (817) 479-9174 Directions Hours TATE LAW OFFICES PC Texas Injury Lawyers with Proven Results + QUICK LINKS KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US: return to top 2021 Tate Law Offices, P.C. All rights reserved. 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