Reliable Auto Accident Law Firm Serving Tyler TX and Vicinity

Certified personal injury specialist pursues full compensation

A sudden auto accident can have a devastating effect on you, your ability to do your job, your family’s emotional and financial security, and your entire quality of life. If you have been hurt because someone negligently violated the rules of the road, you are entitled to compensation for your losses, including your pain and suffering, past and future medical bills, and lost income. The Dobbs & Porter, PLLC has successfully represented clients injured in Texas car crashes since 1997. We have a board-certified Personal Injury Trial Law Specialist on-site, a title given to just a small percentage of personal injury attorneys practicing in Texas. Our lawyers are determined to manage your case professionally as we strive to deliver the best possible results. If you have been injured in a car, motorcycle, truck, ATV, boat or pedestrian-related collision, Dobbs & Porter, PLLC can help.

Most common causes of car wrecks in Texas

There are many different ways in which a traffic collision can occur. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, the most common causes of car crashes in 2016 included:

• Speeding — Failure to control speed led to 146,884 crashes, more than 31,000 injuries and 493 deaths, traveling over the legal limit caused 2,905 crashes, almost 500 injuries and 263 deaths and traveling too fast for conditions led to more than 23,000 crashes, more than 3,300 injuries and 406 deaths.
• Failure to Yield — Drivers who did not yield under various circumstances when the rules of the road dictated that they should caused about 95,000 crashes and about 350 deaths.
• Unsafe Lane Changes — Changing lanes in an unsafe manner caused 37,523 accidents that injured about 5,000 people and took the lives of 53 individuals.
• Following Too Closely — Tailgating led to almost 27,000 crashes, about 6,500 injuries and 16 deaths.
• Drunk Driving — Driving while drunk was a factor in 9,445 crashes that caused about 1,500 injuries and 210 deaths.

Other top causes were driver distraction, cellphone use, texting while driving, fatigued driving, ignoring traffic signals and stop signs, and making various unsafe maneuvers that could qualify as reckless driving. Such violations of the rules of the road put everyone at risk. When a negligent or reckless driver causes a car, truck or motorcycle accident, we are eager to hold that person fully accountable.

Determining fault in a Texas auto accident

One of the major requirements of any auto accident case is proving that a defendant was at fault by presenting evidence of a negligent act that caused the crash. This can be a complex undertaking. For assistance, Dobbs & Porter, PLLC often consults with knowledgeable and respected experts, such as forensics engineers, mechanics and collision reconstruction analysts, whose expertise helps us obtain the best results. We also consult with medical specialists, including trauma doctors, neurologists, chiropractors and rehabilitation specialists, to prove the extent of a client’s injuries. At trial, having these credible experts testify about the specifics of the wreck, what caused it, and the harms and losses helps the jury understand the plaintiff’s urgent need for a fair damage award.

What to do after a car accident

If you have been in a traffic collision, your first thoughts should be for your own safety and that of your passengers. You must get the vehicle out of traffic to a safe spot on the side of the road. If your vehicle cannot be moved, you have to decide whether you are safe in the car, because secondary collisions from oncoming traffic can be devastating. You also need to call 911 to alert the police and request an ambulance.

Naturally, you need to tend to your own injuries and give your passengers first aid if needed, but the law also requires you to render reasonable aid to injured people in other vehicles. You cannot leave the scene of the accident; if there are injuries, sit tight and wait for the police and the EMTs to arrive. Get yourself checked out medically, even if you are unsure about whether you’ve been hurt. Adrenaline can mask pain, and you might experience symptoms, and even a life-threatening emergency, within hours.

There are also steps you can take to protect your legal rights. If your injuries do not prevent you from doing so, you should try to:

• Take cellphone photos of the accident scene, vehicle damage and injuries.
• Collect contact information from any witnesses.
• Create a timely medical record by getting immediate emergency treatment.

It is also vitally important to speak with an attorney immediately to ensure the preservation of crucial evidence and witness statements. Finally, the Texas statute of limitations places a two-year limit on your right to file a personal injury claim. Dobbs & Porter, PLLC is committed to the timely investigation and positive resolution of your claim.

Contact an experienced auto accident lawyer in East Texas for a free consultation

If you have been hurt in an automobile accident, trust your claim to a firm who only handles injury matters. Call Dobbs & Porter, PLLC at 903-600-HURT(4878) or contact us online to schedule a free consultation at our Tyler office.