Our premier personal injury team has the skill and expertise to handle any kind of auto accident injury from whiplash to traumatic brain injuries to spinal cord injuries causing paralysis to wrongful death. We have settled thousands of cases and recovered millions of dollars for our clients. The Law Office of Doug Goyen provides exceptional experience, expertise, and skillful representation for our clients. Our results are proven. Not only do we get the compensation our clients justly deserve, but we take pride in providing exceptional customer service and satisfaction. Our accomplished personal injury team is devoted to obtaining the maximum compensation available to each client.
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You have no control over what other drivers do. You can regain control after a car accident. Contact a car accident attorney who will protect your rights, seek the compensation you deserve, and guide you through your case with experience, expertise, and a desire for justice that your case deserves.
Call today to find out why our Dallas car accident lawyer team at the Law Office of Doug Goyen receives such high praise from past clients. Call (972) 599 4100. We understand what you are going through, and we can help. The consultation is free. There is no fee unless you win.
WHY HIRE A DALLAS AUTO ACCIDENT ATTORNEY?According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there were 36,862 car crashes in Dallas in 2019, with a total of 55,346 reported accidents in Dallas County. The following intersections have the highest number of accidents in Dallas.
As the number of accidents rises, so does the number of people injured as a result of those accidents. After an accident, our Dallas car accident lawyer provides a variety of services aimed at recovering the maximum amount for your case, including:
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COMMON CAR ACCIDENT INJURIESInjuries sustained in car accidents can range from minor to severe. Some people only need a few weeks of medical treatment, while others are permanently disabled or impaired. The severity of your injuries will most likely be determined by the type of accident you were involved in, as well as other factors.
The following are the most common injuries suffered by accident victims:
If your injury limits your ability to return to work, complete routine tasks, or care for your family, you have the right to hold the responsible party accountable. The consequences of car accidents can disrupt anyone’s life and result in costly medical bills and associated costs. You should not have to pay for your expenses out of pocket. The negligent party should be held liable for your losses.
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WHAT CAN YOU RECOVER FOR YOUR AUTO ACCIDENT INJURYIn Texas, if someone negligently causes an injury to another or damages their property, they must pay for what they caused. It is not the victim’s responsibility or society’s responsibility. Nobody wants to be injured or be in pain. Damages recoverable in Texas are divided into Economic Damages (damages that can be added up with bills, etc.), and Noneconomic Damages. Texas law requires compensation for damages caused by the negligence, including:
Economic Damages Available in an Auto Accident:
Past and future medical bills: Personal injury law allows a person to recover medical bills from accidents that occurred in the past and in the future that are incurred due to another’s negligence.
Past and future lost earning capacity: Lost income or lost earning capacity is recoverable if injured due to someone else’s negligence.
Loss of services: Household services are those performed by a husband or wife around the house and in caring for the family. You are not required to request a specific number, as a jury can determine the value of this based on their own personal experience.
Property Damage: Damage to your vehicle, loss of use of your vehicle, towing bills, rental bills, and any other bills related to the actual property damage.
Noneconomic Damages Available in Auto Accidents:
Past and future pain and suffering: There is no set formula in Texas pain and suffering. Each case must be considered on its own facts.
Past and future mental anguish: For mental anguish, there must be evidence of the nature, severity, or duration of the plaintiff’s anguish substantially disrupting the injured party’s daily routine, or such a high degree of mental pain that is more than anger, embarrassment, vexation, anxiety, or worry.
Past and future disfigurement: Disfigurement is defined by Texas courts as an impairment of beauty, symmetry, or appearance; that which is unsightly or deforms in some way. It is distinct from pain, suffering, and mental anguish in terms of recovering from disfigurement.
Loss of body member or mental function: Texas courts allow recovery for the element of loss of a body part or mental function.
Loss of consortium: This is the loss of society and companionship in interfamilial relationships such as husband and wife, as well as the loss of parents in the case of children. The non-injured spouse or family member files the claim for loss of consortium.
Past and future physical impairment: Texas courts have held that a factfinder (jury or judge) should be able to compensate someone who suffers a physically impairing personal injury to the extent that the party is no longer able to engage in or enjoy activities that he or she could do prior to the injury.
Wrongful Death: In accidents involving negligence that caused a fatality, the family of the deceased may recover both economic and noneconomic damages under the Texas Wrongful Death Act and Texas Survival Act.
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NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SETTLEMENTWe keep you updated on your case all the way through the process. Your lawyer reviews claims, findings, and options to ensure compensation is received for everything owed.
We review the case with you and when negotiations start we send a demand to the insurance company. When the insurance company makes an offer, we relay it to you and advise you. We do not settle claims unless you give us permission. Once we have settled the case, we require the insurance company to pay us immediately so we can get you paid for your claim.
If a lawsuit is required: Most injuries from car accidents don’t require a lawsuit. We use the courts to try to force the insurance company to pay when needed. We ensure that you know the costs involved, and what is needed in the suit. Our recommendations are based on our professional opinion, but you make the final decision.
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DALLAS CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER CHECKLIST AT THE ACCIDENT SCENEThe following is a list of things “to do” after an auto accident to protect your rights if there is an injury. The checklist can be used in any accident but includes information specific to Dallas residents:
Stay calm. If you get hurt in a car accident, it’s traumatic. Getting upset will only make matters worse. Until the police and paramedics arrive, you must protect your health and gather information to protect your rights.
Check for injuries. Check yourself for injuries. Auto accidents are traumatic, unexpected, and sudden. People are in shock after accidents. You may not realize the extent of your injuries. Check on any passengers. Check on the occupants of the other vehicles. If anyone is hurt seek help.
If anyone is hurt, call 911. If anyone is injured, call 911. Inform the dispatcher. They will dispatch police and paramedics. Police will investigate the accident. Paramedics will treat any injured people. If there are no injuries, some cities do not write reports. If you are in pain, notify the police officer so an accident report is written.
Collect information from witnesses. Obtain witness names, addresses, and phone numbers. Do not rely on volunteers. Witnesses frequently stop to assist. When the police arrive, they feel it is safe to leave. Even if the other driver admits responsibility, some will later make excuses for their actions. Concern about insurance rates, or discussions with their spouse or friends may change their minds. Obtain the contact information of any witnesses to protect your rights.
NOTE: If you are too injured to perform any of these steps, call a friend or family member to come to the scene and help you.
Drivers need to exchange insurance and ID. Regardless of fault, Texas requires people involved in accidents to exchange ID and automobile liability insurance. Every driver involved must do so. Take photos of everyone’s identification and auto insurance paperwork.
At the scene, most are cooperative in providing information. Your ability to gather this information decreases once you leave. Some refuse to provide this information after leaving, making it difficult to get your car repaired and discover who their insurance company is.
Photograph the vehicle damage and accident scene. Take photos of the damage to the vehicles involved. Include the points of impact and license plates.
Take photos of the accident scene. Photo skid marks and road debris from the accident. Photo the roadway to show lanes and traffic flow. Photograph the direction you were traveling and the direction you came from. Take pictures of the road in the direction the other drivers were traveling and the direction they were coming from.
Make your statement to the officer. Cooperate with the police officer. They will speak to each driver separately. The statements will assist the officer in writing their report. You need to ensure your statement is given so your statement is included.
If the accident occurs in the city limits of Dallas, the Dallas Police Department will most likely investigate. The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office investigates accidents that occur within the city on occasion. The Texas Highway Patrol sometimes investigates accidents, such as on Tollways. The following are links to the records departments for agencies that investigate accidents inside Dallas boundaries:
Dallas Police Department Records – Dallas Police Department, Open Records Unit. 1400 S. Lamar, Dallas, Texas 75215. Tel (214) 671-3001. Fax: (214) 671-4636
Dallas County Sheriff’s Department Records – Frank Crowley Courts Building, Fiscal Department, 133 North Riverfront Boulevard, 1st Floor. Dallas, TX 75207-4313.
Texas Department of Transportation – The Texas Department of Transportation receives copies of all police crash reports in Texas. If the accident occurred more than a few weeks ago, the report may be on the Texas DOT website, which can be found online here: Texas Highway Patrol
University Park Police Department Records – Records Specialist. Sharon Jones. 214-987-5356. Fax: 214-987-5376
Highland Park Police Department Records – Town Records. Attn: Town Secretary. Town of Highland Park. 4700 Drexel Drive, Highland Park, Texas 75205. Phone: 214-559-9457
Follow the advice of the paramedics. If they believe you should go to the emergency room, do so. Paramedics are trained in identifying symptoms in people that indicate possible serious or even life-threatening injury.
Dallas emergency rooms: If you decide you need to drive yourself or have someone else drive you to the emergency room, the following are located throughout Dallas and the surrounding area: Emergency Rooms and Urgent Care Centers in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
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HOW TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS AFTER YOU LEAVE THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENTBefore doing anything else, if you have been injured hire an attorney who handles auto accidents. If you are unable to speak with the lawyer but can only speak with the law firm’s case manager, do not hire that firm. Our attorneys personally handle each case.
Do not speak with the insurance company. If you are hurt in an accident, the insurance adjuster’s job is to pay as little money as possible for your claim. If they have the opportunity to deny a claim, they will do so. Insurance adjusters are trained to gather information allowing them to deny claims. They ask questions to elicit responses to deny claims. Let your attorney deal with the insurance company.
Get medical treatment for injuries. If injured in an accident, see a doctor as soon as possible. We assist if you do not know what type of medical facility to visit or if unsure how you can afford medical care. We assist in locating medical facilities that treat injuries. We assist in locating medical facilities that defer collections on billing until insurance companies release injury funds.
Photograph visible injuries. Photograph bruising, cuts, scrapes, lacerations, or other visible injuries. Bruises and cuts heal. If you don’t take pictures the insurance company won’t believe you had cuts and bruises; it’s their job to require proof for your claims.
Obtain your own vehicle repair estimate. Get an estimate for your vehicle. Auto insurance companies write their estimates for less than the actual damage. They would rather be on the low end of the payment spectrum than the high end. If you decide to keep the money instead of fixing the car, they end up paying less. You do need to allow the insurance company to do their estimate, but you need your own estimate too in case of disputes.
Body Shops: Body shops usually provide free estimates for accidents. Body shops in Dallas that can provide estimates and repair services include: Body Shops in the DFW area.
Rental Cars: If you need a rental, make sure you notify the rental company of the insurance claim. While your vehicle is being repaired, most rental companies set up “direct bills” with insurance companies. There are several rental companies in Dallas, including: Rental car companies in the DFW area.
Keep track of out-of-pocket expenses. Save documents showing what you paid or owe as a result of the accident. Save anything paid or owed that would not have occurred but for the accident.
Be careful what you post on social media. Assume anything you post will be seen by the insurance company or its lawyers. They will use any posts against your claims if they are able.
Call the Law Office of Doug Goyen at (972) 599 4100 to speak with Dallas car accident lawyer Doug Goyen. We look forward to reviewing your case and assisting you.
Call For A Free Case Review (972) 599 4100
CAUSES OF AUTO ACCIDENTS AND INVESTIGATIONOur investigation makes certain that we have evidence to legally prove liability, damages, and ensure that you can collect compensation for your injuries and damages.
Other Driver(s) Liability: We collect evidence required to prove the other driver’s liability. We format the evidence in a professional manner for a demand.
Damages from the Accident: Our personal injury attorney ensures your demand covers all of the ways the car accident has harmed you.
Investigation into the various causes of the accident: During an auto accident investigation, we look for all possible causes of the accident to find every person or entity liable. Different causes of auto accidents may show others liable.
The following are the types of accidents in which the driver is responsible:
Distracted Driving Accidents – Such as Texting and Driving or Driver Inattention – Texting and driving has become such a common cause of car accident injuries that it is now frequently classified as a separate category from distracted driving.
Speeding or Tailgating – Speeding drivers cause many serious car accidents with injuries due to the severity of the impact of a speeding vehicle.
Reckless Driving or Road Rage – One out of every three collisions is caused by road rage. Aggressive driving, without a doubt, increases the likelihood of being involved in a road rage accident.
Failure to Yield the Right of Way – When the law requires it, all drivers in Texas must yield the right of way. One of the leading causes of car accident injuries is failure to follow this road rule.
Hit and Run Auto Accidents – If a driver is involved in a car accident that causes injuries, a fatality, or property harm, Texas law requires them to stop and when necessary to render aid. Despite these laws, some drivers attempt to escape the scene of an accident.
Multiple Car Accidents – Multiple car accidents are caused by speeding and tailgating, distracted driving, failing to yield the right of way, drunk drivers, fatigued drivers, debris on the highway, negligent entrustment of a vehicle to a dangerous or unlicensed driver, reckless driving, and road rage.
Side Impact Auto Accidents – On Texas roads, side-impact collisions are among the most dangerous types of accidents. When one vehicle collides with the side of another, it is called a side-impact collision. This type of collision is also known as a “T-bone” or “broadside collision”.
Head-On Collisions – When two drivers collide head-on from the front, this is referred to as a head-on collision. This type of collision doubles the force, so if each car is traveling at 45 mph, this is the equivalent of a 90 mph crash.
In the following categories, there may be others in addition to the driver responsible for the damage and injury.
Drunk Drivers – Dram Shop Act cases may exist if the drunk driver was over-served at an eating or drinking establishment. In this case, the establishment that served them alcohol could also be held liable. If the drunk driver was driving someone else’s vehicle and that person knowingly allowed a drunk driver to take control of their vehicle, you may have a claim for Negligent Entrustment against the vehicle owner.
Drug-impaired drivers cause car accidents – If the driver was driving someone else’s vehicle, you may have a Negligent Entrustment claim against the owner for allowing someone who was under the influence of drugs to drive.
Fatigued Drivers Caused Auto Accidents – If a fatigued driver is driving a commercial vehicle, their employer may bear responsibility for violating hours of service if they scheduled their driver too many hours. If a driver was clearly tired and driving someone else’s vehicle, you may have a claim for Negligent Entrustment against the vehicle’s owner.
Accidents Caused by Debris – If debris came from a commercial vehicle, both the driver and the company may be liable for unsecured loads violations.
Negligent Entrustment – If the owner of a vehicle allows an unlicensed or dangerous driver to use their vehicle, the owner is responsible for negligently entrusting their vehicle that driver.
Inexperienced drivers - If the vehicle’s owner allowed an inexperienced or unlicensed driver to drive their vehicle, you may have a claim for Negligent Entrustment against the vehicle’s owner.
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INFORMATION FOR YOUR LAWYER IN CAR ACCIDENTSYour personal injury attorney will gather the following information for accidents. Do not worry if you do not have all of the information, we can often obtain most missing information based on what is provided.
The information provided aids in investigating liability, damages, and collectability. Other issues frequently arise during phone consultations – feel free to ask Dallas car accident lawyer Doug Goyen about anything during the consultation.
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DALLAS CAR ACCIDENT RESOURCESOfficial records and reports for car accidents in Dallas are available from the following agencies:
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CASE REVIEWS ARE FREEWe offer free phone consultations. We also provide a free strategy session. The strategy session includes a summary of your case, legal issues involved, and legal issues we identify as being critical to maximizing the compensation owed.
THERE IS NO FEE IF WE DO NOT WINYou owe us nothing if we are unable to recover. We charge a contingency fee structured to take a percentage of what we recover. As a performance-based contract, the better we do for you, the better we do for ourselves. This aligns our interests in the case with our client’s interests.
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WE HANDLE THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT CASESThe Law Office of Doug Goyen handles personal injury cases all over Texas. This includes motor vehicle accidents including:
We deal with the insurance company and protect your rights while you focus on what you need to do to get better and take care of yourself and those around you.
Large commercial trucks do serious damage and cause serious injuries. We will fight for you to get you the compensation you deserve and protect your rights while you recover.
Drunk drivers cause serious injuries and death every year. We fight their insurance companies to get you compensated for the damage and injury they have caused you.
Pedestrians struck by vehicles can suffer serious injuries. We represent people injured in by negligent drivers and help our clients get compensation for their injury.
Bicyclists are at risk of serious injury if they are hit by a vehicle. We represent bicyclists who have been hit by careless drivers.
When bars or restaurants continue to over-serve drunk people, and those people cause accidents that result in injuries, we assist clients in obtaining compensation for their injuries.
We fight for the rights of motorcyclists who have been hurt by careless drivers. We are fighting for full compensation from the insurance company.
When someone dies as a result of negligence from a motor vehicle accident, the family and estate have a claim against the negligent parties. We represent families and estates in obtaining restitution for their losses
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CITY OF DALLAS, TEXAS INFORMATIONIn 2019, the estimated population of Dallas was 1,343,573. The DFW metropolitan area, including the counties of Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Hunt, Kaufman, Rockwall, Johnson, Parker, Tarrant, and Wise, have an estimated population of over 6,800,000 people. John Neely Bryan was the first settler in present-day Dallas. The John Neely Bryan Cabin is in downtown Dallas.
Dallas is home to ten Fortune 500 companies such as AT&T, Southwest Airlines, Texas Instruments, Tenet Healthcare and others in the city limits of Dallas. The DFW area is home to industry titans such as Ericsson North America, Dr. Pepper Snapple, and ExxonMobil, among many others.
VISITORS TO DALLAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTSIf you are visiting Dallas, Texas, and involved in an auto accident, you may need temporary lodging due to the accident and need to stay extra time in Dallas. The following restaurants, hotels, and activities are in Dallas.
Hotels in Dallas, Texas
Restaurants in Dallas, Texas
Attractions in Dallas, Texas
Call the Law Office of Doug Goyen at (972) 599 4100 if you need a Dallas car accident lawyer. We will start work on your case today.
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By Doug Goyen, douggoyen@goyenlaw.com