Call For A Free Case Review (972) 599 4100
WHY HIRE AN ATTORNEY IF INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT IN MCKINNEY?The Texas Department of Transportation’s data shows that McKinney, Texas had 1,528 auto accidents in 2019. Collin County had 13,857 accidents during that same time.
Distracted drivers keep causing the number of accidents to go up year after year, with more accidents more people are injured in those accidents. We help people who have been injured in accidents in a wide variety of ways. The most common ways we help are:
Call us at (972) 599 4100, or contact us on our website contact form so we can help you. The consultation is free and there is no fee unless you win!
No Fee Unless You Win Call (972) 599 4100
WHAT IS THE VALUE OF A CAR ACCIDENT CASE IN TEXAS?Car accident victims frequently sustain serious injuries that have a long-term impact on their lives. When motor vehicle accidents cause fatalities, the victims’ families and loved ones suffer. In both cases, victims or their families may be able to seek monetary compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial pain caused by someone else’s negligence or wrongful actions.
There are two broad categories of damages that a victim may be able to recover from those who are at fault in a car accident.
The first type of damage is known as economic or special damages. These damages are intended to compensate the victim for all of the costs incurred as a result of the accident. Medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and lost future income are all examples of special damages that a victim or victim’s family member may be able to recover.
The second type of damage is known as non-economic or general damages. These damages compensate the victim for harm that is more difficult to quantify. The most common type of non-economic damages is pain and suffering. It assigns a monetary value to the victim’s losses as a result of the car accident. Other types of general damages include loss of consortium, disfigurement, and mental anguish, all of which attempt to put a monetary value on a tragic loss or the victim’s inability to live life normally after the accident.
Lawyers frequently rely on documentation to prove damages, such as medical bills that show how much money an injury has cost or pay stubs from the victim’s job that show how much the victim could earn before the accident rendered him or her disabled.
An experienced lawyer may also need to consult an expert, such as an accountant or financial planner, to determine the present value of any future costs the victim reasonably expects to bear, such as wages the victim can no longer hope to earn or the cost of long-term therapies and treatments.
When it comes to proving medical damages, a doctor, specialist, or another healthcare provider may be required to provide expert medical testimony during a deposition or trial to demonstrate the existence and extent of injuries. An expert medical provider may testify about the accident victim’s medical treatment, the long-term nature of the injuries sustained, and objective findings based on medical observations and permanency evaluations. All of this expert medical testimony has the potential to increase the amount of compensation a victim of an accident may receive.
The burden of linking injuries and damages to the car accident falls on the injured accident victim as well. In other words, the injured plaintiff must demonstrate that the injuries and damages sustained would not have occurred if the accident had not occurred. In most cases, this necessitates the testimony of an expert medical provider, such as a treating doctor or medical specialist.
The Law Office of Doug Goyen’s experienced team has represented clients in auto accident cases for over 23 years. Our attorneys’ extensive knowledge is critical in ensuring that a client’s claim seeks the appropriate amount of money and determining whether a settlement offer is fair.
COMMON CAUSES AND TYPES OF AUTO ACCIDENTS
Being involved in a car accident is a very stressful situation. The stress caused by a car accident can be exacerbated. From bodily harm to property damage, medical bills to lost wages, you may be in for more than you bargained for.
While some car accidents are unavoidable, many others are. There are some accident causes that are more common than others. The most common causes of car accidents are listed below. Knowing the causes may assist you in avoiding your own collision. The following are common types and causes of auto accidents:
The following is a checklist to help guide you after you have been involved in an auto accident with injuries. This checklist can be used in any auto accident but is specifically designed for car accidents with injuries, and for residents of McKinney, Texas:
a. Check for injuries. A car wreck is traumatic. It is an unexpected and sudden event. People often are in a state of shock immediately after an accident. Some people do not realize they are injured at first. Before you start moving around look yourself over to make sure of the severity of any injury you may have. Afterward, if you have any passengers attend to them to make sure they are ok. If they are not in the need of immediate aid, then next check on the occupants of the other vehicles in the accident. If anyone is hurt you need to get help to the accident scene.
b. If anyone is hurt get the police and paramedics to the scene. Call 911 and report to the dispatcher that there has been an accident and report the injuries to them. The dispatcher will send police and paramedics to the scene of the accident. The Police will secure the area, assist anyone who is injured until paramedics arrive, and interview the people involved in the accident.
c. Get the contact information for any witnesses. Do not wait for the witnesses to bring their information to you. They might not realize you need their information. Approach anyone who is a witness and ask for their name, phone number, and any other contact information they are willing to provide. The other driver may be admitting fault initially, but once the police arrive they may change their story. Or they may change their story after they get home and talk to their spouse or friends, or when they start worrying about their insurance rates going up. You need to have the witness information to give to the police officer and to give to your lawyer in case it is needed.
d. Exchanged IDs and auto liability information with the other drivers. The law in Texas requires drivers involved in auto accidents to exchange identification and auto liability insurance, regardless of who is at fault. See: Texas Transp. Code 550.203. Use your cellphone to take pictures of the other driver’s ID and insurance. NOTE: If you cannot do things on this checklist because of your injury, get a friend or family member to the scene to do it for you.
e. Use your cellphone to take pictures of the other vehicles and the accident scene. Take photos of the points of impact on the vehicles. Get pictures of the damage done to every vehicle involved, including your own. Take pictures of any debris on the road from the accident, or any skid marks. Take pictures of the roadway in the direction you were traveling in, and in the direction, you were coming from. Take pictures of the roadway in the direction the other driver was traveling, and where they were coming from.
f. Talk to the police officer when they arrive at the scene and cooperate with them. The police officer will interview each person individually out of the hearing of everyone else. When they interview you tell them what happened and let them know if you are feeling any pain, discomfort, or any injury at all from the accident. The officer will put the information you give them on the police report. If you want to obtain a copy of your accident report from the McKinney Police Department you can go to their website here: McKinney Police Department Records
g. Follow the advice of the paramedics. If the paramedics evaluate you and advise you to go to the emergency room then follow their advice. Paramedics have training and experience in auto accidents and injuries from accidents. If they see symptoms that they are concerned about, then you should be concerned as well.
If you decide to drive yourself or have family members drive you to the emergency room the following emergency rooms are located are in or are near McKinney, Texas:
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HOW TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS AFTER THE AUTO ACCIDENTHire a personal injury lawyer that handles car accident cases. Research the personal injury lawyer you hire. Personal injury lawyers give free consultations, so the call costs you nothing. Talk to the lawyer about your case. Do not sign up with a lawyer’s office without interviewing the lawyer first. If a case manager wants you to sign up before you speak to the attorney, do not go with that lawyer. You need to talk to the lawyer because the lawyer is the person representing you. Discuss your case with the attorney, ask questions, and listen as well. If you are injured from an auto accident you do need a lawyer to handle your case for you that knows how to get the compensation your case deserves.
a. Go for a follow-up appointment with a medical facility if you are injured. If you are unsure of where you need to go for treatment, or if you do not know how you will be able to afford medical care, the Law Office of Doug Goyen can help you find a medical facility that can treat you for your injuries and defer collecting on your bills until the auto insurance company releases the funds for your injury.
b. Do not talk to anyone from the auto liability insurance company for the other driver if you have been injured. Insurance adjusters are trained to pay as little as possible for injury claims related to auto accidents. If they can deny part or all of your claim they will do so. Adjusters have training and experience in asking people questions that elicit answers that allow the insurance company to deny injury claims. Let your lawyer talk to the insurance company on your behalf. Personal injury lawyers that handle auto accidents recognize when adjusters are fishing for responses that allow them to deny a claim. We can answer any questions they have appropriately, so your rights are protected.
c. If you have visible injuries take photos of them. Insurance adjusters only pay claims if they have proof. A photo of a visible injury is at least some proof. Give the photos to your lawyer so they can use them to help you with your injury claim.
d. Get your own estimate to repair your vehicle. Do not rely on the insurance company’s estimate. Adjusters write almost every estimate lower than the actual cost to repair the vehicle. Adjusters do this in the hopes that you will take the check and instead of fixing your vehicle, use it on something else. This way they get out of paying the real value of the damage to your vehicle. This can be a problem because you are actually not being paid the real value of the damage done. If you have your vehicle repaired, the body shop will get supplemental estimates from the insurance company as they do the repairs and the insurance company will pay the body shop supplemental payments that cover the price of the repairs. Typically, there are not too many problems if repairs are done this way. Problems can arise if the auto insurance company decides to deny liability. When you file the lawsuit in this situation, you will need to have evidence of the amount it will cost to fix your vehicle. If you rely on the insurance company’s original estimate they wrote, you are relying on an estimate that will not pay the amount that it will actually cost to repair your vehicle. Get your own estimate to protect yourself.
e. Body Shops: Body shops will usually write free estimates for people who have been involved in auto accidents. They want your business. Body Shops in the McKinney, Texas area that can do estimates, and do repairs for your vehicle include:
If you need a rental car while your vehicle is being repaired, be sure to let the rental car company know you are getting the rental vehicle for an auto accident. Most rental car companies give special rates for people involved in auto accidents, and they will contact the insurance company themselves to set up a direct bill, so the insurance company pays for the rental bill directly to the rental car company. Check with your rental car company to see if they can set that up for you.
Rental car companies in the McKinney, Texas area include:
f. Keep track of all your out-of-pocket expenses. Save all your receipts, bills, and records of any out-of-pocket costs or expenses, or bills you owe that you have incurred due to the accident. Give a copy of everything to your lawyer so they can get reimbursement from the insurance company for those items.
g. Be careful what you put on social media. Assume the insurance adjuster and the lawyers from the insurance company will see anything you post on social media. If you have an injury claim the adjuster will look for posts that show you are not injured. They will look for any time you appear to be doing something that someone with an injury should not be doing. Watch what you post on your social media accounts.
If you are needing a personal injury lawyer for your car accident injury claim call the Law Office of Doug Goyen at (972) 599 4100 or contact us on our contact form for a free consultation. There is no fee unless you win!
No Fee Unless You Win Call (972) 599 4100
TYPES OF CASES WE HANDLEThe Law Office of Doug Goyen handles personal injury cases throughout the state of Texas. This includes car crash cases (automobiles, 18 wheelers, motorcycles, pedestrians struck by vehicles, etc.), premises cases (such as injuries caused by a dangerous condition on a property), dog bite cases (or other animals where the owner let their animal loose or had a dangerous animal and the owner’s negligence causes injury to someone else), workplace injuries, and other injuries caused by the negligence or harmful acts of others.
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
Call For A Free Case Review (972) 599 4100
FREE CASE REVIEWSIf you or someone you know needs the assistance of a McKinney car accident lawyer in an injury case call (972) 599 4100 for a free consultation and a free strategy session regarding your case. The strategy session includes a summary of your case, identification of the legal issues involved with your case, and identifying those legal issues that will help maximize your recovery in your case. We will email a copy of this strategy session to you for you to keep. Call us today.
MCKINNEY, TEXAS INFORMATIONMcKinney, Texas is a city located in Collin County (the county seat) with an estimated population of 199,177 in 2019. McKinney is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country for its size. In 2010 it was named as the 5th best place to live in the United States by Money Magazine. It is located north of Dallas. McKinney is named after Collin McKinney, an early Texas congressman, and one of the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence.
Two-thirds of McKinney’s residents live within the McKinney ISD school district. There are three high schools in McKinney, McKinney Boyd High School, McKinney High School, and McKinney North High School.
The Law Office of Doug Goyen has been providing legal services to the citizens of McKinney, Texas since 1997.
Auto accident resources in McKinney, Texas
VISITORS TO MCKINNEY INVOLVED IN AUTO ACCIDENTSIf you are visiting McKinney, Texas, and are involved in an auto accident, you may find yourself in need of temporary lodging and food as a result of the accident and need to stay in McKinney for an extended period of time as a result of the accident. McKinney is home to the following restaurants, hotels, and attractions.
Hotels in McKinney, Texas
Restaurants in McKinney, Texas
Activities in McKinney, Texas
Click the following link for directions to our Addison office:
Law Office of Doug Goyen
15851 Dallas Pkwy #605
Addison, Texas 75001
Directions to our office from McKinney are: Head south on I-75 and exit the George Bush Tollway heading west. Stay on the George Bush until you come to the North Dallas Tollway. Head south on the North Dallas Tollway. Stay on the North Dallas Tollway until you come to the Keller Springs exit. Take the Keller Spring exit. Stay on the service road and pass Keller Springs. Our office is the 2nd building south of Keller Springs, located on the service road to the North Dallas Tollway in the Madison Business Center on the 6th floor.
By Doug Goyen, douggoyen@goyenlaw.com
Car Accident Community Pages near McKinney
Auto Insurance Used in Accidents
Damages in Car Accidents with Injuries