Dallas Personal Injury Lawyers

Dallas County reported 305 fatal crashes and 331 traffic deaths in 2024, along with another 1,389 wrecks that left people seriously injured, according to the Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Records Information System (CRIS). The county logged 46,257 reportable crashes overall, the third-highest county total in Texas behind Harris and Bexar. Dallas itself has been ranked among the most dangerous large cities in Texas for pedestrians, with 71 pedestrian deaths in 2024.

Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas, the eighth-largest in the United States, and the anchor of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country. The city is home to the corporate headquarters of major banks, telecommunications companies, airlines, and Fortune 500 retailers, with 23 Fortune 500 firms based in the metro area and 11 inside Dallas city limits. Add Dallas Love Field to the south of downtown, the dense freeway grid of I-35E, I-30, US 75, and the LBJ Freeway, and the result is one of the most complex traffic environments in the South.

You shouldn’t have to take an insurance company’s first offer just because medical bills are piling up. You deserve an attorney who knows Dallas County, knows the George L. Allen Sr. Courts Building on Commerce Street, and isn’t afraid to push back when an insurer won’t pay what your case is worth.

At DJC Law, our Dallas personal injury lawyers help accident victims and their families recover after serious injuries. If you were hurt in a wreck on I-635 or I-35E, hit by a commercial truck on I-30 or US 75, struck while crossing Buckner Boulevard or Northwest Highway, injured in a downtown rideshare incident, or harmed in any other accident caused by someone else’s negligence, we can help.

We work on contingency. You pay nothing unless we win. Call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Hablamos español.

What Is Personal Injury Law?

Personal injury law lets people who’ve been hurt by someone else’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct seek financial compensation for their losses. These are civil claims, separate from any criminal charges. They hold the responsible party accountable and help injured victims recover the money they need for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Most personal injury cases come down to negligence. To win a negligence claim, you have to prove four things: that the defendant owed you a duty of care, that they breached that duty, that the breach caused your injuries, and that you suffered actual damages.

That sounds simple enough on paper. In practice, insurance companies spend a lot of time and money working to deny, delay, and minimize claims. In Dallas, you may also be dealing with major corporate defendants, regional and national trucking carriers moving freight through one of the country’s biggest logistics hubs, or a hotel or restaurant operator whose risk management team handles claims as a daily business function. Each comes with its own defense team. An experienced personal injury attorney can level the conversation and improve your chances of a fair recovery.

Why Choose DJC Law

Not every personal injury firm is the same. Here’s what sets DJC Law apart.

You Pay Nothing Unless We Win

We take personal injury cases on contingency. There are no upfront fees, and you owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Our payment comes out of your settlement or verdict, so we only get paid when you do.

Personal Attention From Your Attorney

You won’t get handed off to a paralegal or left wondering what’s going on with your case. Our attorneys stay involved at every stage. We return calls. When you have a question, you’ll get an answer from the lawyer actually handling your case.

Bilingual Representation

Dallas County is one of the most diverse counties in Texas. About a quarter of residents were born outside the United States, and the county is roughly 42% Hispanic. Your attorney should never be a barrier to understanding your own case. Our team works in English and Spanish, so you can ask questions and make decisions in the language you’re most comfortable with.

Experience With Multi-Defendant Corporate Cases

The DFW Metroplex hosts the second-most Fortune 500 headquarters of any Texas region, behind only Houston. That means the defendant on the other side of your case may be a national bank, a regional trucking fleet, a major airline, a national restaurant or hotel chain, or a property management firm with its own in-house legal department. We handle cases against large corporate defendants and their insurance carriers, and we’re comfortable building cases that involve multiple potentially responsible parties (driver, employer, broker, shipper, contractor, manufacturer) rather than settling for the first or easiest target.

Trial-Ready Representation

Insurance companies and corporate defendants pay attention to which firms actually take cases to court. When they know we’re prepared to try a case, they’re a lot more willing to settle for a fair number. If they aren’t willing, we’re ready to put your case in front of a Dallas County jury.

Local Knowledge, Local Commitment

We know the Dallas County District Courts at the George Allen Courts Building, the felony courts at the Frank Crowley Courthouse, the federal courts at the Earle Cabell Federal Building, the judges who hear these cases, and the roads where these crashes keep happening. From inside LBJ down to I-30, from Oak Cliff to Lake Highlands, we work cases here regularly.

Personal Injury in Dallas: By the Numbers

Dallas has more than 1.3 million residents inside city limits and more than 2.6 million in Dallas County, making it the eighth-most populous county in the United States and the second-largest in Texas. The DFW metro area has been ranked the fastest-growing major metro in the country in recent years, and the road system has struggled to keep pace. According to the Texas Department of Transportation and other public sources:

Dallas County reported 305 fatal crashes and 331 traffic fatalities in 2024, along with 1,389 suspected serious injury crashes that left 1,648 people seriously hurt.
The county logged 46,257 reportable crashes overall in 2024, the third-highest county total in Texas. That includes 5,748 minor injury wrecks and another 5,289 with possible injuries.
Dallas itself has had one of the highest fatal crash rates per capita of any major Texas city. Recent analyses have ranked Dallas pedestrians as roughly 57% more likely to be killed or seriously injured than residents of Austin, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, or San Antonio.
Pedestrian fatalities in the city stayed at 71 deaths in both 2023 and 2024, with 162 to 198 severe injury pedestrian crashes each year. The city’s Vision Zero High Injury Network identifies specific corridors where these deaths concentrate, including Buckner Boulevard, Northwest Highway, Storey Road, Jim Miller Road, and Ledbetter Drive.
Dallas is one of only a handful of US cities with five verified Level I trauma centers inside city limits, including Parkland Memorial Hospital, the first hospital in Texas to be certified as a Level I trauma center back in 1983.
The DFW Metroplex hosts 23 Fortune 500 companies across multiple industries, with 11 headquartered in Dallas city limits. The dense corporate base produces a steady flow of commercial vehicle, premises liability, and insurance disputes.

Dangerous Roads and Locations in Dallas

If your wreck happened on one of these corridors, you’re not alone. They show up in TxDOT crash data, Dallas Police Department reports, and the city’s Vision Zero High Injury Network year after year:

Interstate 635 (LBJ Freeway): Consistently the highest crash-volume corridor in Dallas, with more than 2,000 crashes a year. The LBJ Freeway loops around the northern half of the city, carrying enormous commuter and commercial truck traffic between Garland, Mesquite, Richardson, and the airport. The I-635 / Skillman Street area is one of the most crash-prone stretches in the city, and the I-635 / I-35E interchange on the northwest side regularly produces serious wrecks.
The “High Five” Interchange (US 75 and I-635): A five-level stack interchange with ramps up to 12 stories above ground, this is one of the busiest and most complex interchanges in the state. While the design moves traffic efficiently most of the time, the layered ramps and last-second lane changes have produced a steady volume of high-speed rear-end and sideswipe crashes since the project opened.
Interstate 35E (Stemmons Freeway): The major north-south corridor running through downtown Dallas and out to Denton and the northern suburbs. I-35E was identified as the deadliest single roadway in Dallas in recent NBC 5 Investigates analyses. The stretch past the American Airlines Center, Dallas Love Field, and Lewisville is a heavy mix of local commuters, event traffic, airport passengers, and long-haul freight.
U.S. 75 (Central Expressway): The major north-south route through Uptown, Highland Park, North Dallas, Richardson, and Plano. Heavy commuter traffic combined with construction zones and dense trucking operations produces hundreds of crashes a year. Speed enforcement has been a recurring issue on Central, with NBC 5 Investigates documenting drivers exceeding 100 miles per hour before TxDOT lowered the limit on one stretch north of downtown.
Interstate 30: The east-west spine connecting Dallas to Fort Worth, with the most traveled stretch running between downtown Dallas and the Mid-Cities. Heavy congestion, abrupt lane changes, and the speed differential between commuter traffic and long-haul trucks produce a steady volume of multi-vehicle wrecks.
Interstate 45: The southern interstate route from Dallas to Houston. Heavy commercial truck traffic and long stretches of rural highway produce wrecks at exit ramps and interchanges, especially around the I-45 / I-20 split south of downtown.
Loop 12 (Walton Walker Boulevard / Northwest Highway / Buckner Boulevard): The inner loop around Dallas, repeatedly identified in Vision Zero analyses as one of the city’s deadliest corridors. Outdated road geometry and high speeds have made Loop 12 a primary target of recent safety improvements.
Buckner Boulevard, Northwest Highway, Jim Miller Road, Storey Road, and Ledbetter Drive: The surface arterials that make up most of the city’s Vision Zero High Injury Network. Wide multilane geometry, high speed limits, gaps in pedestrian infrastructure, and heavy commercial traffic combine to produce concentrated clusters of fatal and serious injury crashes.
Downtown, Deep Ellum, Uptown, and Bishop Arts: The downtown core and surrounding nightlife districts produce frequent rideshare, pedestrian, and parking-garage incidents, especially during major sports events at the American Airlines Center and conventions at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle

Our Dallas personal injury attorneys take on a wide range of cases. If you’ve been hurt because of someone else’s negligence, we can help.

Car accidents are the single most common cause of serious injury in Dallas. Distracted driving, speeding, drunk driving, and fatigue cause tens of thousands of crashes in Dallas County every year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) identifies all four as leading contributors to fatal crashes nationwide. [internal-link: car-accidents]

Truck accidents involving 18-wheelers, tanker trucks, and other commercial vehicles are a major part of our practice in Dallas County. The Metroplex is one of the largest logistics and distribution hubs in the country, and the I-635, I-35E, I-30, I-45, and US 75 corridors carry enormous freight volume. These cases are governed in part by federal regulations enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), including hours-of-service rules, drug and alcohol testing, hazmat handling rules, and maintenance standards. There are usually multiple parties who can be held liable, including the driver, the motor carrier, brokers, shippers, and maintenance providers. [internal-link: truck-accidents]

Motorcycle accidents tend to leave riders with severe injuries because they don’t have the protection of an enclosed vehicle. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has long reported that motorcyclists are killed at far higher rates than passenger-vehicle occupants per mile traveled. Insurance companies often try to use that risk against riders, and we push back hard. [internal-link: motorcycle-accidents]

Pedestrian accidents are a serious and ongoing problem in Dallas. The city has been ranked among the deadliest in Texas for pedestrians per capita, with 71 pedestrian deaths in each of the past two reporting years. Drivers have a duty to watch for pedestrians, and we hold them responsible when they don’t. [internal-link: pedestrian-accidents]

Bicycle accidents can cause serious harm to cyclists who share the road with much larger vehicles. We represent injured cyclists and pursue full compensation under Texas law. [internal-link: bicycle-accidents]

Bus accidents, including crashes involving Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) buses, school buses, charter buses, and tour operators, come with their own complications. Public transit cases can run into governmental immunity issues and shorter notice deadlines, and bus operators are held to a higher common-carrier duty of care. [internal-link: bus-accidents]

Rideshare accidents involving Uber, Lyft, and other transportation network companies are common around Deep Ellum, Uptown, the West End, the American Airlines Center, and the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. These cases can involve overlapping insurance coverage that depends on whether the driver was logged into the app, en route to a passenger, or actively transporting one. We help injured riders, drivers, and third parties figure out which policy applies and pursue full recovery. [internal-link: rideshare-accidents]

Premises liability cases come up when a dangerous condition on someone else’s property causes an injury. That includes slip and falls at retail stores, restaurants, hotels, apartment complexes, and gas stations, plus inadequate security at bars, clubs, and parking garages, and swimming pool incidents at apartment complexes. Dallas’s downtown hospitality and convention industry produces a steady volume of hotel and restaurant cases, and the city’s large multifamily inventory generates regular apartment complex cases. Texas premises liability law is governed in part by Chapter 95 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code for certain property owners, along with case law that draws distinctions between invitees, licensees, and trespassers. [internal-link: premises-liability]

Construction and workplace accidents happen across Dallas’s massive ongoing build-out, including high-rise construction in Uptown and the Arts District, the long-running TxDOT projects on I-635 and I-35E, and the steady stream of warehouse and distribution center construction in the southern parts of the county. Many of these cases involve violations of OSHA workplace safety standards, third-party contractor liability under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 95, and equipment manufacturer claims. [internal-link: construction-accidents]

Dog bites can cause serious physical injuries and lasting emotional trauma. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the United States, with hundreds of thousands needing emergency care. We help victims pursue full compensation under Texas dog bite law. [internal-link: dog-bites]

Product liability cases involve injuries caused by defective or dangerous products. That includes vehicle defects (which can sometimes be tracked through NHTSA’s recall database), defective industrial equipment, and dangerous consumer goods regulated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. [internal-link: product-liability]

Wrongful death claims allow surviving family members to seek compensation when a loved one is killed because of another party’s negligence or misconduct. These claims are governed by Chapter 71 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. [internal-link: wrongful-death]

If your situation isn’t on this list, call us anyway. Personal injury law covers a lot of ground, and we’d rather hear about your case and tell you straight whether we can help.

Common Injuries in Personal Injury Cases

Accidents can cause anything from temporary pain to permanent disability. We represent clients who have suffered:

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and concussions
Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
Broken bones and fractures
Back, neck, and whiplash injuries
Herniated discs and soft tissue damage
Internal organ damage
Burns and scarring
Amputation and loss of limbs
Knee, shoulder, and joint injuries
Cuts, lacerations, and disfigurement
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological injuries

Some injuries are obvious right away. Others, like concussions, internal bleeding, and soft tissue damage, can take days or even weeks to fully show up. That’s why getting medical attention as soon as possible after an accident matters. It protects your health, and it documents your injuries early. Dallas is one of the few cities in the country with five verified Level I trauma centers inside its city limits. Parkland Memorial Hospital, located in the Southwestern Medical District, was the first hospital certified as a Level I trauma center in the State of Texas (1983) and serves as Dallas County’s public hospital. Baylor University Medical Center on Gaston Avenue, Methodist Dallas Medical Center on Methodist Health Drive, and Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas on Walnut Hill Lane round out the four adult Level I centers. Children’s Medical Center Dallas is the city’s pediatric Level I trauma center.

Compensation Available in a Texas Personal Injury Case

Texas law lets injured victims recover both economic and non-economic damages. Depending on the case, punitive damages may also be available.

Economic Damages

These are the financial losses you can document with bills, pay stubs, and receipts:

Medical expenses: Past and future treatment, hospital stays, surgeries, medication, rehab, and home care
Lost wages: Income you couldn’t earn while recovering
Loss of earning capacity: Reduced ability to earn in the future because of permanent impairments
Property damage: Repair or replacement of your vehicle and other damaged belongings
Out-of-pocket expenses: Transportation to medical appointments, home modifications, and other accident-related costs

Non-Economic Damages

These are losses that don’t come with a receipt but are just as real:

Pain and suffering: Physical pain caused by your injuries and their treatment
Mental anguish: Emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and psychological trauma
Disfigurement: Permanent scarring or physical changes to your appearance
Loss of enjoyment of life: Inability to take part in activities and hobbies you used to enjoy
Loss of consortium: The impact your injuries have had on your relationship with your spouse
Physical impairment: Limitations on your physical abilities and daily activities

In cases that involve gross negligence or intentional misconduct, you may also be entitled to exemplary (punitive) damages under Chapter 41 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. These are meant to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct. Texas caps them in most cases at the greater of (1) two times economic damages plus non-economic damages up to $750,000, or (2) $200,000.

How Texas Negligence Law Works

Understanding the basics of Texas negligence law helps you understand your case. Here are the key ideas.

Proving Negligence

To win a personal injury case, you have to prove four things:

Duty of care. The defendant had a legal obligation to act reasonably to avoid causing harm. Drivers have to operate their vehicles safely. Property owners have to keep their property in safe condition. Manufacturers have to produce safe products.

Breach of duty. The defendant didn’t live up to that duty. Running a red light, texting while driving (which is prohibited statewide under Texas Transportation Code § 545.4251), or ignoring a known hazard are all examples of a breach.

Causation. The breach actually caused your injuries. There has to be a clear connection between what the defendant did wrong and the harm you suffered.

Damages. You suffered real losses as a result. That can mean medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other categories of harm.

Modified Comparative Negligence (the 51% Bar Rule)

Texas follows what’s called “modified comparative negligence,” set out in Chapter 33 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. In plain terms, you can still recover compensation if you were partially at fault for the accident, as long as your share of responsibility is 50% or less.

If you’re found partly at fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. For example, if you’re 20% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you’d recover $80,000.

If you’re found more than 50% responsible, you don’t recover anything. That’s why insurance companies work so hard to push fault onto victims. Even a few percentage points can knock you across that 51% line. Our attorneys fight to keep that from happening.

The Personal Injury Claims Process

Every case is a little different, but most personal injury claims follow a similar path.

Investigation and evidence gathering. We dig into how the accident happened. That includes police reports (Dallas Police Department crash reports can be requested through the Records Section at the Jack Evans Police Headquarters at 1400 South Lamar Street, by phone at (214) 671-3148, or directly from the TxDOT C.R.I.S. portal), medical records, witness statements, photographs, and any other evidence that supports your claim. Downtown crashes near major hotels, the convention center, and the AAC often involve hotel and venue security camera footage, which can be lost in days if no one preserves it.

Medical treatment documentation. We work to make sure your injuries are fully documented by medical professionals. Solid documentation is what proves the value of your damages later.

Demand and negotiation. Once we know the full extent of your damages, we send a demand to the insurance company and negotiate for fair compensation.

Filing a lawsuit. If the insurer won’t make a fair offer, we file suit. Most personal injury cases involving Dallas County residents are filed in the Dallas County District Courts at the George L. Allen, Sr. Courts Building, 600 Commerce Street in downtown Dallas. The Dallas County District Clerk’s Office (Felicia Pitre) administers 17 civil district courts, 13 family district courts, and additional specialty courts at George Allen, with 17 felony courts at the Frank Crowley Courts Building. Federal cases involving Dallas County are filed in the Dallas Division of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, which sits at the Earle Cabell Federal Building and Courthouse downtown.

Discovery. Both sides exchange information, take depositions, and gather more evidence under the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure or the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, depending on the court.

Mediation or settlement. A lot of cases settle during litigation, often through mediation. Mediation is a structured negotiation with a neutral third party who helps both sides find common ground.

Trial. If the case doesn’t settle, we present it to a jury and ask for the verdict your case deserves.

Through all of this, we keep you in the loop. You’ll always know what’s happening and what your options are.

Dealing with Insurance Companies

After an accident, you’ll probably hear from an insurance adjuster who sounds friendly and concerned. Don’t read too much into the tone. The adjuster’s job is to keep their company from paying any more than it has to. The Texas Department of Insurance publishes consumer guides and complaint procedures if you ever feel an insurer is treating you unfairly.

Common insurance company tactics include:

Asking for a recorded statement they can later use against you
Requesting broad medical authorizations so they can dig for pre-existing conditions
Pushing a quick settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries
Disputing how serious your injuries are or claiming they aren’t related to the accident
Dragging things out, hoping you’ll accept less out of financial pressure
Trying to shift fault onto you to push you over the 51% comparative fault bar

Before you talk to any insurance company, talk to an attorney first. Once we’re involved, we handle communications with insurers for you. Trucking companies, rideshare carriers, hotel chains, and other large defendants all have dedicated claims handlers and rapid-response teams that show up at the scene of major incidents to start collecting statements and lining up favorable witnesses. The same advice applies.

Statute of Limitations: How Long You Have to File

Texas sets strict deadlines for filing personal injury claims. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. Miss that deadline and you usually lose your right to recover, period.

Some situations have different deadlines.

Claims against government entities, like the City of Dallas, Dallas County, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), the Texas Department of Transportation, or any school district, typically require formal written notice within six months or less under the Texas Tort Claims Act. The City of Dallas charter requires notice even sooner in some cases.

Medical malpractice claims have additional procedural rules under Chapter 74 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, including a 60-day pre-suit notice requirement and an expert report requirement.

Claims involving minors may have extended deadlines under Texas tolling rules.

Don’t sit on your case waiting to see if your injuries get better. Even if you’re not ready to file a lawsuit, talking to a lawyer early makes sure you understand your deadlines.

Steps to Take After an Accident in Dallas

If you’ve been hurt in any kind of accident, the steps you take afterward can protect both your health and your legal rights.

Get medical attention right away. Call 911 if anyone is seriously hurt. Dallas has five Level I trauma centers, including Parkland Memorial Hospital, the first certified Level I trauma center in Texas. The other adult Level I facilities in the city are Baylor University Medical Center, Methodist Dallas Medical Center, and Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. Children’s Medical Center Dallas is the pediatric Level I trauma center. Other major hospitals include Texas Health Dallas, Methodist Charlton, and the UT Southwestern University Hospitals.
Report the accident. If the crash happened inside Dallas city limits, call 911 to get an officer to the scene. The Dallas Police Department non-emergency line is (214) 744-4444. Crashes in unincorporated parts of Dallas County are handled by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Marian Brown. Crashes on I-35E, I-635, I-30, US 75, and other state highways are sometimes worked by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Wrecks that occur in adjacent jurisdictions (Garland, Mesquite, Irving, Richardson, Plano, Highland Park, University Park) are handled by those agencies.
Document everything. Take photos of the accident scene, your injuries, property damage, road conditions, and traffic signs. Note the time of day, the weather, and the direction you were traveling.
Get witness information. Collect names, phone numbers, and email addresses from anyone who saw what happened. For downtown wrecks during a major event, witnesses may be from out of state, so get their contact information before they leave.
Request your crash report. Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Reports (Form CR-3) are usually available 7 to 14 days after the wreck through the TxDOT C.R.I.S. public portal for $6 (or $8 certified). Dallas Police Department reports can also be requested in person at the Records Section at 1400 South Lamar Street, Dallas, TX 75215, or by phone at (214) 671-3148.
Keep records. Save all medical bills, prescription receipts, mileage logs to and from appointments, and pay stubs that show the work you missed.
For trucking and commercial cases, act fast. These defendants typically have rapid-response teams that arrive at the scene within hours. Evidence like driver logs, ECM (engine control module) data, surveillance footage, and maintenance records can be lost or overwritten in days. A spoliation letter from your lawyer puts the company on notice to preserve that evidence.
Don’t give a recorded statement. If the other driver’s insurance company asks for one, politely say no until you’ve spoken with an attorney.
Don’t sign anything. Insurance companies sometimes hand over releases or settlements that look routine but quietly waive your rights. Have a lawyer look at it first.
Call a personal injury attorney. The sooner you have legal representation, the better protected your case is.

How Our Dallas Personal Injury Lawyers Help

Trying to handle a personal injury claim while you’re still recovering from a serious injury is exhausting. Our team takes the legal work off your plate so you can focus on getting better.

We investigate the accident, gather the evidence we need to prove liability and damages, and handle every conversation with the insurance companies. When a case calls for it, we bring in medical experts, accident reconstructionists, biomechanical engineers, vocational economists, and life-care planners to help build it.

We also calculate the full value of your losses, including future expenses and the kinds of non-economic damages that are easy to undercount. Then we negotiate hard for fair compensation. We also prepare every case as if it’s going to trial, because the cases that look ready for trial almost always settle for more.

If the insurance company won’t pay what your case is worth, we go to court.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dallas Personal Injury Cases

How much does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer in Dallas?

Nothing upfront. We work on contingency, which means we only get paid if we recover compensation for you. Our fee comes as a percentage of your settlement or verdict. If we don’t win, you don’t pay. The consultation is free.

How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Texas?

Generally two years from the date of injury under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003. Claims against the City of Dallas, Dallas County, DART, or other government entities have notice deadlines as short as six months under the Texas Tort Claims Act, sometimes shorter under city charter. Don’t assume your deadline based on the general rule. Have an attorney confirm it.

My wreck happened on I-635 (the LBJ Freeway) or at the High Five interchange. Does that change anything?

Cases on the Dallas freeway system tend to involve more than one potentially liable party. Multi-vehicle pileups on I-635 and I-35E often involve trucks, rideshare drivers, and out-of-state motorists, with multiple insurance carriers in play. The High Five interchange is well known for high-speed rear-end and sideswipe wrecks because of its complex geometry. We handle these cases regularly. The first step is preserving the police crash report, the freeway camera footage, and any commercial vehicle data before it’s overwritten.

My crash happened on I-30 near the Dallas-Tarrant county line. Where do I file?

Generally either Dallas County (where the wreck happened) or the county where the at-fault driver lives will be a proper venue under Texas’s general venue statute. The choice can matter, because Dallas County juries and Tarrant County juries don’t always look at the same case the same way. We talk through venue strategy early in the case.

I was hit by an 18-wheeler on I-635, I-35E, I-30, or US 75. What’s different about a truck case?

A lot. Commercial trucks are governed by federal regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that don’t apply to passenger vehicles, including hours-of-service rules, driver qualification files, drug and alcohol testing, and equipment inspection requirements. There are also typically multiple potentially responsible parties, including the driver, the trucking company, the freight broker, the shipper, and any maintenance contractor. Liability and insurance coverage in a truck case are usually much larger than in a typical car wreck, and the trucking company will have a defense team on the scene fast. We move just as fast to preserve evidence like ECM downloads, driver logs, dispatch records, and dashcam footage.

I was hit by an Uber or Lyft driver in Deep Ellum, Uptown, or downtown. Whose insurance covers me?

It depends on what the driver was doing at the time of the wreck. If the rideshare app was off, the driver’s personal auto policy applies (and rideshare drivers often have policies that exclude coverage when driving for hire, which can leave a gap). If the app was on but the driver hadn’t accepted a ride, Uber and Lyft typically provide limited contingent coverage. If the driver had accepted a ride or had a passenger in the car, the rideshare company’s $1 million liability policy usually applies. We work through the layers and identify all available coverage.

Is Texas a no-fault state for car accidents?

No. Texas is an at-fault (or “tort”) state. The driver who caused the wreck, and that driver’s insurance company, is responsible for the damages. That’s different from no-fault states, where each driver typically files with their own insurer regardless of who caused the wreck. In Texas, fault investigation and the police crash report often shape the outcome of your case.

What is the minimum auto insurance required in Texas?

According to the Texas Department of Insurance, drivers have to carry at least 30/60/25 liability coverage. That’s $30,000 per injured person, up to $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. These minimums often aren’t enough to cover serious injuries from a freeway wreck, which is why uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage matters so much.

How long will my case take?

It depends. Some cases settle within months. Others take a year or more, especially if litigation is needed. Cases with disputed liability, severe injuries, or commercial defendants generally take longer. We work to resolve your case as quickly as we reasonably can without rushing it past a fair result.

What if I was partially at fault for my accident?

You can still recover compensation as long as your share of fault is 50% or less. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.

Should I accept the insurance company’s settlement offer?

Not without talking to an attorney first. Initial offers are almost always far below what your case is worth. Once you sign a release, you can’t reopen the claim, even if your injuries turn out to be more serious than you thought. Have a lawyer review any offer before you sign anything.

How much is my case worth?

Every case is different. Value depends on the severity of your injuries, your past and future medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, the strength of the evidence, and the available insurance coverage. We can give you a more accurate range after we review the specifics of your case in a free consultation.

Are personal injury settlements taxable in Texas?

According to IRS Publication 4345, the part of a personal injury settlement that compensates you for physical injuries or physical sickness is generally not taxable. Portions allocated to lost wages, interest, or punitive damages can be taxable. Texas itself has no state income tax, but you should always confirm tax treatment with a CPA.

What if the other driver doesn’t have insurance?

You may still have options. Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may apply. Other parties, like an employer if the at-fault driver was on the job, may share liability. We look at every angle for compensation, including stacking applicable policies where Texas law allows.

Where do I get my Dallas accident report?

You can request your crash report online through the TxDOT Crash Report Online Purchase System or in person at the Dallas Police Department Records Section at 1400 South Lamar Street, Dallas, TX 75215. Standard reports cost $6, with $8 for certified copies. If we represent you, we’ll handle getting the report as part of our investigation.

Helpful Dallas and Texas Resources

If you’ve been hurt in an accident in Dallas, these public resources may be useful:

Dallas Police Department. Emergencies 911, non-emergency (214) 744-4444, Records Section (214) 671-3148. Jack Evans Police Headquarters, 1400 South Lamar Street, Dallas, TX 75215.
Dallas County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Marian Brown. Main administration (214) 749-8641.
Dallas County District Clerk’s Office. District Clerk Felicia Pitre. Main line (214) 653-7307. George L. Allen, Sr. Courts Building, 600 Commerce Street, Suite 103, Dallas, TX 75202.
TxDOT Crash Reports and Records. Statewide crash data and report requests.
Texas Department of Insurance. Insurance complaints and consumer guides.
Parkland Memorial Hospital. The first certified Level I Trauma Center in Texas. 5200 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas.
Baylor University Medical Center. Level I trauma center on Gaston Avenue.
Methodist Dallas Medical Center. Level I trauma center on Methodist Health Drive.
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division. The federal court with jurisdiction over Dallas County and 99 other counties in North and West Texas. Earle Cabell Federal Building, 1100 Commerce Street, Dallas.

Contact Our Dallas Personal Injury Attorneys Today

If you’ve been hurt because of someone else’s negligence, you don’t have to take on the insurance companies on your own. The Dallas personal injury lawyers at DJC Law have the experience and the resources to go to bat for you.

Reach out for a free consultation. We’ll listen to your story, walk you through your options, and help you figure out what to do next. There’s no obligation, and you don’t pay us anything unless we win. Hablamos español.