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Denton Personal Injury Lawyers

Denton County reported 47 fatal crashes and 50 traffic deaths in 2024, along with another 301 wrecks that left people seriously injured, according to the Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Records Information System (CRIS). The county logged 12,339 reportable crashes overall.

Denton is the county seat of Denton County and the literal point where Interstate 35 splits into I-35E (continuing south to Dallas) and I-35W (continuing south to Fort Worth). It’s also home to the University of North Texas and Texas Woman’s University, two major institutions that together enroll more than 60,000 students and employ thousands more. UNT alone is the city’s largest employer. Denton’s identity runs through its preserved historic Square at the center of town, its long-running music and festival scene, its student population, and its position as the northern gateway to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

That mix produces a different kind of injury caseload than the suburbs to the south. There’s the constant flow of student and faculty pedestrians and cyclists. There’s the heavy mix of commuter and freight traffic on the I-35 corridor, where the freeway funnels traffic from Oklahoma and central Texas into the Metroplex. There’s the late-night entertainment, bar, and music venue traffic around the Denton Square and Fry Street. And there are the rural roads connecting Denton to Argyle, Pilot Point, Sanger, Aubrey, and the equestrian and agricultural communities to the north.

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 Denton County, knows the courts here, and isn’t afraid to push back when an insurer won’t pay what your case is worth.

At DJC Law, our Denton personal injury lawyers help accident victims and their families recover after serious injuries. If you were hurt in a wreck on I-35E or I-35W, hit by a commercial truck on US 380 (University Drive) or US 377 (Fort Worth Drive), struck while walking near campus or downtown, injured at work, 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 Denton, you may also be dealing with a national trucking carrier moving freight on the I-35 corridor, a public university, a regional bar or music venue, a rideshare carrier, a property management firm with its own in-house legal department, or even a state agency. 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

Hispanic residents make up about 26% of Denton’s population, and the city has a steadily growing immigrant base. 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 Pedestrian, Cyclist, and Student-Involved Cases

Denton has more pedestrians and cyclists in regular daily traffic than almost any other city its size in Texas. That’s a function of two universities, a walkable historic Square, downtown Fry Street, and a young median age. It’s also why pedestrian and bicycle cases account for a disproportionate share of fatal crashes here. We understand the legal framework around these cases, including the duty of care drivers owe pedestrians, the role of inadequate roadway design under Texas Tort Claims Act limits, and the higher common-carrier duties that bus and rideshare operators owe their passengers.

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 Denton County jury.

Local Knowledge, Local Commitment

We know the Denton County District Courts at the historic courthouse on the Square and the modern courthouse complex on McKinney Street. We know the federal courts in the Sherman Division of the Eastern District of Texas, which holds court in both Sherman and Plano. We know the dangerous corridors. From the I-35E/I-35W split to the Loop 288 interchanges, from University Drive to Fort Worth Drive, we work cases here regularly.

Personal Injury in Denton: By the Numbers

Denton has roughly 153,000 residents and is the 20th-largest city in Texas, sitting in Denton County, the seventh-largest county in the state with more than 1.05 million people. According to the Texas Department of Transportation and other public sources:

    • Denton County reported 47 fatal crashes and 50 traffic fatalities in 2024, along with 301 suspected serious injury crashes that left 358 people seriously hurt. The county logged 12,339 reportable crashes overall.
    • According to a Bike Denton analysis of city crash data, pedestrians and cyclists were involved in only about 3% of all crashes in Denton but accounted for roughly 40% of fatal crashes from 2019 through late 2022. Every fatal pedestrian or bicycle crash in that span occurred on a TxDOT-owned road: I-35, University Drive, Fort Worth Drive, Dallas Drive, Loop 288, or Sherman Drive.
    • The University of North Texas is Denton’s largest employer, with about 7,800 employees making up roughly 13% of the city’s workforce. Together with Texas Woman’s University, Denton ISD, and the City of Denton itself, the four largest employers account for nearly 12,000 jobs. UNT and TWU together enroll more than 60,000 students.
    • Denton’s median household income is approximately $76,000, with a younger median age (about 31) than most surrounding suburbs, reflecting the city’s large student population.
    • Major Denton-headquartered companies include Peterbilt (truck manufacturer), Sally Beauty Company, and Jostens. The city’s industrial base also draws on a STULZ Air Technology Systems plant, regional logistics tied to its position on I-35, and a steady mix of education, healthcare, and hospitality jobs.
    • Denton hosts the Denton Arts and Jazz Festival (drawing more than 200,000 people each year to Civic Center Park), the Thin Line Fest (Texas’s longest-running documentary film festival), and the North Texas State Fair and Rodeo. Together with year-round live music venues across the Square and Fry Street, these events drive a substantial flow of out-of-town visitors and after-hours traffic.
    • Medical City Denton, a 210-plus-bed hospital, is the first and only Level II Trauma Center in Denton County, designated by the Texas Department of State Health Services in 2017 and reaccredited multiple times since. The hospital sees approximately 1,200 trauma patients and 50,000 emergency room visits per year. Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton, a 255-bed full-service hospital, also has an accredited emergency department, a Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Center and Chest Pain Center, and the only Level III NICU in Denton.
    • Denton is one of the few North Texas cities served by a commuter rail line. The Denton County Transportation Authority operates the A-train from downtown Denton to the Trinity Mills station in Carrollton, where riders can transfer to DART’s Green Line into Dallas.

Dangerous Roads and Locations in Denton

If your wreck happened on one of these corridors, you’re not alone. They show up in TxDOT crash data, Denton Police Department reports, and the city’s traffic safety reviews year after year:

    • The I-35E and I-35W split: Denton is the literal point where I-35 divides. Traffic coming north from Dallas on I-35E and from Fort Worth on I-35W converges into a single I-35 that continues toward Oklahoma. The split itself, the merging traffic, and the construction zones that come with the ongoing I-35 rebuild produce constant crashes. TxDOT camera footage and incident logs document multiple multi-vehicle wrecks at this junction every month.
    • I-35 / Loop 288: The single most crash-prone interchange in Denton, with one local analysis reporting 44 crashes at this interchange in 2023 alone. Heavy traffic flow, complex ramp design, and high speeds all contribute.
    • I-35E (US 77) / Loop 288: A second major Loop 288 interchange in southeast Denton near Golden Triangle Mall. About 18 crashes were reported here in 2023.
    • Loop 288 / East McKinney Street: A heavily commercialized intersection with constant retail traffic and frequent turning movements. About 19 crashes reported in 2023.
    • University Drive (US 380): The east-west corridor across north Denton, running from west of I-35W toward McKinney. University Drive is identified in city safety reports as one of the most dangerous corridors in Denton for pedestrians and cyclists. TxDOT has approved sidewalk and median improvements along the corridor as part of the Highway Safety Improvement Program. The University Drive / I-35 area near UNT sees regular crashes during academic-year peak hours.
    • Fort Worth Drive (US 377): A major southwest corridor leading from Denton toward Argyle, Justin, and Fort Worth. Fort Worth Drive is on the city’s pedestrian and bicycle fatality hotspot list.
    • Dallas Drive, Sherman Drive, and the Bonnie Brae corridor: All three are TxDOT-owned arterials with multiple lanes, high traffic speeds, and limited safe pedestrian crossings. All three appear in the city’s pedestrian and bicycle fatal-crash mapping. The Kings Row / Loop 288 and Kings Row / Sherman Drive intersections both saw pedestrian or bicyclist fatalities and are receiving signal upgrades through TxDOT’s Highway Safety Improvement Program.
    • The Denton Square, Fry Street, and downtown: The historic Square and the Fry Street entertainment district carry heavy pedestrian traffic, especially during festivals, weekends, and university event days. Mixed pedestrian, rideshare, and bar traffic in a compact downtown grid produces regular pedestrian-impact and rideshare-related collisions.
    • I-35 corridor north of Denton through Sanger and toward Gainesville: Heavy freight traffic and rural lighting produce frequent fatal crashes. Severe storms have repeatedly overturned 18-wheelers on this stretch, and Hickory Creek and Denton police have run targeted enforcement operations on I-35E in southern Denton County to reduce serious wrecks.
    • Rural farm-to-market roads in Denton County: The roads connecting Denton to Argyle, Pilot Point, Aubrey, Sanger, Krugerville, and the equestrian and agricultural areas of north and west Denton County are mostly two-lane TxDOT or county roads with limited shoulders, deep ditches, and no street lighting. Crashes on these roads tend to be more serious and harder to investigate.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle

Our Denton 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 Denton. Distracted driving, speeding, drunk driving, and fatigue cause thousands of crashes in Denton 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 regular part of our practice. The I-35 corridor through Denton is one of the heaviest freight routes in Texas, carrying traffic between Mexico, Texas, and the Midwest. 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 an outsized concern in Denton. The same Bike Denton analysis cited above found that pedestrians and cyclists are involved in only about 3% of crashes citywide but make up around 40% of fatal crashes. Drivers have a duty to watch for pedestrians, and we hold them responsible when they don’t. We also pursue claims tied to inadequate crosswalks, missing pedestrian signals, and other roadway design issues, including claims against the responsible governmental authority where applicable. [internal-link: pedestrian-accidents]

Bicycle accidents are similarly common in Denton given the city’s flat terrain, dense student population, and growing trail network. Cyclists are particularly vulnerable on multilane TxDOT-owned arterials like University Drive, Fort Worth Drive, and Loop 288. We represent injured cyclists and pursue full compensation under Texas law. [internal-link: bicycle-accidents]

Bus accidents, including crashes involving the Denton County Transportation Authority’s A-train and Connect buses, UNT and TWU campus shuttles, school buses, charter buses, and tour operators, come with their own complications. Public transit and university 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 the Denton Square, Fry Street, the UNT and TWU campuses, and the Loop 288 retail corridor. 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, swimming pool incidents at apartment complexes, and assault cases tied to inadequate security at student housing. The Fry Street and Denton Square bar districts, the Golden Triangle Mall area, and Denton’s large student-apartment inventory all generate premises liability claims. 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 Denton’s constant new development. The ongoing I-35 corridor reconstruction, the Outer Loop project being planned by Denton County to connect I-35 to the Dallas North Tollway, the Rayzor Ranch and other major mixed-use developments, the new STULZ manufacturing plant, and routine commercial and residential construction all generate workplace and motorist injuries. 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:

    • 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. Medical City Denton is the only Level II Trauma Center in Denton County, with a 29-bed emergency department, dedicated trauma resuscitation rooms, and 24-hour coverage by trauma surgeons, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, and critical care intensivists. Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton, a 255-bed full-service hospital, has an accredited emergency department, a Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Center and Chest Pain Center, and the only Level III NICU in Denton. Patients with the most severe and complex traumatic injuries may be transferred from Denton to a Level I trauma center, with Medical City Plano in Collin County or one of the Level I centers in Dallas being typical destinations.

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, particularly in pedestrian and bicycle cases. 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 (Denton Police Department crash reports can be requested through the city’s records process at the police headquarters at 601 East Hickory Street, by phone at 940-349-8181, or directly from the TxDOT C.R.I.S. portal), medical records, witness statements, photographs, and any other evidence that supports your claim. Crashes on I-35, I-35E, and I-35W often involve TxDOT highway camera footage and incident management logs that can be lost in days if no one preserves them. Wrecks downtown around the Square or on Fry Street may have private security camera coverage from venues, restaurants, and bars, each with its own short retention windows.

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 Denton County residents are filed in the Denton County District Courts at the courthouse complex at 1450 East McKinney Street in Denton. The Denton County District Clerk’s Office handles civil filings, with eFiling through the statewide eFileTexas system. Federal cases involving Denton County residents are filed in the Sherman Division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, which holds court in both Sherman (about 45 minutes northeast of Denton) and Plano (about 30 minutes southeast).

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, university transit operators, 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 Denton, Denton County, the Denton County Transportation Authority, the Texas Department of Transportation, the University of North Texas, Texas Woman’s University, Denton ISD, or any of the other school districts that serve parts of the city, typically require formal written notice within six months or less under the Texas Tort Claims Act. The City of Denton charter and certain interlocal agreements can require notice even sooner in some cases. UNT and TWU are state institutions, which means claims against them go through the Texas Tort Claims Act and have their own procedural requirements.

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 Denton

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

    1. Get medical attention right away. Call 911 if anyone is seriously hurt. Medical City Denton is the only Level II Trauma Center in Denton County, with a 29-bed emergency department and dedicated trauma resuscitation rooms. Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton also has a full-service emergency department, a Primary Stroke Center, and a Chest Pain Center. Patients with the most severe traumatic injuries may be transferred to a Level I trauma center such as Medical City Plano or one of the Dallas Level I centers.
    2. Report the accident. If the crash happened inside Denton city limits, call 911 to get an officer to the scene. The Denton Police Department can be reached at (940) 349-8181. Crashes in unincorporated parts of Denton County are handled by the Denton County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Tracy Murphree at the Law Enforcement Center, 127 North Woodrow Lane, Denton, (940) 349-1600. Crashes on I-35, I-35E, and I-35W are sometimes worked by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Wrecks on the UNT or TWU campuses are typically handled by university police.
    3. 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.
    4. Get witness information. Collect names, phone numbers, and email addresses from anyone who saw what happened. Crashes near campus, downtown, or during a Denton festival often have witnesses from out of town, so get their contact information before they leave.
    5. 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). Denton Police Department records can be requested through the city’s records process at the police headquarters at 601 East Hickory Street, Suite E, Denton, TX 76205.
    6. Keep records. Save all medical bills, prescription receipts, mileage logs to and from appointments, and pay stubs that show the work you missed.
    7. 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.
    8. For pedestrian and bicycle cases, document the roadway. In Denton, almost all fatal pedestrian and bicycle crashes happen on TxDOT-owned roadways. Take photos of crosswalks (or the lack of them), pedestrian signals, sightlines, lighting, and any roadway debris. We use this evidence to identify both the at-fault driver and any responsible governmental authority.
    9. 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.
    10. 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.
    11. Call a personal injury attorney. The sooner you have legal representation, the better protected your case is.

How Our Denton 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 Denton Personal Injury Cases

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

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 Denton, Denton County, the Denton County Transportation Authority, UNT, TWU, Denton ISD, 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 at the I-35E and I-35W split in Denton. Why does that matter?

The point where I-35 splits into I-35E and I-35W in Denton funnels Dallas-bound and Fort Worth-bound traffic together with traffic from Oklahoma and central Texas. It’s also the site of long-running TxDOT reconstruction. Wrecks here often involve multiple vehicles, high speeds, and chain-reaction collisions, which means more potentially responsible parties and more available insurance coverage. They also tend to involve TxDOT camera footage that’s subject to short retention windows. We move quickly to preserve it.

I was struck by a driver while walking or biking in Denton. What rights do I have?

You have substantial rights, and Denton has an unusually severe pedestrian and bicycle injury problem for a city its size. The Bike Denton analysis of city crash data found that pedestrians and cyclists were involved in only about 3% of all Denton crashes but accounted for around 40% of fatal crashes from 2019 to 2022. Drivers in Texas owe pedestrians and cyclists a duty of reasonable care, which includes yielding at marked and unmarked crosswalks, watching for cyclists in the lane, giving safe passing distance, and not driving distracted or impaired. We pursue full compensation against at-fault drivers and, in some cases, against governmental authorities responsible for unsafe roadway design or missing pedestrian infrastructure.

My crash happened in Denton but the at-fault driver lives in Lewisville (or Flower Mound, Carrollton, The Colony, Highland Village, or somewhere else in Denton County). Where do I file?

Generally either Denton 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. Most Denton-area wrecks involve Denton County venue, but if the at-fault driver lives in Tarrant or Collin County, those venues may also be available. We talk through venue strategy early in the case.

I was hit by an 18-wheeler on I-35 north of Denton. 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 injured on the UNT or TWU campus. Can I sue the university?

Maybe. Both UNT and TWU are state institutions, and claims against them are governed by the Texas Tort Claims Act. The Act has limited waivers of sovereign immunity, primarily for claims arising from the operation or use of motor vehicles or motor-driven equipment, or premises defects. It also has strict notice requirements (often six months or less) and damage caps. Claims against private contractors, vendors, food service operators, security firms, or other third parties working on campus aren’t subject to the same governmental immunity rules. We sort through which entity is the right defendant and make sure the right notices go out before any deadlines run.

I was injured on the DCTA A-train or a Connect bus. Whose insurance covers me?

The Denton County Transportation Authority is a public transit agency, which means claims against DCTA itself face Texas Tort Claims Act limitations, including six-month notice requirements and damage caps. DCTA is held to a common-carrier duty of care for passengers, which is higher than the duty owed to ordinary motorists. If a third party (another driver, a contractor doing work on a station, or someone else) caused or contributed to your injury, that party may also be liable, and isn’t subject to governmental immunity. We work through both layers.

I was hit by an Uber or Lyft driver near the Square or Fry Street. 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 or interstate 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 Denton accident report?

You can request your crash report online through the TxDOT Crash Report Online Purchase System or through the Denton Police Department at 601 East Hickory Street, Suite E, Denton, TX 76205. 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 Denton and Texas Resources

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

    • Denton Police Department. Emergencies 911, non-emergency (940) 349-8181. 601 East Hickory Street, Suite E, Denton, TX 76205.

Contact Our Denton 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 Denton 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.

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