According to the Texas Department of Transportation, the highest contributing factor for crashes statewide in 2018 was failure to control speed, resulting in over 138,000 collisions. Here in Dallas, distracted driving is ranked among the top leading causes of car accidents. The statistics are frightening considering that most of us rely on cars and buses to do daily tasks like going to work, running errands, and picking up our kids from school. Based on these numbers, car accidents feel inevitable, and we know a lot can change in the blink of an eye.
A personal injury resulting from a car accident can create a financial burden, impacting our ability to work and forcing us to dive into our savings, if we have any to spare. If your car or truck accident resulted in permanent injury or the loss of a loved one, that is even more devastating. Accidents caused by the negligence of another driver also contribute to huge property losses and damages. These losses can take a toll in emotional, physical, and financial ways. Fortunately, there are resources available and steps to take when you have experienced an injurious car accident resulting in property damage to your vehicle. Thompson Law is an experienced personal injury firm that can walk you through this process and provide guidance on the many responsibilities after your accident.
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What is a Property Damage Claim?
A property damage claim is, in its simplest form, a report of evidence submitted to an insurance company for the purpose of requesting repair or replacement for your damaged items. Distinct from personal injury claims, property damage claims are designed to recoup losses and damage to physical property. The damages that can be covered in these claims typically include repairs or replacement of the other person’s car when you are at fault, or repairing public or private property such as fences and buildings that were damaged as a result of the accident.
It is important to understand the different types of accidents that could involve a property damage claim to be filed. In Dallas for example, distracted driving, driving under the influence, and reckless driving all are leading causes of car accidents. There are ways to help prevent such accidents, such as using Uber or Lyft when drinking on a night out, moderating your speed in unfavorable weather conditions, and practicing safe, defensive driving behaviors. Regardless of the many precautions we might take to avoid car accidents, others on the road with you may not be thinking or acting so cautiously. The ability to make property damage claims is very important in protecting your valuable assets when just these sorts of events occur.
Thompson Law is an experienced personal injury firm, and our skilled legal staff are well versed in the types of personal injury policies on the market, and the best way to approach a claim. If you have questions about your claim and case, please don’t hesitate to ask. We are always happy to provide guidance with compassion and understanding.
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What are the Steps to Take?
When you have been involved in a car accident, or your vehicle was damaged by the negligence of someone else, you are entitled to file a property damage claim and obtain compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance.
From the accident scene, the first thing you should do is call the police and get assistance. A police report is vital to documenting the events and occurrences of your accident and having these important details on record confirmed by a good authority. In some cases of accident where there have been no injuries or minimal damage, the police will not come to your location, which brings us to our next point. The time at the scene is critical for collecting as much information as you can that will support your claim. Getting the driver’s contact, insurance, and vehicle information is all vitally important. Take pictures and videos of the damage that was done to your vehicle. Be sure to get images that capture the full scope of damage inside and out of the vehicles involved, as well as any nearby property.
After collecting all the evidence and notifying the police of the accident, you can always contact an expert accident lawyer like Thompson Law with questions and information about your incident. The Thompson Law team can advise you if it is in your best interest to move forward with filing a personal injury claim on your own behalf, or if there are extenuating and specific circumstances that demand the specialized skills of an attorney.
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When to Lawyer Up After an Accident
The process of filing claims and working with insurance adjusters can be difficult, especially if you have never been through the process, or haven’t done so in a long time. With considerations of options to take, determination of responsibility, and trying to figure out finances involved, it can be overwhelming to decide and take the next correct steps. One decision we can help with here is whether or not to engage a skilled accident attorney.
In many cases of accidents with property damage alone (meaning no injuries involved) the better decision is to file the property damage claim on your own behalf. This typically results in the best damages payout for you with no legal fees cutting into your settlement. If however, you are reaching a road block with the insurance companies, the situation has complications (multiple parties and fault, large companies or commercial institutions, or other unique factors), or there was an extreme amount of damage, you may want to do yourself the favor of consulting with an attorney for advice on how to move forward. And of course, if your accident resulted in injuries, it is always in your best interest to reach out to a specialized accident attorney for recommendations and help.
Thompson Lawyers always offers free consultations, so there is no risk to you in reaching out to discuss your questions and concerns about your accident. If your claim does benefit from our services, and you choose to hire us, we will use all the evidence possible and build a strong case to fight for the compensation you deserve. We do all of this on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not owe us a cent unless and until we win for you. We offer clarity and information you can count on to be at peace, we fight hard for your best possible outcome, and we take care of you throughout it all. We understand that you want answers as quickly as possible and we work hard to deliver.
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Thompson Law: Your Car Accident Attorney
The dedicated lawyers at Thompson Law are here to assist you. If you have been in an accident in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, please contact THE FOURS in Dallas at 214-444-4444 or Fort Worth at 817-444-4444. If you need to reach one our car accident lawyers in San Antonio, you can also always call us at 1-800-LION-LAW (1-800-546-6529). We work in the best interest of our clients to get the justice and compensation you deserve. See how we can help you by giving us a call for a free case evaluation. Our staff is ready to take your call 24/7 and get started on your case.
Call (844) 308-8180
Visit our FAQ & Blog page to learn more about personal injury services, advice after an accident, and how Thompson Law can help you. If this article was useful, we also recommend:
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