Southlake Personal Injury Lawyers

Injured by Negligence in Southlake, TX?

When you are dealing with a personal injury, you are probably dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety. You may be dealing with financial stress, medical stress, and even legal stress. You may have questions about your rights, your next steps, and how to best proceed with your case. 

You need an attorney who is not only good at what they do, but who will also be a strong advocate for you and your best interests. At the Law Office of Mark M. Childress, P.C., we are dedicated to helping clients in Southlake pursue fair compensation for their injuries and losses.

To find out more about your options, please contact our firm at (817) 497-8148. We offer a free initial consultation with our attorney. We look forward to speaking with you.

Texas Personal Injury Laws

Personal injury laws in Texas cover a broad range of legal issues related to injuries caused by the negligence or intentional actions of another person or entity. 

To succeed in a personal injury claim in Texas, the injured party (plaintiff) must establish several elements to prove that the defendant was negligent and, as a result, caused the injuries.

These elements generally include:

• Duty of Care: The plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant owed them a duty of care. Duty of care refers to the legal obligation of individuals or entities to act reasonably and prudently to avoid causing harm to others.
• Breach of Duty: The plaintiff must show that the defendant breached their duty of care. This means the defendant failed to act in a manner that a reasonable person or entity would have under similar circumstances.
• Causation: The plaintiff needs to establish a direct link between the defendant's breach of duty and the injuries sustained. In other words, they must show that the defendant's actions or negligence directly caused the harm suffered by the plaintiff.
• Proximate Cause: The plaintiff must demonstrate that the injuries they suffered were a foreseeable consequence of the defendant's actions or negligence. Proximate cause is often about whether the injuries were a reasonably foreseeable outcome of the defendant's breach of duty.
• Damages: The plaintiff must provide evidence of the actual damages they suffered as a result of the defendant's actions. Damages can include medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other quantifiable losses.

Remember, Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule in personal injury cases. This means that if you are partially responsible for your injuries, your compensation may be reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to you. If you are found to be 51% or more at fault, you may not recover any damages.

Texas has a statute of limitations that restricts the time within which you can file a personal injury lawsuit. In most cases, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the injury.

Common Types of Personal Injury Claims

Personal injury cases can involve a wide range of accidents and incidents, leading to physical, emotional, and financial damages.

Here are some common types of personal injury cases:

• Car Accidents: These are among the most common personal injury cases. They involve injuries caused by collisions between vehicles due to factors like reckless driving, speeding, drunk driving, or distracted driving.
• Slip and Fall Accidents: These occur when someone is injured due to hazardous conditions on someone else's property, such as wet floors, uneven surfaces, poorly maintained premises, or inadequate lighting.
• Medical Malpractice: This type of case involves injuries caused by the negligence or incompetence of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, surgeons, or medical facilities.
• Product Liability: These cases arise when a defective or dangerous product causes injury or harm to a consumer. It could be due to a manufacturing defect, design flaw, or inadequate warning labels.
• Dog Bites: When a dog attacks and injures someone, the dog owner may be held responsible for the damages under certain circumstances, depending on the jurisdiction's laws.
• Workplace Accidents: Employees who suffer injuries at work may be entitled to workers' compensation benefits. In some cases, they may also be able to pursue a personal injury claim against a third party if their injuries were caused by someone other than their employer or a coworker.
• Assault and Battery: These cases involve intentional harm caused by one person to another, leading to physical injuries and emotional distress.
• Nursing Home Abuse: When residents of nursing homes or long-term care facilities suffer harm due to neglect, abuse, or inadequate care, they or their families may pursue legal action.
• Wrongful Death: In cases where someone's death is caused by the negligence or intentional actions of another party, the surviving family members may file a wrongful death claim to seek compensation for their loss.

Our Southlake personal injury lawyers have handled thousands of personal injury and workers' compensation cases. Whether you were injured in a truck accident or as a result of medical malpractice, we know what to look for, what questions to ask, and how to get the compensation you deserve.

Contact us today at (817) 497-8148 to schedule a free consultation today!