The most personal injury claims in Texas generally fall into several categories:
- Motor-vehicle accidents
- Slip and fall accidents or other premises liability claims
- Workplace and work-related claims, other than workers’ compensation
- Dog bites and animal attacks
- Defective products and equipment
- Medical malpractice
Accidents can happen anywhere at any time. Victims often suffer serious losses. When those accidents are preventable and only caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible to seek compensation for your injury costs, lost wages, and emotional suffering through a personal injury claim. The Rockwall personal injury lawyers at Smith & Lee are here to help.
Whether your situation represents a common personal injury claim or a more unique occurrence, we can handle every element, from filing to resolution, and give you guidance and support throughout the process.
The Most Common Personal Injury Cases in Texas
Our team knows how to handle these common personal injury claims in Texas or whatever type of accident caused you harm. After the incident, get medical care. Have your injuries documented and treated. Then, get in touch with Smith & Lee.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents represent some of the most common personal injury cases in Texas. This status is not surprising in light of the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Annual motor-vehicle crash statistics.
According to crash and injury facts for 2024, Rockwall County experienced 2,362 of the State’s 554,146 accidents. Statewide, 18,218 victims sustained serious injuries and 4,150 lost their lives, per the Texas motor vehicle traffic crash facts. For Rockwall County, the numbers are 51 and 5, respectively.
Car Accidents
Driving while impaired, fatigued, or distracted, speeding, or otherwise making reckless decisions behind the wheel can lead to devastating crashes. These crash-contributing factors top the list of the most common personal injury claims in Texas. A Rockwall car accident lawyer from our firm can help you fight to hold the negligent party accountable.
Truck Accidents
Delivery and semi-trucks are frequent travelers on Northeast Texas roads. These massive vehicles cause tremendous damage when involved in collisions. A Rockwall truck accident lawyer can help untangle the complexities of truck accident claims.
Investigating these accidents requires experience and skill, as there are a variety of potential liable parties and often more than one insurance company involved. Common injuries in Texas truck accidents include catastrophic injuries that cause lasting consequences.
Motorcycle Accidents
There were 9,720 motorcycle riders and passengers killed or injured in crashes statewide in 2024. Motorcyclists face specific challenges during an accident and its aftermath. Upon collision, they have no external protection and are therefore more likely to experience severe, common injuries in Texas.
Bikers also experience bias. They are perceived as dangerous drivers or rebels and often the default guilty party in an accident, even when they did not cause the crash. A Rockwall motorcycle accident lawyer can fight these biases and work to secure compensation and justice.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians are also without protection when hit by a vehicle. They can sustain serious injuries that present grounds for common personal injury cases in Texas. Data on pedestrian crashes and injuries shows there were 6,077 pedestrian accidents, resulting in 768 fatalities and 3,927 injuries over a recent year.
Bicycle Accidents
Bicyclists are also vulnerable road users. They have the same rights and responsibilities as motor-vehicle operators. Still, they are often lost in blind spots or not afforded their road rights by other drivers.
Slip and Fall & Premises Liability Claims
Some of the most common personal injury cases in Texas result from slip and fall accidents. Usually, slips and falls are a type of premises liability claim. Property owners must keep their properties free of known hazards so guests, customers, and clients can move through the space safely.
Negligent property owners fail to fulfill this obligation and put visitors at risk. An unattended spill on a store aisle can cause a customer to slip or fall and sustain injuries. Apartment landlords must keep common areas in complexes safe for passage, making sure stairwells are well-lit, for example. They also have to maintain fire alarms and escapes, and ensure working locks on windows and doors.
Parking lots and garages must have proper lighting and may need security personnel to prevent attacks. No matter what kind of property is the site of your accident, our Rockwall County premises liability lawyers can lead your fight for justice.
Workplace and Work-Related Injuries Claims
Many workplace injury claims fall under Texas workers’ compensation laws. Sometimes, a work-related accident warrants a third-party personal injury claim. For example, you could work with power tools for your job. If a tool defect causes your accident, you may have a claim against the manufacturer.
Dog Bites & Animal Attacks
Dog bites are among the common injuries in Texas. Texas follows a “one-bite” policy for dog bites. This means owners are not automatically liable for paying damages if the animal had not demonstrated aggressive behavior previously.
There are times when owners may be liable. Chapter 10 of the Health and Safety Code, Section 822.005, also called “Lillian’s Law,” makes dog owners criminally accountable for attacks or bites if they knew or should have known of the dog’s propensity for aggression.
Defective Products & Dangerous Equipment
Common personal injury claims in Texas arise from accidents with defective products or equipment. Product designers and manufacturers must ensure their products are safe when used as instructed. Design flaws, product or packaging defects can cause serious injuries.
Medical Malpractice
Medical professionals owe their patients the highest duty of care. They hold a sacred and legal obligation to uphold their patients’ safety by diagnosing and treating them properly. While not necessarily the most common personal injury cases in Texas, medical malpractice claims are frequently heard in Texas Civil Courts.
Claims result from botched or unnecessary surgeries, failure to diagnose, improper treatment or administration of medication, and other forms of negligence.
What to Do After Any Injury in Texas
Your health and safety matter most after an accident. If you do not require emergency care, you need to see a doctor within hours or a day of the accident. Having your injuries diagnosed and attended to quickly supports your recovery and brings credibility to your accident claim.
Your next call should be to Smith & Lee. We take care of common personal injury cases in Texas, and even those that are less common. Our team of seasoned attorneys can manage your claim with skill and insight to get you the most favorable results possible.
In its information on injury and violence prevention, the Texas Department of Health and Human Services recognizes unintentional accidents and injuries as a leading cause of death among Texans aged 1-44. Clearly, even accidents a person “did not mean” to cause still do harm. People need to be careful. They need to avoid putting others in harm’s way. We are here to help you get justice when another person’s negligence hurts you.
How Do I Know If I Have a Valid Personal Injury Case in Texas?
You have a valid claim if you can show another party’s negligence caused your accident and injuries. You must show that the other party owed you a legal obligation to take or avoid measures to uphold your safety, that they breached this duty, that the breach caused the accident, and that the accident left you with measurable damages. We can review your situation to determine if you have a claim.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Texas?
The Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Chapter 16, gives victims two years to file most personal injury claims. By partnering with a Rockwall personal injury lawyer right away, you avoid missing that deadline.
If I Am Personally at Fault, Can I Still Recover Compensation in Texas?
Possibly. For personal injury, the State follows a modified comparative fault system, per Chapter 33 of the Texas Code. You can seek damages if you are less than 51% responsible for the accident that caused your injuries. Eligible victims holding a smaller percentage of fault see a proportionate reduction to their compensation.
Do Most Personal Injury Cases Settle, or Do They Go to Trial?
Many personal injury cases settle out of court through negotiations. Our team of experienced, strategic negotiators can work to secure fair compensation without taking your claim to court. Still, we will be primed and ready to go to trial if the other side refuses to engage in fair discussions or make reasonable offers. Our goal is to get you justice, and we do what it takes to deliver.
Trust Our Proven Personal Injury Team with Your Case
Smith & Lee is committed to serving residents of Rockwall County and the surrounding areas. The most common personal injury cases in Texas leave victims with unexpected, undeserved losses affecting their health, finances, and quality of life. To set up a free consultation with our attorneys, contact our law firm today.