Car Accident Lawyer Royse City, TX

Royse City isn’t far from our law office here in Rockwall. As good neighbors and legal advocates, the team at Smith & Lee can help accident survivors seek compensation after a serious car wreck in the area.

During a free consultation at our law firm, our lawyers will make sure you feel heard. You’ll get honest advice from legal professionals without any fees or obligations. It’s just one of many ways we do right by the people of Northeast Texas.

How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Texas?

Per Texas Civil Practice & Protocol Code § 16.003, Texans usually have two years from the date of the collision to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim. After that two-year statute of limitations has passed, you won’t be able to file a legal action.

There are some exceptions to the two-year deadline to file a case, so it’s in your best interests to speak with a personal injury lawyer serving Royse City as soon as possible.

During your free case evaluation, our attorneys can review what happened, let you know if you have a viable car wreck lawsuit, and what steps to take next.

Can I File a Lawsuit If I Was Partly Responsible for the Car Wreck?

Yes, as long as you are not mostly at fault in the crash. That’s why it’s a good idea to discuss your accident with our lawyers.

Texas is a modified comparative fault state, which is sometimes referred to as modified comparative negligence. This means you can still be awarded legal damages if you were 50% or less to blame in a crash. Your percentage of liability gets deducted from the total jury award.

For example, if you were in a collision with damages totaling $100,000 but were found to be 20% at fault, you would receive $80,000.

Why Hire Smith & Lee for Your Car Accident Case

With more than 55 years of combined legal experience, accident attorneys G. David Smith and Ryan K. Lee have established strong reputations in the Rockwall County legal community. They are proud advocates for the people of Northeast Texas.

Trusted Legal Professionals in the State of Texas

Both David and Ryan are well-established members of the Northeast Texas legal community. David is a former president of the Rockwall Bar Association and is a director of the Rockwall Bar Foundation. Ryan is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and also serves as an Associate Municipal Court Judge in the city of Rockwall, holding people accountable for breaking state and local laws.

We Focus on Accountability and Personal Responsibility

When presenting your case in court, we try to show the jury the bigger picture of what happened. You were injured in a car accident, but it could have been a child, a neighbor, or someone else in Royse City. Jury members can consider how your experience would affect their lives, and why the negligent driver needs to be held accountable for the way they affected the community.

A Client-Focused Approach to Personal Injury Law

We believe that if we know who our clients are, we know how to present their case. Our attorneys take time to connect with everyone who comes to us. We’ll always return your calls. Ideally, we are a customer service business that practices personal injury law, and we want to do right by you as much as possible.

Deep Connections to Rockwall County

Both David and Ryan have strong ties to the area, and they want to make Rockwall County a better and safer place for everyone. David serves on the Board for the Rockwall Grace Clinic, which provides uninsured people with medical help, and Ryan is President of the Rockwall Board for the Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Texas.

Request a Free Consultation with Our Car Accident Attorneys Near Royse City

During your free initial consultation with Smith & Lee, we’ll listen to what happened, let you know if you have a case worth pursuing, and tell you what steps you should take next. If you were in a car accident in Royse City and need an experienced attorney near you, contact our Rockwall County law office. You can also reach us by phone at (972) 787-1047.

How Common Are Car Crashes in Texas?

Data from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) shows that there were 559,329 total auto accidents in the state in 2023. These collisions caused 18,752 serious injuries and 4,283 fatalities.

To put these numbers into perspective, that means in 2023:

• 1 motor vehicle accident happened in Texas every 56 seconds
• 1 person in Texas was injured in a motor vehicle accident every 126 seconds
• 1 person in Texas was killed in a motor vehicle accident every 123 minutes

Motor Vehicle Accident Numbers in Royse City and Rockwall County

According to city and town crash data from TxDOT, there were 338 total auto accidents in Royse City in 2023. These accidents caused 52 serious or minor injuries and 4 deaths.

As for county crash numbers from TxDOT, there were 2,112 total crashes in Rockwall County in 2023, which includes more than 800 injuries or possible injuries, 52 serious injuries, and 12 deaths.

Common Causes of Car Accidents

There are plenty of reasons why auto collisions happen. Below are a few of the most common causes of car wrecks we hear about at our law firm.

Accidents Caused by Driver Distraction

Driver distraction is when a driver diverts their attention from the road or takes one or both hands off the wheel. Common examples of distracted driving include:

• Texting while driving
• Looking up directions
• Making phone calls without a hands-free kit
• Using a smartphone or tablet
• Eating while driving
• Rubbernecking

Our car accident attorneys can hold distracted drivers accountable for causing you harm and endangering other people on the road.

Collisions Due to Reckless Drivers

There are many different actions that can be classified as reckless driving:

• Speeding
• Running stop signs
• Weaving in and out of traffic
• Tailgating
• Failing to yield
• Failing to signal

When a reckless driver causes a car accident, our lawyers want to make sure they face consequences for their disregard for others.

Accidents Caused by Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)

Drinking and driving should never be an option, but unfortunately many Texans still put their lives and the lives of others in danger. According to crash factor data from the TxDOT, alcohol contributed to 15,775 accidents in 2023. Drug use played a role in 2,226 collisions in that same year.

If you or a loved one got hit by a drunk driver in Royse City, our DWI car accident lawyers will make sure the drunk driver is held responsible for what they’ve done.

Collisions Due to Driver Fatigue

When you spend a lot of time on the road, it can lead to exhaustion. For some people who experience severe driver fatigue, it can cause them to fall asleep while driving. This is why some people consider drowsy driving just as dangerous as drunk driving. Our car accident attorneys can evaluate what happened during your collision and let you know if the driver can be held accountable for driving while drowsy or severely fatigued.

Car Accidents with Large Trucks

We need big rigs on our roadways. Truckers help keep our economy going and store shelves stocked. While many truck drivers are safe, 18-wheeler wrecks still happen, and they can be catastrophic when they do. Our accident attorneys can carefully evaluate the causes of semi-truck and tractor-trailer collisions. We’re ready to hold negligent truck drivers or trucking companies accountable.

Car Accidents with Motorcyclists

Whenever motorcyclists are out on a ride by themselves or with friends, they need to practice personal accountability. Speeding, racing, and other unsafe actions can put countless lives in danger. Our lawyers can investigate causes and contributing factors in motorcycle accidents, and we’ll make sure the negligent party in the crash is held responsible for their decisions.

Speak with Our Car Accident Attorneys Near Royse City

Get a free case review from a law firm that looks out for the people of Northeast Texas. If you got into an auto wreck around Royse City and need a car accident lawyer near you, contact our Rockwall County attorneys. You can also reach Smith & Lee by phone at (972) 787-1047.

Car Wrecks Involving Vehicles or Part Defects

Negligent drivers aren’t the only reason car wrecks happen. Sometimes an automaker or an auto parts company is at fault. In these cases, there may be a poorly made vehicle that’s been rushed in development, or a company could manufacture and distribute faulty tires, brake pads, and other parts without concern for consumers. Whenever defective motor vehicles or auto parts play a role in a crash, our accident attorneys can hold companies responsible.

Car Wrecks Involving Road and Weather Conditions

Heavy rain, snow, sleet, and other weather conditions can make commuting extremely dangerous. There are also hazards posed by potholes, poor signage, and debris in the road that hasn’t been cleared out. Drivers need to be cautious during these adverse situations, but Royse City authorities could be held accountable if they did not fix flaws in the roadway or address dangerous road conditions in a timely manner.

Catastrophic Injuries from an Auto Accident

A catastrophic injury is any kind of serious injury that affects your mobility and quality of life. This includes any injuries that cause long-term and permanent disability after a car wreck.

• Loss of Vision or Hearing – A serious accident could lead to hearing loss or vision impairment, which will have a profound effect on all aspects of your life.
• Loss of Limbs – A car wreck may be so severe that it claims a limb, or an injured limb may be so damaged from an accident that it needs to be surgically amputated.
• Back, Neck, and Spine Injuries – Injuries to the back, neck, or spinal cord can cause major issues with mobility, motor control, and use of limbs and extremities.
• Second-Degree and Third-Degree Burns – Severe burns from fires or electrocution can lead to physical disfigurement as well as damage to nerves and muscles.
• Severe Head Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) – Major head trauma could lead to a concussion or brain contusion, which can affect many aspects of daily life.

Compensation in a Car Wreck Case

Any compensation we seek for clients following a car accident is intended to cover any losses they experienced in the collision itself and in its aftermath. Whenever we negotiate a settlement or present a case to a jury, we’ll make sure the amount accurately reflects the way the crash affected your life.

• Current Medical Bills – Compensation after an accident can address hospitalization, emergency care, and any visits with doctors and specialists.
• Future Health Care Needs – Compensation can cover any bills related to physical therapy, occupational therapy, and any ongoing or anticipated medical treatments.
• Lost Pay and Wages – If you needed medical leave or took a pay cut to recover after a crash, compensation will help make up for this loss of income.
• Diminished Earning Potential – If you suffered a catastrophic injury or are now disabled, compensation will cover lost future earnings and changes to your career trajectory.
• Damage to Property and Belongings – Compensation can cover vehicle repair bills as well as any expenses from damaged phones, electronics, and other belongings.

Modified Comparative Fault and Compensation

If you were partly at fault in a crash, remember that modified comparative fault reduces the total amount you can receive in a jury trial.

Our lawyers will keep this in mind when negotiating a settlement with the insurance company. It may be better in some situations to accept a settlement offer than go all the way to court for damages.

Compensation for Fatal Car Accidents

If you lose a loved one in a fatal crash, our lawyers will help you file a wrongful death lawsuit. Wrongful death claims will help compensate you for the above losses as well as funeral costs, grief counseling, and the long-term effects of your loved one’s wrongful death on your household.

Contact Our Car Accident Lawyers Near Royse City, TX

Whether you were seriously hurt in a car wreck or lost a loved one in a fatal crash, the team at Smith & Lee is here to offer our help. We’re ready to listen and to do right by you. If you got into a car accident in Royse City and need to speak with experienced attorneys near you, contact the lawyers at Smith & Lee. You can also reach our Rockwall County law office by phone at (972) 787-1047.