Injury Lawyer For Accidents Caused By Street Racing In Dallas
Street racing is a popular topic in mass media, with the Fast and Furious franchise earning millions at the box office. But it is a serious offense and is exceedingly dangerous. In fact, the activity is expressly forbidden in Texas Transportation Code §545.420. A person who has been injured in a car crash caused by street racing in Dallas should get in touch with a skilled personal injury attorney like the ones at our firm, a Dallas car accident law firm, . With their help, you may be able to pursue significant compensation from the at-fault drivers.
Filing a Civil Claim for Compensation
Street racing is illegal, which means that a person who does it is subject to criminal charges. However, this does not mean that you cannot sue them for damages in a civil claim. While the at-fault party or parties may be punished with up to $10,000 in fines and a jail term of up to 4 years, they also may owe you compensation for the harm they caused.
When I Should File My Claim
In Texas, all personal injury claims have a statute of limitations of two years, set by Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.003. This means that you must file your claim with the court within two years of your initial accident or risk losing the right to pursue compensation from the at-fault party. By having an experienced Dallas car accident injury attorney on your side, you can ensure that all paperwork is filed within the correct timeframe to preserve your rights and interests.
Damages My Claim Should Include
The value of your claim depends on the damages that you suffered as a direct result of the accident caused by street racing. Such damages come in two primary forms: economic harms and non-economic harms. The former include more objective damages such as medical bills, repair costs, lost wages, and other items that typically come with receipts or bills. Non-economic damages, on the other hand, are more subjective and include issues like your pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment in life, loss of consortium with a spouse, and the like.
Economic damage compensation for medical costs is limited to the actual amount that you paid or were charged, according to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §41.0105. Non-economic damage compensation has no limit, and the court may award however much compensation as it sees fit. Sometimes, it is important for your Dallas lawyers to bring an expert witness into the case to attest to the correct, fair values of these harms.
Finally, street racing is a blatantly dangerous activity, so it may warrant additional compensation called exemplary damages. These are reserved for situations, such as street racing or drunk driving, in which the defendant or defendants acted with particular malice or disregard for the safety of others. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §41.008 dictates that juries may award larger of these two amounts:
- $200,000 or
- Two times your economic damages, plus up to $750,000 of your non-economic damages.
Get a Local Attorney
There are many lawyers out there, but there is a significant benefit to hiring a local one. This is because local attorneys like the ones at our firm, a Dallas car accident law firm, have a more intimate relationship with local courts. Unlike outside legal assistance, they may have existing relationships with opposing counsel, they may know the preferences of judges, and they may be familiar with how local juries tend to handle street racing claims. All of these attributes give local attorneys an edge both in the pre-trial negotiation phase and in the courtroom if the claim goes to trial.
Getting My FREE Consultation with our firm, a Dallas car accident law firm,
Dallas Car Accident Lawyers has worked with a wide variety of injured people, helping them to achieve a favorable outcome in their claims. Some of our previous clients have suffered serious injuries, such as:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
- Paralysis
- Lost limbs
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
If you have suffered a major injury as a result of an accident caused by street racing in Dallas, we may be able to help. We offer a FREE consultation in order to discuss the value and merits of your claim. Since we strongly believe that injured people should be able to seek compensation and justice without fearing financial ruin, we also do not collect a fee unless we win you the compensation you need.
Start working toward your compensation today by calling (469) 998-4069 or filling out the form on our contact page.
