Arlington Heights, TX Personal Injury Lawyer

Arlington Heights, TX Personal Injury Lawyer

Whether you were injured in an accident involving a drunk driver or hurt because of a defective product, an Arlington Heights personal injury lawyer can help. Stephens Law Firm, PLLC, represents accident victims in seeking full compensation for their injuries. 

Attorney Jason Stephens understands that you may be facing an uncertain financial future and struggling with pain and even disability after your accident in the Arlington Heights neighborhood of Fort Worth, TX.

With the aid of his compassionate support staff, he is here to serve as your advocate and level the playing field against the insurance companies. Contact our law office at Fort Worth near you today or call us at (817) 420-7000 to schedule your initial free consultation. 

How Stephens Law Firm, PLLC Can Help with Your Personal Injury Case

accident

Your accident has left you with injuries that are both visible and invisible. You may be facing an inability to work, chronic pain, intensive medical needs, and uncertain financial prospects. 

How will you pay your medical bills and afford the future care you need?

When will you be able to return to work? How will you support your family? 

In the aftermath of your accident, the last thing you should be worried about is paying for the damages someone else caused. Nor should you need to fight insurance companies for the fair compensation you deserve. 

Stephens Law Firm, PLLC, has decades of experience representing personal injury victims against big corporations and insurance companies. Founding attorney Jason Stephens is an award-winning Fort Worth personal injury lawyer who has secured some of the largest verdicts in the country and state. He helps level the playing field and fights for all of the compensation you deserve. 

The insurance company isn’t on your side and will try to minimize or deny the compensation you deserve. You don’t need to go up against an insurance company on your own. An Arlington Heights personal injury lawyer at Stephens Law Firm, PLLC is here to help.

The Arlington Heights Neighborhood of Fort Worth, TX

Arlington Heights, a neighborhood in the city of Fort Worth, is home to more than 30,000 people. The small but densely populated district is nestled right in the southwestern corner of Fort Worth. I-30 runs along its southern border, while Camp Bowie Blvd,  Montgomery Street, Clover Lane, and Byers Ave separate the area from the rest of Fort Worth. 

This part of Fort Worth was originally designed by H.B. Chamberlain – a promoter from Denver, Colorado. However, a fire ravaged everything that Chamberlain had built – including hotel Ye Arlington Inn – in 1894. Years later, after World War I had begun, Arlington Heights saw new life, as the United States military moved its soldiers into this part of town. 

Today, Arlington Heights is known as one of the best places to live in the city of Fort Worth. It’s home to many outdoor gardens and parks, as well as tons of entertainment venues, which attract residents and visitors, alike. 

Given the popularity of Arlington Heights, its dense population, and busy roads, it’s really no surprise that accidents and avoidable injuries happen here quite often.

What Is a Personal Injury Case?

Personal injury law in Texas allows people who have been injured by someone else’s negligence or intentional wrongdoing to seek compensation through a civil lawsuit. Unlike criminal law, personal injury law does not involve prosecution. Instead, you fight to hold the party financially accountable in civil court. 

Most personal injury claims in Texas are based on negligence – or failure to behave with a level of care a reasonable person would have used in the same circumstances. 

In order to recover compensation, a plaintiff (accident or injury victim) must prove four things:

  • The defendant owed them a duty of care. 
  • This duty of care was breached. 
  • The breach of the duty of care caused the accident. 
  • The plaintiff suffered damages as a result of the accident.

In Texas, there is always a general and legal duty of care owed by every person to avoid putting other people at risk. In other words, everyone has an obligation to behave responsibly. For example, drivers are expected to obey traffic laws, avoid distractions, and not engage in risky driving behaviors. 

In accident cases that involve a professional providing a service, there is a stricter duty of care. This stricter duty or special duty often involves medical malpractice claims. A business may also owe stricter duties of care to employees and customers. 

Common Types of Personal Injury Cases We Represent

A personal injury claim in Arlington Heights can result from intentional acts as well as accidents. Some of the most common types of personal injury claims seen at Stephens Law Firm, PLLC involve: 

No matter what type of accident has led to your injuries, Texas personal injury attorneys Jason Stephens is here to help. 

Comparative Negligence in Texas

Proving a personal injury case in Texas requires proving the other party was at fault and their negligence caused your injuries. Texas uses a system called modified comparative negligence or the shared fault rule. Under this system, you may still recover damages if you shared fault in the accident but not if you were 51% or more at fault. 

The modified comparative negligence rule in Texas means that if someone is partially responsible for your injuries, they can be held financially liable for your total damages in proportion to their share of fault. When multiple people are responsible for an accident, the court will assign each at-fault party a percentage of fault. 

While you can still recover damages if you partially contributed to your accident, it’s important to understand that you cannot be mostly to blame or you will not be able to recover. Your damages will also be reduced by your share of assigned fault. This is just one reason it’s crucial to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Arlington Heights to investigate your accident and prove liability. 

Texas Personal Injury Accident Statistics 

Personal injury cases come in many forms including product liability, traffic accidents, and premises liability cases. One thing is certain: negligence and reckless behavior causes tens of thousands of injuries in Texas every year. 

The following statistics help show just how frequently personal injury claims can arise in Texas.

  • In 2019, there were 15,843 people seriously injured in a crash in Texas. 
  • There were 660 pedestrian fatalities in Texas in 2019. 
  • Of the 410 motorcyclists killed in Texas in 2019, 45% were not wearing a helmet. 
  • Intersections are one of the most dangerous places for a crash. 731 people in the state were killed in intersection collisions in 2019. 
  • Distracted driving caused 377 traffic accident deaths in 2019 alone in Texas. 
  • About 25% of all traffic accident fatalities in the state involved a drunk driver. That’s 886 fatalities in 2019. 
  • Between 2000 and 2004, there were 6,251 medical malpractice insurance claims in Texas. While 32% of these claims had a payout below $100,000, almost 11% paid out more than $1 million. 
  • Across the country, slip and fall accidents are the leading cause of ER visits and send 8 million people per year to a hospital. Over 15,000 seniors in 2005 alone died as a result of a fall injury. 
  • Texas has more fatal dog attacks than any other state. Pit bulls and mixed-breed dogs have been shown to have the highest risk of biting and the highest average damage from a bite. 

Any of these scenarios may give rise to a personal injury claim. If you believe the injuries you or your loved one sustained were the result of someone else’s negligence, an Arlington Heights personal injury lawyer is here to help.

Damages Available After an Avoidable Injury in Arlington Heights

There are two main types of damages you may recover as a victim in a personal injury claim: economic and non-economic damages. You may be entitled to a third type of damages called punitive damages if your injuries were caused by malicious behavior or gross negligence. 

What Are Economic Damages in a Personal Injury Case?

Economic damages are those that have a quantifiable monetary value. Medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage are all economic damages you may suffer in an accident. 

When you need medical treatment related to your accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation for all reasonable medical services and procedures such as: 

  • Hospital stays
  • ER treatment
  • Ambulance fees
  • Nursing services
  • MRIs and other diagnostic tools
  • Surgery
  • Physical therapy
  • Doctor bills
  • Prescription medications
  • Medical devices

You are also entitled to lost wages for the time you needed to take off work for your accident. You may be entitled to loss of earning capacity if you face a long-term disability due to your accident. 

Lost wages and reduced earning capacity does not just refer to the direct wages you have lost. It can also include wage increases you missed, bonuses you were on track to receive, and pension benefits. 

What Are Non-Economic Damages in a Personal Injury?

Non-economic damages are harder to understand and quantify. These damages do not have a clear monetary value. Determining their value will be left to your Arlington Heights personal injury lawyer to argue and a jury to decide. 

Non-economic damages can include: 

In Texas, non-economic damages are capped to $250,000 against a healthcare provider or doctor in cases of medical malpractice. Otherwise, there is no cap. 

Statute of Limitations for Filing a Personal Injury Claim in Arlington Heights

When you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence or intentional actions, you have a time limit to file a claim. This is known as the statute of limitations. 

Most personal injury cases in Texas are subject to a two-year statute of limitations. This applies to everything from general injury cases to product liability and assault. In some cases, this statute of limitations may be longer or shorter. 

For example, the timeframe may be extended in cases involving children. When a minor is injured, the statute of limitations is extended until the child turns 18 or is legally deemed an adult. 

Don’t miss out on valuable compensation because you let too much time go by before filing a lawsuit. Call Stephens Law Firm, PLLC for immediate assistance after you get hurt.

Contact an Arlington Heights Personal Injury Lawyer

When you are left seriously injured due to someone else’s negligence, the last thing you should worry about is fighting with an insurance company to prove your damages or who was at fault. Stephens Law Firm, PLLC, represents victims in all types of personal injury claims in seeking justice and full compensation. 

Jason Stephens will serve as your advocate and fight to protect your financial future. Call our today to schedule a free initial consultation with an Arlington Heights personal injury lawyer to discuss your claim.