1. Coby L. Wooten, Attorney at Law, P.C.
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, personal injury, premises liability, product liability
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial trucking accidents, 18-wheeler accidents
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims, punitive damage claims
Background: Over 30 years of experience practicing personal injury law in Fort Worth. Licensed to practice in Texas. Named Fort Worth Magazine Top Attorney. Experience handling complex personal injury cases in Tarrant County and throughout North Texas.
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Contact: (817) 502-9284 | https://www.cobywooten.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation, contingency fee arrangement
2. Francis Firm Injury Attorneys
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, rideshare accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle accidents, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, Uber and Lyft accidents
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: Attorney Michael Francis is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Named to Top 100 Trial Lawyers list. Licensed to practice in Texas. Serves Fort Worth, Dallas, and the greater Tarrant County area.
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Contact: (817) 719-1500 | https://www.francisfirm.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation, contingency fee basis
3. Patterson Law Group
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, distracted driving accidents
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents (texting while driving), commercial trucking accidents, 18-wheeler collisions
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims, medical expense recovery
Background: Personal injury law firm serving Fort Worth and Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Partners with End Distracted Driving initiative. Licensed to practice in Texas. Attorneys handle cases in Tarrant County courts and federal courts in the Northern District of Texas.
Location: Fort Worth, TX (also serves Dallas area)
Contact: (817) 784-2000 | https://pattersonlawgroup.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation available
4. Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, rideshare accidents, wrongful death, product liability, premises liability
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle accidents, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, hit-and-run accidents
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims, medical lien negotiations
Background: Bedford-based law firm serving Fort Worth and the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Licensed to practice in Texas. Attorneys handle personal injury matters in Tarrant County and surrounding counties. Experience with both negotiated settlements and jury trials.
Location: Bedford, TX (serving Fort Worth and DFW area)
Contact: (817) 503-9200 | https://www.parkerlawfirm.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation, contingency fee arrangement
5. Anderson Injury Lawyers
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, rideshare accidents
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial trucking accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, Uber and Lyft accidents
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims, medical expense recovery
Background: Attorney Mark Anderson has over 30 years of experience in personal injury law. Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Licensed to practice in Texas. Serves Fort Worth, Dallas, and North Texas communities.
Location: Fort Worth, TX (also serves Dallas)
Contact: (817) 294-1900 | https://www.andersoninjurylawyers.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation, no fee unless case is won
Car Accident Laws and Regulations in Texas
Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims: Two years from the date of the accident (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003). This deadline applies to lawsuits seeking compensation for injuries from car accidents.
Statute of Limitations for Property Damage Claims: Two years from the date of the accident.
Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death Claims: Two years from the date of the decedent’s death.
Fault vs. No-Fault Insurance Status: Texas is an at-fault (tort) state. The driver responsible for causing the accident is financially liable for resulting damages. Injured parties may file claims against the at-fault driver’s liability insurance, file claims with their own insurance, or pursue a personal injury lawsuit.
Comparative Negligence Rules: Texas follows a modified comparative negligence system with a 51% bar (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001). An injured party can recover damages only if their percentage of fault is 50% or less. If found to be 51% or more at fault, the injured party is barred from any recovery. Damages are reduced proportionally by the injured party’s percentage of fault.
Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements: Texas law requires the following minimum liability coverage: $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. This is referred to as 30/60/25 coverage.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Texas requires insurers to offer uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, but policyholders may reject it in writing. This coverage is recommended given the number of uninsured drivers in Texas.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Texas requires insurers to offer PIP coverage with minimum limits of $2,500, but policyholders may reject it in writing. PIP covers medical expenses and lost wages regardless of fault.
Damage Caps: Texas does not have statutory caps on compensatory damages (economic and non-economic) in most personal injury cases, including car accidents. Caps apply to medical malpractice cases and claims against government entities.
Punitive Damages: Capped at the greater of two times economic damages plus an amount equal to non-economic damages (up to $750,000), or $200,000. Punitive damages require proof of fraud, malice, or gross negligence.
Dram Shop Liability: Under Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 2.02, establishments may be held liable for serving alcohol to an obviously intoxicated person who then causes injury to another, or for serving alcohol to a minor.
Vicarious Liability for Vehicle Owners: Texas generally does not impose automatic vicarious liability on vehicle owners for accidents caused by permissive users, but negligent entrustment claims may apply if the owner knew or should have known the driver was incompetent.
Rideshare Liability: Texas has specific insurance requirements for transportation network companies (TNCs) like Uber and Lyft, with varying coverage levels depending on whether the driver is waiting for a ride request, en route to pick up a passenger, or transporting a passenger.
Accident Reporting Requirements: Accidents resulting in injury, death, or property damage of $1,000 or more must be reported. If investigated by police, they will file the report. Otherwise, drivers may need to file a crash report with the Texas Department of Transportation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the deadline to file a car accident lawsuit in Fort Worth, Texas?
A1: In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims arising from a car accident is two years from the date of the accident under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003. Wrongful death claims must also be filed within two years of the date of death. Property damage claims have a two-year deadline as well. If you miss these deadlines, you lose your right to pursue compensation through the courts. Insurance claims should be reported promptly according to your policy terms.
Q2: How does Texas’s comparative negligence rule affect my compensation?
A2: Texas uses a modified comparative negligence system with a 51% bar. If you are found to be 50% or less at fault for the accident, you can still recover damages, but your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are 30% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you would receive $70,000. However, if you are 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover any compensation from other at-fault parties.
Q3: What are the minimum insurance requirements for drivers in Texas?
A3: Texas law requires minimum liability insurance coverage of $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident (30/60/25). While uninsured motorist coverage and PIP are not mandatory, insurers must offer them, and drivers may reject them in writing. Given the significant number of uninsured drivers in Texas, carrying UM/UIM coverage is advisable.
Q4: Can I sue a bar or restaurant if a drunk driver caused my accident in Texas?
A4: Yes, under Texas dram shop law (Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 2.02), you may have a claim against an establishment that served alcohol to someone who was obviously intoxicated at the time of service, or that served alcohol to a minor, if that person subsequently caused your accident. You must prove the establishment served alcohol in violation of the law and that this service was a proximate cause of your injuries.
Q5: What happens if I am in an accident with an Uber or Lyft driver in Fort Worth?
A5: Texas has specific insurance requirements for rideshare companies. The coverage available depends on the driver’s status at the time of the accident: when the app is on but no ride is accepted, lower liability coverage applies; when the driver has accepted a ride or is transporting a passenger, higher coverage limits apply (typically $1 million). You may have claims against the rideshare driver’s personal insurance, the rideshare company’s commercial insurance, or both. The process can be complex because multiple insurance policies may be involved.