A rear-end collision can happen during an ordinary drive across Dallas. You may be stopped in traffic, waiting at a light, or heading home after work when another driver suddenly hits your car.
If another driver caused the crash, a Dallas rear-end accident attorney at Freese & Goss can step in, look closely at what happened, and handle the legal work that comes with seeking compensation for your injuries and losses.
With more than $1 billion recovered for injury victims across Texas and nationwide, our legal team brings over 77 years of combined experience to your claim. We are a distinguished group of trial attorneys who prepare every case with the depth and precision needed to stand up to major insurance carriers.
If you were hurt in a rear-end crash in Dallas, call Freese & Goss at (214) 761-6623 or fill out our quick online form. We’ll review your case at no cost, and you won’t pay anything unless we recover money for you.
“Thanks to all the lawyers who were very attentive in my case. Thanks to God and to them, my case was resolved. I am personally very happy because they are very attentive and helpful people. Many thanks to lawyer Blanca as well, who was always attentive to my medical care.”
Vincente F. | Client
Why Hire a Dallas Rear-End Accident Attorney
Rear-end crashes can look straightforward. One driver hits another from behind, and it seems obvious who is responsible. But the insurance claim can become much more complicated, especially when the other driver’s insurer questions your injuries or tries to minimize what the crash cost you.
A Dallas rear-end collision lawyer can help build the case behind the crash, not just point to who hit whom.
- Get the Evidence While It’s There: We look for police reports, photos, video, vehicle data, witness accounts, and other evidence that can help show how the crash happened.
- Connect the Crash to Your Injuries: Neck, back, and other soft-tissue injuries may not be obvious right away. We document your medical treatment and how your injuries have affected your life and the challenges going forward.
- Keep the Insurance Company at Arm’s Length: We handle communications with the insurer and help protect you from statements or quick settlements that may not account for the full extent of your losses.
- Build Your Case With Trial in Mind: Freese & Goss has recovered more than $1 billion for clients and brings more than 77 years of combined experience to serious injury cases. We prepare each case carefully, including for trial when necessary.
A Word of Caution on Insurance Adjusters
Adjusters use polished tactics to lower what they owe you: they will ask for recorded statements to twist your words, request sweeping medical releases to dig through your past medical history and claim your injuries were pre-existing, or blame you for braking too suddenly. Once they have cast doubt on your claim, they push quick, lowball settlement offers before you even know the full extent of your injuries or future care costs.
You might wonder if getting a lawyer is necessary. However, a nationwide survey by Martindale-Nolo found that 91% of people who hired legal counsel actually walked away with a settlement, and averaged more than four times the payout of those who tried to handle the insurance company all by themselves.
Having a real advocate keeps the insurance company honest and stops them from taking advantage of you.
Give us a quick call at (214) 761-6623 or fill out our online form to schedule a friendly, no-pressure chat. We’ll listen to what happened and help you decide the best way forward.
Steps to Take After a Rear-End Accident in Dallas
Maybe you already exchanged insurance information, took your car to the shop, or even spoke with the other driver’s insurer. If the crash happened days or weeks ago, there are still steps you can take to protect your claim.
- Save bills, prescriptions, test results, doctor’s notes, and appointment information. Follow your treatment plan and tell your doctor about any symptoms that started or got worse after the crash.
- Details can get harder to recall with time. Make a simple record of where the crash happened, what you remember about the impact, when your symptoms started, and how your injuries have affected work and daily activities.
- Keep receipts and records for medical care, prescriptions, vehicle repairs, rental cars, transportation, and other costs related to the crash.
- You do not have to guess at answers to questions about your injuries or agree to a settlement before you know what your claim is worth. If an insurance adjuster is contacting you, speak with a lawyer first.
- Do not post about the accident. Photos, comments, or casual updates on social media can be taken out of context and used to question your injuries or account of the crash.
- A settlement may seem convenient, but signing a release can prevent you from seeking additional money later. A Dallas rear-end accident attorney can review what has happened so far and explain what options may still be available.
The important thing is not whether you handled every step perfectly at the scene. What matters now is taking sensible steps to preserve the evidence, document your injuries and losses, and avoid decisions that could make your claim harder to pursue.
What Types of Compensation Can a Dallas Rear-End Collision Lawyer Recover for Me?
The losses from a rear-end crash can go beyond the first medical bill. Depending on your injuries and circumstances, a claim may include:
- Medical Expenses: Emergency care, hospital bills, prescriptions, imaging, physical therapy, and ongoing treatment.
- Lost Wages: Income you missed because of your injuries or medical appointments.
- Lost Earning Capacity: Reduced future income if your injuries affect your ability to work or return to your previous career.
- Pain and Suffering: Physical pain, discomfort, and the impact your injuries have on your daily life.
- Mental Anguish: Anxiety, sleep problems, emotional distress, or other psychological effects related to the crash.
- Physical Impairment: Lasting limitations that affect your ability to move, work, exercise, or enjoy activities you once did.
- Property Damage: Costs to repair or replace your vehicle, along with reasonable rental car expenses.
How Is Liability Determined in Texas Rear-End Collisions?
Under Texas law, drivers must maintain a safe following distance that allows them to stop without hitting the vehicle ahead. Because of this rule, the driver who hits someone from behind is usually presumed negligent.
However, liability is not always automatic. The driver behind may attempt to blame you by claiming:
- Your brake lights were burnt out or malfunctioning.
- You suddenly cut into their lane without signaling.
- You slammed on your brakes unexpectedly without a clear road hazard.
- A third vehicle hit them first, causing a chain-reaction crash.
To establish fault, your Dallas rear-end accident lawyer must prove four main elements of negligence:
- Duty of Care: The other driver owed you a legal duty to drive safely and follow at a reasonable distance.
- Breach of Duty: They failed that duty by speeding, tailgating, or driving while distracted.
- Causation: Their failure directly caused the collision.
- Damages: You suffered real losses, including physical injuries, emotional distress, or financial expenses.
Getting hit from behind is bad enough. Chasing down repair estimates, juggling doctor’s appointments, and arguing with an insurance company about who’s at fault? That’s another ordeal.
You have enough to deal with without having to figure out Texas injury laws and insurance tactics on your own. Call Freese & Goss at (214) 761-6623 or fill out our online form. Tell us what happened, ask us what’s on your mind, and let’s talk through your options.
Common Causes of Rear-End Crashes in Dallas Our Attorneys Investigate
Rear-end collisions are almost always preventable events caused by human error. Some of the most common causes we see at Freese & Goss include:
- Tailgating: Following another car too closely leaves zero room to stop if traffic slows down unexpectedly.
- Excessive Speeding: Driving above the speed limit significantly increases the distance needed to bring a car to a complete stop.
- Drunk or Impaired Driving: Alcohol and drugs slow reaction times and impair spatial awareness.
- Drowsy Driving: Fatigued drivers often fail to brake in time when approaching stopped or slow-moving traffic.
- Inclement Weather: Rain and wet pavement reduce tire traction, making quick stops much harder on Dallas roads.
- Distracted Driving: Texting, checking navigation apps, or adjusting the radio takes a driver’s eyes and focus off the road ahead.
Injuries From Rear-End Accidents
A rear-end collision can affect the body in several ways. When your vehicle is pushed forward suddenly, your body may move differently from the car, putting stress on the neck, back, joints, and other areas. The severity depends on factors such as the speed and force of the impact, where the vehicles were struck, and whether you were properly restrained.
Common injuries include:
- Whiplash and neck injuries
- Back and spinal injuries
- Herniated or bulging discs
- Muscle, tendon, and ligament injuries
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
- Nerve damage
- Shoulder and chest injuries
- Broken or fractured bones
- Cuts and other soft-tissue injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
Some injuries are obvious right away, while others may take time to become noticeable. A lawyer who understands the mechanics of rear-end collisions can look at the crash, your medical records, and the way your injuries developed to help make sure your claim accounts for all of your injuries, not just the ones diagnosed immediately after the collision.
Partly at Fault in Texas? What It Means for Your Injury Claim
Texas follows a legal rule known as modified comparative negligence. This means you can still recover money for your injuries as long as you were 50% or less at fault for the collision.
If you are found partially at fault, your final recovery amount is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. For example, if a jury determines your total losses equal $100,000, but finds you 10% responsible because one of your brake lights was out, your final check would be $90,000.
If you are found 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover any money from the other driver. Insurance companies frequently try to assign unfair blame to lower what they owe you, which is why having strong legal representation matters.
Don’t Wait Too Long to Contact a Dallas Rear-End Accident Attorney
After a car accident, you have a lot to worry about, from getting medical care to dealing with missed work and unexpected bills. The last thing you may be thinking about is a legal deadline.
However, Texas law places strict time limits on how long you have to file a personal injury lawsuit.
In Dallas, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss that deadline, you could lose your right to seek compensation through the courts. While limited exceptions may apply, you shouldn’t count on having extra time.
Taking action sooner rather than later can help protect your options. An attorney can investigate the crash, preserve important evidence, speak with witnesses, and build your case while the details are still fresh.
Texas Law on Rear-End Collisions: Who Is Responsible When One Car Hits Another?
If another driver rear-ends your vehicle, you may assume the driver who hit you is automatically responsible. In many cases, the driver who strikes a vehicle from behind may be at fault, but Texas law looks at the circumstances of the crash before determining who is legally responsible.
One of the most important laws in these cases is Texas Transportation Code § 545.062, which requires drivers to maintain an assured clear distance from the vehicle ahead. In practical terms, drivers must leave enough space to stop safely based on their speed, traffic, and road conditions. When a driver follows too closely and cannot stop in time, that failure may serve as evidence of negligence.
Other Texas Laws That May Apply
Depending on how the collision happened, other Texas laws may also be relevant:
- Reckless driving — Texas Transportation Code § 545.401: Prohibits driving with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of people or property. This may apply when a rear-end collision involves especially dangerous driving.
- Required brake lights — Texas Transportation Code § 547.323: Generally requires vehicles to have at least two stop lamps mounted at the rear. The lamps must emit the specified red or amber light, be visible in normal sunlight from at least 300 feet, and illuminate when the service brake is applied, subject to the statute’s exceptions. A malfunctioning brake light may become relevant when determining whether another driver had adequate warning that you were slowing or stopping.
Why Hire Freese & Goss
Freese & Goss brings national trial experience and deep Texas roots to personal injury cases. Our approach is built around investigating how the collision happened, documenting the full impact of your injuries, and challenging attempts to minimize your claim. When the circumstances call for it, we can draw on medical professionals, accident reconstruction specialists, and economic experts to help establish the evidence needed to support your case.
Throughout the process, you’ll receive personal attention and a clear understanding of where your claim stands. We handle cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Call Freese & Goss today at (214) 761-6623 or fill out our online form to schedule your free, confidential consultation. Let us answer your questions and help you take the next step forward.
