Personal Injury Basics
A personal injury case asks the person or company that caused your harm to pay for it.
What types of cases count as personal injury? Common Fort Worth cases include car accidents, truck and motorcycle crashes, pedestrian and bicycle injuries, slip and falls on unsafe property, dog bites, defective products, and wrongful death.
Do I need to prove the other side meant to hurt me? No. Most cases are based on negligence, which means carelessness. Examples include a driver running a red light or a store ignoring a spill.
Is filing a claim the same as filing a lawsuit? No. A claim is a request to an insurance company. A lawsuit is filed in court. Most cases start as claims and many settle without a lawsuit.
Damages and Case Value
Texas law lets you recover money for both financial and personal losses.
What damages can I recover?
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Physical pain and mental anguish
- Physical impairment and disfigurement
- Property damage
Are punitive damages available? Only in limited cases involving fraud, malice, or gross negligence, under CPRC Chapter 41. See punitive damages.
What makes a case worth more? Serious or permanent injuries, clear liability, strong medical documentation, and enough insurance coverage. Gaps in treatment and disputed fault usually lower value.
Fault and Blame
Being blamed does not automatically end your claim.
How is fault divided? A jury assigns each party a percentage under CPRC Chapter 33. Your recovery drops by your share, and you recover nothing above 50%. Learn more about contributory fault.
Can more than one party be responsible? Yes. An employer, property owner, or product maker may share fault with the person who directly caused the injury.
Working With a Lawyer
A personal injury lawyer handles the investigation, the insurers, and the court process so you can focus on recovery.
What does a lawyer actually do? Gathers evidence, works with your doctors to document injuries, values the claim, negotiates with insurance adjusters, and files suit when needed.
Who will handle my case? Brad Parker, the firm’s founder, has practiced since 1985 and is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Our Fort Worth office is at 209 N Hampton St.
About Brad Parker
Fort Worth Personal Injury FAQs FAQs
What is a personal injury case?
It is a civil claim for compensation when someone else's negligent or intentional conduct causes you physical, emotional, or financial harm. To win, you generally must show the other party owed you a duty of care, breached it, and caused your injuries and losses. Most cases resolve through an insurance settlement.
How much is my personal injury case worth?
It depends on your medical costs, lost income, how long recovery takes, whether you have lasting effects, the available insurance, and how clear fault is. No honest lawyer can give an exact number at the start. A realistic value comes once your treatment is far enough along to know your future needs.
What if the other side says I caused my accident?
Texas uses modified comparative fault. If you are 50% or less responsible, you can still recover, minus your share. If you are more than 50% responsible, you recover nothing. Insurers often exaggerate a victim's share of fault, so evidence gathered early matters.
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Texas?
Generally two years from the date of injury under CPRC §16.003. Some claims have shorter notice rules, such as claims against government entities, which can require notice within six months or less. Medical malpractice claims also have special rules. Talk to a lawyer early to confirm your deadline.
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost?
Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee. You pay nothing upfront and owe no attorney's fees unless we recover money for you. Our fee will never exceed your recovery, and we explain the exact terms in writing before we start.
Visit Our Fort Worth Office
Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office
209 N Hampton St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
- Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday – Sunday Closed