Fort Worth Car Accident Lawyers
Reviewed by Larry “Jimmy” Peters, Founder · Texas Bar No. 24113438 · Updated August 2026
What this page covers
This page is about collisions between passenger vehicles in Fort Worth and Tarrant County — Arlington, Keller, North Richland Hills, Hurst, Euless, Bedford, Burleson, Mansfield, Haslet, Benbrook and the rest of the county. It covers the Texas law that decides these cases, the local courts and records, and the questions people ask most in the first weeks. Crashes involving commercial trucks are governed by a separate federal rulebook and have their own Fort Worth truck accident page; motorcycle, pedestrian, rear-end, uninsured motorist and wrongful death claims each have their own page as well, linked below.
Where we are. Southern Injury Attorneys handles Fort Worth car accident cases from our Dallas office at 4245 N. Central Expressway, Suite 490, about 30 miles east on I-30. We do not have a Fort Worth office. Consultations are free by phone or video, documents are signed electronically, we meet in person when it helps, and the case is filed in Tarrant County. Our Texas car accident page covers the statewide rules; the Dallas car accident lawyers page covers the east side of the Metroplex.
Fort Worth car accident law at a glance
| Deadline to file suit | 2 years from the crash — Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003 |
|---|---|
| Fault rule | Modified comparative fault; barred above 50% — § 33.001; recovery reduced by your percentage — § 33.012 |
| Minimum liability insurance | $30,000 per person / $60,000 per crash / $25,000 property damage — Tex. Transp. Code § 601.072 |
| UM/UIM coverage | Must be offered; included unless rejected in writing — Tex. Ins. Code § 1952.101; hit-and-run requires physical contact — § 1952.104 |
| Personal injury protection | $2,500 minimum must be offered; pays regardless of fault — § 1952.152 |
| Texting while driving | Prohibited — Tex. Transp. Code § 545.4251 |
| Government vehicle or road defect | Written notice within 6 months — § 101.101; caps — § 101.023 |
| Crash report | CR-3 via TxDOT Crash Report Online Purchase System, $6 ($8 certified); officer must file within 10 days |
| Where suit is filed | Tarrant County district courts, Tom Vandergriff Civil Courts Building, 100 N. Calhoun St., Fort Worth 76196 |
| Our office | 4245 N Central Expy, Suite 490, Dallas, TX 75205 · (469) 253-2533 |
Get a free Fort Worth car accident case review
Tell us what happened and a member of our Texas team will call you back — usually within minutes during business hours. Free, confidential, no fee unless we win. Prefer to talk now? Call (469) 253-2533.
How common are car accidents in Fort Worth?
TxDOT’s 2024 records count 28,074 crashes in Tarrant County, 189 fatal crashes, 201 deaths and 983 suspected serious injuries. Statewide, 4,150 people died on Texas roads in 2024 — one every two hours and seven minutes — with 1,053 deaths in alcohol-involved crashes and 380 in crashes involving distraction. Source: TxDOT, Texas Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Facts 2024.
Fort Worth’s crash geography follows its freeways. Loop 820 rings the city and carries every kind of traffic — commuters, Alliance freight, airport traffic — through a series of interchanges with I-35W, I-30, I-20, SH-121 and US-287 where merging and weaving collisions cluster. SH-121/SH-183, the Airport Freeway, runs through Hurst, Euless and Bedford toward DFW International Airport and is among the most congested corridors in the county. I-35W through downtown and north past Alliance mixes heavy trucks with commuter traffic. I-30 east toward Arlington and Dallas carries stadium and entertainment traffic on top of the daily commute. Downtown, the Mixmaster interchange of I-30 and I-35W produces sudden slowdowns and the rear-end and sideswipe crashes that go with them. Surface-street crashes concentrate on the major arterials — Camp Bowie, Hulen, Bryant Irvin, Beach Street, Rufe Snow, Denton Highway.
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Fort Worth?
Two years from the date of the crash under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a). Wrongful death and survival claims run two years from the date of death. If a City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, TxDOT, school district or transit vehicle was involved, or a road defect contributed, the Texas Tort Claims Act requires written notice within six months (§ 101.101) and caps damages (§ 101.023). In every case the evidence — camera footage from nearby businesses and intersections, vehicle data, witness memory — disappears far sooner than two years. Insurance claims do not stop the statute from running; only a filed lawsuit does.
Who is at fault in a Fort Worth car accident?
Fault is decided by Texas negligence law and, in practice, by the evidence: the CR-3 crash report and the officer’s contributing-factor codes, photographs, camera footage, vehicle event data, witness statements and, in serious cases, reconstruction. Texas uses modified comparative fault (Chapter 33). A jury assigns each party a percentage; if yours is 50 percent or less you recover your damages reduced by that percentage, and if it is greater than 50 percent you recover nothing (§ 33.001, § 33.012). Common fault arguments in Fort Worth car cases are speed, following distance, failure to yield at an unprotected left turn, lane changes on Loop 820, phone use, and seat-belt non-use. Each is answerable with evidence, and the fight over percentages is often where the value of a case is decided.
What insurance pays after a Fort Worth car crash?
The at-fault driver’s liability coverage
Texas requires only 30/60/25 — $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per crash, $25,000 for property damage (Tex. Transp. Code § 601.072). A single night at a Level I trauma center can exceed the per-person limit. When the at-fault driver has minimum limits, the liability policy is a floor, not the measure of the claim.
Your own UM/UIM and PIP
Texas insurers must offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and it is part of every auto policy unless the named insured rejected it in writing (Tex. Ins. Code § 1952.101). It pays when the other driver has no insurance, too little, or cannot be found — though a hit-and-run claim requires physical contact with the phantom vehicle (§ 1952.104). Under Brainard v. Trinity Universal Ins. Co., 216 S.W.3d 809 (Tex. 2006), the UIM carrier owes nothing until the other driver’s liability and underinsured status are established. Personal injury protection of at least $2,500 must also be offered (§ 1952.152) and pays medical bills and lost wages regardless of fault, often within weeks. Our Fort Worth uninsured motorist page covers these claims in detail.
How do I get my Fort Worth crash report?
Every Texas crash involving injury, death or apparent damage of $1,000 or more generates a Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report, Form CR-3, which the investigating agency — Fort Worth Police, the Tarrant County Sheriff, a suburban department or DPS on the interstates — must submit to TxDOT within ten days. You purchase it through TxDOT’s Crash Report Online Purchase System (the CRIS portal) for $6, or $8 for a certified copy. The report identifies the drivers, insurers, vehicles, the officer’s narrative and diagram, and the contributing-factor codes. It is important evidence but not the last word: officers rarely witness the crash, and their fault opinions are contested with reconstruction and camera evidence when they are wrong.
What is a Fort Worth car accident claim worth?
No honest lawyer can give you a number from a web page. The components are known: economic damages (medical expenses past and future, lost wages and earning capacity, out-of-pocket costs — uncapped, though § 41.0105 limits medical expenses to amounts actually paid or incurred), non-economic damages (pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement — uncapped in an ordinary car case), and in rare gross-negligence cases such as drunk driving, exemplary damages under § 41.003, capped by § 41.008(b). Against those sit the available insurance, the fault percentages, and the liens that health insurers, Medicare, Medicaid and hospitals under Property Code Chapter 55 assert against the recovery. Value is built with medical proof, not asserted.
Should I talk to the other driver’s insurance adjuster?
Not before you have advice. You are required to report the crash to your own insurer; you are not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s. Adjusters call early, while you are in pain and uncertain about your injuries, and the transcript is used months later to argue you were partly at fault or not badly hurt. Politely decline, take the adjuster’s name and claim number, and let counsel handle the contact. Our Texas guide to what not to say explains the common traps.
What if the crash involved a drunk driver, a texting driver or a rideshare?
Drunk driving. A DWI conviction is strong evidence of negligence, and where the driver was served while obviously intoxicated, the bar or restaurant may share responsibility under the Texas Dram Shop Act (Tex. Alco. Bev. Code § 2.02). Gross negligence can support exemplary damages. Texting. Texas prohibits reading, writing or sending electronic messages while driving (Tex. Transp. Code § 545.4251); phone records and vehicle data can establish distraction. Rideshare. Uber and Lyft carry commercial coverage that varies by whether the app was on, a ride was accepted, or a passenger was aboard; identifying the coverage period is the first step. Our national rideshare accident page covers the framework.
Which court hears a Fort Worth car accident case?
Under § 15.002 venue lies in the county where the crash occurred or where the defendant resides. For a crash anywhere in Tarrant County that means the Tarrant County district courts at the Tom Vandergriff Civil Courts Building, 100 N. Calhoun Street, downtown Fort Worth, or the county courts at law for smaller claims. A crash on I-30 near the Dallas County line, or a defendant who lives in Dallas, may allow a choice of county, and the choice affects jury pool, docket speed and local practice. Most car cases settle before trial, but they settle for more when the insurer knows the case will be tried if it is not.
What should you do in the first weeks after a Fort Worth car crash?
- Get checked out, even if you feel fine. Concussions, whiplash and internal injuries often surface days later, and a gap between crash and treatment is the adjuster’s favorite argument.
- Order the CR-3 from TxDOT’s Crash Report Online Purchase System ($6) once the officer has filed it.
- Photograph the vehicles, the scene and your injuries, and write down what happened while it is fresh.
- Ask nearby businesses to preserve camera footage. Most systems overwrite within days.
- Report to your own insurer; decline the other insurer’s recorded statement.
- Do not sign a release or accept a quick check. Early offers are made before the injuries are understood, and a release ends the claim.
- If a government vehicle was involved, calendar the six-month notice deadline.
Southern Injury Attorneys
4245 N Central Expy, Suite 490, Dallas, TX 75205 — about 30 miles east of downtown Fort Worth via I-30
(469) 253-2533 · Open 24 hours · Free phone and video consultations for Tarrant County clients
Get directions · About our Dallas office
What clients say about Southern Injury Attorneys
Real Google reviews from our clients. Individual results vary.
“From start to finish there were no unnecessary fees. They guided me through the whole process after my wreck.”
“They fought hard for a fair settlement after my car accident. The results exceeded my expectations.”
“They secured a just settlement after my automobile accident. Competent, effective and compassionate.”
“I was overwhelmed with insurance and medical bills after my car accident. They reached a fair resolution for me.”
“A young man with no insurance totaled my car. Southern Injury stepped up and made me happy with the result.”
“Jimmy was prompt and truly listened. I never felt like just another payday. My case was resolved in my favor. 10/10.”
Related Fort Worth, Dallas and Texas pages
Other Fort Worth pages: truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, rear-end collisions, uninsured motorist claims, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death and the Fort Worth personal injury overview. Across the Metroplex: Dallas car accident lawyers and our Dallas office. Statewide: Texas car accident lawyers.
Fort Worth car accident FAQs
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Fort Worth?
Two years from the date of the crash under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003. If a government vehicle or road defect was involved, written notice is required within six months under § 101.101. An open insurance claim does not stop the clock.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault for a crash in Tarrant County?
Yes, if your share of responsibility is 50 percent or less; your recovery is reduced by that percentage. Above 50 percent you recover nothing (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001).
What is the minimum car insurance in Texas?
30/60/25 under Tex. Transp. Code § 601.072: $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per crash and $25,000 for property damage.
How do I get my Fort Worth crash report?
The Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-3) is purchased through TxDOT’s Crash Report Online Purchase System for $6, or $8 certified. The investigating agency must submit it to TxDOT within ten days of the crash.
What if the driver who hit me has no insurance?
Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage pays. Texas insurers must offer it and it is part of every policy unless rejected in writing (Tex. Ins. Code § 1952.101). A hit-and-run claim requires physical contact with the other vehicle (§ 1952.104).
Should I give the other driver’s insurance company a recorded statement?
No. You are not required to, and early statements are used later to argue fault or minimize injuries. Report the crash to your own insurer and let your lawyer handle contact with the other side.
Where would my Fort Worth car accident lawsuit be filed?
Usually in the Tarrant County district courts at the Tom Vandergriff Civil Courts Building, 100 N. Calhoun Street, Fort Worth, under the venue rules in § 15.002.
What is the average car accident settlement in Fort Worth?
There is no reliable average. Value depends on the injuries and medical proof, the insurance available, fault percentages, and liens. Any number quoted before your records are reviewed is a guess.
Is texting while driving illegal in Texas?
Yes. Tex. Transp. Code § 545.4251 prohibits reading, writing or sending electronic messages while driving. Phone records and vehicle data can establish distraction in a crash case.
Does Southern Injury Attorneys have an office in Fort Worth?
No. Fort Worth car accident cases are handled from our Dallas office at 4245 N. Central Expressway, Suite 490, about 30 miles east. Consultations are free by phone or video and we meet clients in person when needed.
What does it cost to hire a Fort Worth car accident lawyer?
Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee — no attorney fee unless there is a recovery — and consultations are free 24/7 at (469) 253-2533.
Start your free case review
Tell us what happened and we will call you back — usually within minutes during business hours. Free consultation, no fee unless we win. Phone and video consultations are available for Fort Worth and Tarrant County clients; we also meet clients at our Dallas office on N. Central Expressway.
Texas Bar No. 24113438. Jimmy leads a personal injury firm with attorneys licensed in Texas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Kentucky and Georgia. Fort Worth and Tarrant County cases are handled from the firm’s Dallas office on N. Central Expressway.
This page is legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Statutes, regulations and case law change; every case turns on its own facts. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Reviewed by Larry “Jimmy” Peters, Founder, Southern Injury Attorneys, Texas Bar No. 24113438. Fort Worth matters are handled from the firm’s Dallas office at 4245 N. Central Expressway, Suite 490, Dallas, Texas 75205, about 30 miles east of downtown Fort Worth. Southern Injury Attorneys does not maintain an office in Fort Worth.
