Victoria writes about people management, legal practice, technology, and the future of work. Her diverse career has included experience as a US employment lawyer and various roles in human resource management, including a strategic HR role at The Walt Disney Company. Now living in the UK, Victoria provides unique insights on the world of work in the US, UK, and EU.
Victoria Pearce
Victoria writes about people management, legal practice, technology, and the future of work. Her diverse career has included experience as a US employment lawyer and various roles in human resource management, including a strategic HR role at The Walt Disney Company. Now living in the UK, Victoria provides unique insights on the world of work in the US, UK, and EU.
Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
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Jeffrey Johnson, J.D.
Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
With a population near 400,000 and a location right between Dallas and Fort Worth, Arlington is full of opportunities. If you’ve experienced an injury, then there are also many lawyers in the region to choose from, so how do you find the right one?
We introduce 10 of the top personal injury attorneys in Arlington to help you narrow your search. You can also find the basics you need to know about filing personal injury lawsuits in Texas.
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Best Personal Injury Attorneys in Arlington
Compare Top Personal Injury Attorneys
Texas Personal Injury Laws
Personal injury laws in Texas differ from those in some other states. Some laws can even vary based on the circumstances that caused your injury. Speaking with a qualified personal injury lawyer quickly can make the difference between receiving a recovery on your claim and receiving nothing.
Statute of Limitations in Arlington
The statute of limitations for personal injury cases throughout Texas is two years. This means that you must initiate a lawsuit for your claims within two years from the date of your injury. Failing to file a claim in time can mean your case is unable to proceed.
Keep in mind that the statute of limitations may be different if local government entities are involved. For example, claims of personal injury against the City of Arlington must be filed within 180 days of the injury.
Identifying Fault in Personal Injury Cases in Arlington
Texas law assigns fault in personal injury cases using a modified comparative negligence rule. This means that each party’s percentage of fault determines how much your case is worth. For instance, if you are found to be 20% at fault for your injury and damages are worth $100,000 on the case, then the most you can recover is $80,000.
The same rule prohibits a party from recovering if they are 51% or more at fault for the injury-causing event. Establishing who is at fault is complex and is one of the primary areas where an attorney can help build your case.
Caps on Medical Malpractice Cases
Medical malpractice cases are subject to additional rules in Texas. In these cases, non-economic damages such as pain and suffering are capped. The overall cap is $500,000, with a limit of $250,000 for each defendant. The cap is increased for wrongful death cases stemming from medical malpractice. In these cases the cap is approximately $2 million. The cap amount adjusts with the rate of inflation.
Caps on medical malpractice damages do not apply to economic damages, such as medical bills, treatment costs, and lost wages.
How to Find the Best Personal Injury Lawyer in Arlington, TX
Personal injury law covers a wide range of scenarios, from car accidents to workplace injuries to medical malpractice. After suffering an injury, stress can set in as you focus on healing while navigating insurance claims, medical bills, and lost work. Follow these tips to find the right personal injury lawyer to help you.
- Referrals. Do you know someone who has worked with a personal injury lawyer before? Personal referrals are a great resource to find out what working with the lawyer is really like before you commit.
- Experience. Look for a personal injury lawyer who has handled cases like yours before. While many of the laws overlap in personal injury law, there are details that can be crucial between the different types of personal injury.
- Client communication. Ask any lawyer you meet with how often you can expect to hear from them and how they prefer to communicate. Make sure you hire a lawyer whose communication style matches your needs.
- Fees. Most personal injury attorneys charge a contingency fee, meaning they take a percentage of any settlement or verdict they secure in your favor. Compare attorney fees before committing and be sure you understand how the fee agreement works.
- Reputation. Check their law license status and look for any disciplinary action. Reviews from prior clients are also a helpful gauge to determine whether the attorney has a reputation for treating their clients well.
Methodology
To come up with the Best Personal Injury Lawyers in Arlington, TX in 2024, Forbes Advisor considered many factors. Forbes Advisor’s mathematical module considers and weighs the information collected to calculate a specific rating and reviews these results to find the best attorneys in a given practice area.
Within the model, we take into account factors that legal professionals and consumers value in an attorney’s qualifications. After assigning weighted scores to hundreds of data points, we narrowed the field down to our top choices based on:
Legal experience
Special licenses & certifications
Ethics and bar disciplinary measures
Legal thought leadership
Education & employment background
Scholarly lectures & writings
Awards & Honors
Forbes Advisor collects public data from a variety of sources, including state bar associations, court records and other published sources on the internet. This information should not be considered comprehensive, however. It might not include additional relevant information on an attorney’s legal skills and experience.
Each lawyer listed here has their own merits. Bear in mind that our list relates to these lawyers’ legal backgrounds, but does not evaluate their personalities or their knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
One thing that can’t be quantified, though, is the rapport you establish with your attorney. Personality goes a long way when teaming up with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially difficult legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and potential starting point in your search for the right lawyer for you and your legal concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What percentage do personal injury attorneys charge in Texas?
Personal injury lawyers in Texas usually charge a contingency fee, meaning they take a percentage of any settlement or verdict recovered on your behalf. In Texas, personal injury attorneys typically charge between 33.33% and 40%.
How does a personal injury lawsuit work in Texas?
A personal injury lawsuit is a civil case in Texas, meaning that it is not a criminal matter. Even before a lawsuit is filed, your attorney may put together a demand letter asking for a certain outcome from the defendant. If the defendant does not agree to your demands, then the lawsuit is filed in civil court. Your attorney will help you select the right court for filing your case.
After a case is filed, then preparation begins for an eventual trial. This process can take a long time as both sides gather evidence and seek direction from the court. It is very common for cases to reach a negotiated settlement before going to trial. If the case does go to trial, then the likely outcome is a jury verdict deciding the case and any damages. From here the matter is considered resolved unless appealed to another court.
Can you sue for pain and suffering in Texas?
Yes. Plaintiffs can sue for pain and suffering alone, but most will also file for economic damages such as medical costs and lost wages. In medical malpractice cases, Texas law caps the amount plaintiffs can be awarded for non-economic damages like pain and suffering. There is no cap on pain and suffering damages in personal injury cases other than medical malpractice.
