Getting into a car accident is scary. In a split second, your world can turn upside down because of someone else’s bad driving. If you have been injured, you probably have a lot of questions. You might be fighting with insurance companies or wondering if you can pay your medical bills.
At Snellings Law, we help personal injury victims all over North Texas navigate these difficult times. Whether you are in Frisco, Celina, or Sherman, we want you to understand how the law works.
One of the most important things to understand is that why the accident happened matters just as much as what happened. In the legal world, we talk about “liability” (who is at fault) driving the “damages” (how much the case is worth).
Here is a guide to understanding how reckless behavior—what we call “inflammatory causes”—can change your personal injury case.
Not All Accidents Are viewed the Same
To a jury (the people in court who decide the outcome of a case), the reason behind the crash is a very big deal.
Imagine two different car crashes:
- Crash A: A driver simply isn’t paying close attention for a second and bumps into someone at a stoplight.
- Crash B: A driver is speeding, texting on their phone, or driving drunk, and they smash into someone, causing injuries.
In both cases, someone got hit. But in Crash B, the driver was doing something dangerous and reckless. Scott Snellings, the founder of Snellings Law, explains that reckless behavior like drunk driving or high-speed texting makes jurors angry. When a driver’s actions anger a jury, it often leads to a higher value for your claim.
What counts as “Inflammatory” Behavior?
“Inflammatory” is a big word that basically means something that provokes anger or strong emotion. When we investigate a crash, we look for these inflammatory factors because we know they strengthen your case.
According to our experience at Snellings Law, these are the actions that really upset juries:
- Driving While Intoxicated (DWI): Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Distracted Driving: This usually means being on a cell phone, texting, or checking apps while behind the wheel.
- Reckless Driving: This includes speeding way over the limit or cutting in and out of traffic aggressively.
If the person who hit you was doing any of these things, it changes the way insurance companies and juries look at your case. It becomes a “scarier” case for the insurance adjuster because they know a jury will want to hold that driver accountable.
The “Phone Assumption”: What Jurors Already Think
There is an interesting trend happening in society right now. Scott Snellings has noticed that most jurors today naturally assume that if someone causes a crash, they were probably distracted.
Specifically, if you cause a crash, people assume you were looking at your phone.
This is the general assumption in our society today. We know that juries are already tired of distracted drivers. When we can prove the other driver was texting or not watching the road, it confirms what the jury already suspects and makes them more likely to support your claim for fair compensation.
Digging Deeper: When Drivers Won’t Admit Fault
Sometimes, the bad behavior isn’t obvious right away. A driver might hide their phone or lie to the police. This is where having an experienced attorney in North Texas becomes essential.
At Snellings Law, we don’t just look at the police report. We dig deeper. We perform a thorough investigation to find the factors that maximize your claim.
One of the most powerful tools we use is the deposition. This is where we ask the at-fault driver questions under oath.
- Sometimes, a driver will try to avoid responsibility or even blame you for the accident.
- When a driver refuses to say “I’m sorry” or tries to shift the blame, it can make a jury very angry.
- We use these moments to show the jury the true character of the person who hit you.
By uncovering this attitude, we can increase the value of your case, even if the facts of the crash itself weren’t “inflammatory” at first.
Gross Negligence and Punitive Damages
If you have been injured by a driver who was acting very recklessly, you might be have a claim for Gross Negligence.
Gross negligence is when someone acts recklessly and completely ignores the safety of others. For example, getting behind the wheel while drunk or driving at extreme speeds can indicate they didn’t care about the potential harm they could cause.
When we can prove gross negligence, it opens the door for Punitive Damages.
- Compensatory Damages are meant to pay you back for what you lost (like hospital bills or lost wages).
- Punitive Damages are different. They are designed to punish the defendant for their bad behavior.
Snellings Law pursues these damages to send a message that reckless behavior will not be tolerated on Texas roads. This not only helps you maximize your recovery but also helps make our community safer.
Why You Need Help Building Your Case
You might be thinking, “The other driver was obviously drunk/texting, so isn’t this easy?”
Actually, these cases require a lot of extra work. Focusing on these inflammatory damages often requires experts and specific legal strategies to make sure the evidence is allowed to be shown in court. There is a lot of “behind the scenes” work to ensure these facts are admissible at trial.
Victims often struggle to maximize their case value on their own because they don’t know how to present these facts effectively. Dealing with insurance companies who try to deny fault or shift blame can be frustrating and overwhelming.
Snellings Law: Your Advocates in North Texas
At Snellings Law, we specialize in personal injury cases. We have offices conveniently located in Frisco, Celina, and Sherman, allowing us to serve clients across the region.
We provide a comprehensive case evaluation where we look at every detail, including the subtle factors that might not be obvious to you. We know how to:
- Investigate Liability: We find the proof that the other driver was reckless.
- Present the Facts: We organize your story to have the biggest impact on a jury.
- Fight for Maximum Value: We position your case for the highest possible settlement or verdict.
If a reckless or distracted driver has turned your world upside down, you deserve a lawyer who sees beyond the surface of your accident. You deserve a team that will fight for not just fair compensation, but the justice you deserve.
Contact Snellings Law today. Let us help you hold negligent drivers accountable.
