When an accident leaves you injured, overwhelmed, and facing mounting medical bills, finding the right legal representation shouldn’t add to your stress. McKinney residents dealing with injuries caused by someone else’s negligence need attorneys who understand Texas law, know local courts, and will fight to protect their rights. This directory connects you with experienced McKinney personal injury lawyers who work on contingency—meaning you pay nothing unless they win your case.
Texas operates under an at-fault system, which means the person responsible for your injuries should compensate you for damages. Insurance companies know this, and they’ll work to minimize what they pay. Having a qualified personal injury lawyer on your side levels the playing field and ensures you receive fair treatment during one of the most challenging times in your life.
Top McKinney Personal Injury Attorneys
Why Hire a McKinney Personal Injury Lawyer?
Texas law puts the burden on injured victims to prove their claims. Without legal expertise, you could miss critical deadlines, accept inadequate settlements, or lose valuable evidence that strengthens your case.
Here’s what makes local representation essential:
Understanding of Texas at-fault rules: Unlike no-fault states, Texas requires you to establish who caused the accident and prove damages. Your attorney will gather evidence, interview witnesses, and build a compelling case showing the other party’s negligence.
Insurance company tactics: Adjusters may seem friendly, but their goal is protecting their company’s bottom line. They’ll use recorded statements against you, downplay your injuries, or pressure you into quick settlements before you know the full extent of your damages. A McKinney injury attorney handles all communications with insurers.
Evidence preservation: Critical evidence disappears quickly—surveillance footage gets deleted, witnesses forget details, and physical evidence at accident scenes vanishes. Attorneys act immediately to preserve this information through spoliation letters and formal discovery processes.
Contingency fee structure: Most personal injury lawyers in McKinney work on contingency, typically charging 33-40% of your settlement or verdict. You won’t pay attorney fees unless you recover compensation, making quality legal representation accessible regardless of your financial situation.
Texas has a two-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims. Miss this deadline, and you lose your right to compensation permanently. Connect with a qualified McKinney injury attorney today to protect your claim.
Types of Personal Injury Cases Handled in McKinney
McKinney personal injury attorneys handle diverse accident types affecting Collin County residents. Each case category involves unique legal considerations and evidence requirements.
Car Accidents
McKinney’s rapid growth—the population increased nearly 49% between 2010 and 2020 according to U.S. Census data—brings increased traffic congestion along US 75 and State Highway 121. High-accident areas include the Central Expressway interchanges near Stacy Road and the intersection of Eldorado Parkway and Custer Road. Car accident cases involve gathering police reports from the McKinney Police Department (located at 2200 Taylor Burk Drive), medical records, and sometimes accident reconstruction analysis to prove fault.
📊 Common damages recovered: Medical expenses, vehicle repair costs, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and pain and suffering. A McKinney car accident lawyer will calculate both economic and non-economic losses to ensure your settlement reflects the true impact on your life.
Truck Accidents
Commercial vehicle accidents differ significantly from standard car crashes. Federal regulations govern trucking companies, creating additional liability avenues. Your attorney will investigate driver logs, maintenance records, and black box data to identify violations that contributed to your collision.
Truck accident cases often involve multiple defendants—the driver, trucking company, cargo loaders, and maintenance providers. Each party may share liability, increasing potential compensation sources.
Motorcycle Accidents
Bias works against motorcyclists. Insurance adjusters often assume riders bear partial fault, even when evidence proves otherwise. McKinney motorcycle accident attorneys counter these prejudices with thorough documentation showing the other driver’s negligence—whether through distracted driving, failure to yield, or traffic violations.
Motorcycle crashes typically result in severe injuries: road rash, fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord damage. These cases require detailed medical documentation and expert testimony to establish appropriate compensation for long-term impacts.
Pedestrian & Bicycle Accidents
McKinney’s expanding trail system—including the popular Towne Lake Recreation Area trails and Erwin Park—and walkable downtown areas around Louisiana Street unfortunately see pedestrian and bicycle accidents, particularly near major intersections. Texas law requires drivers to exercise reasonable care around vulnerable road users, but violations remain common.
These cases often involve catastrophic injuries because victims lack protective barriers. Compensation addresses immediate medical needs and long-term care requirements, including physical therapy and disability accommodations.
Workplace Injuries
While workers’ compensation typically covers job-related injuries, some circumstances allow injured workers to pursue personal injury claims. If a third party caused your workplace accident—such as a negligent contractor, defective equipment manufacturer, or reckless driver—you may recover compensation beyond workers’ comp benefits.
A Plano personal injury lawyer or McKinney attorney will evaluate whether third-party liability exists in your workplace injury, potentially securing more comprehensive compensation.
Premises Liability
Property owners must maintain safe conditions for visitors. Slip and fall accidents, inadequate security leading to assaults, swimming pool accidents, and dog bites fall under premises liability law. These cases require proving the property owner knew (or should have known) about the dangerous condition and failed to remedy it or provide warning.
McKinney’s mix of retail centers like The Shops at Fairview and Historic Downtown McKinney, along with numerous restaurants and residential properties, creates various premises liability scenarios. Attorneys document hazardous conditions through photographs, witness statements, and maintenance records showing property owner negligence.
Wrongful Death
Nothing compensates for losing a loved one, but Texas wrongful death law allows surviving family members to pursue justice and financial recovery. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 71.004, spouses, children, and parents may file wrongful death claims for losses including funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and lost future financial support.
McKinney wrongful death attorneys handle these emotionally challenging cases with compassion while aggressively pursuing accountability from responsible parties. Claims must be filed within two years of the death.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
Texas personal injury law recognizes multiple damage categories, each addressing different impacts from your accident. Understanding available compensation helps you evaluate settlement offers and make informed decisions about your case.
| Damage Type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Economic Damages | Quantifiable financial losses with documentation | Medical bills, therapy costs, prescription medications, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage, home modifications |
| Non-Economic Damages | Subjective losses without fixed monetary value | Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, loss of consortium |
| Punitive Damages | Punishment for extreme negligence (rare in Texas) | Gross negligence, intentional harm, fraud |
Medical expenses form the foundation of most claims. This includes emergency room treatment, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, prescription medications, medical equipment, and future medical care. Keep detailed records of every medical visit and expense related to your injury.
Lost wages compensate for income you couldn’t earn while recovering. If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job or reduce your earning capacity, you can recover compensation for this lost future income. Economists often provide expert testimony calculating lifetime earning losses.
Pain and suffering addresses the physical discomfort and emotional trauma caused by your injuries. Texas doesn’t cap pain and suffering damages in most personal injury cases (though medical malpractice has different rules). The severity and permanence of your injuries significantly influence these awards.
💡 Important consideration: Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule with a 51% bar. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001, you can recover damages only if you’re 50% or less at fault. Your compensation reduces proportionally to your fault percentage. If you’re 20% responsible for the accident, you’ll receive 80% of the total damages awarded.
Get in touch with a McKinney accident lawyer to evaluate your potential compensation. Every case differs based on injury severity, liability evidence, and insurance policy limits. Attorneys analyze these factors to determine realistic settlement ranges.
How to Choose the Best Personal Injury Lawyer in McKinney
Finding the right attorney significantly impacts your case outcome and experience throughout the legal process. Use these criteria when comparing McKinney personal injury lawyers:
✓ Experience with Texas courts: Look for attorneys practicing personal injury law for several years with specific experience in Collin County courts. Familiarity with local judges, court procedures, and opposing counsel provides strategic advantages.
✓ Proven trial history: Most cases settle, but insurance companies negotiate more seriously when they know your attorney will take cases to trial if necessary. Ask about recent trial verdicts and settlements.
✓ Strong client reviews: Read testimonials on multiple platforms—Google, Avvo, and the State Bar of Texas website. Look for patterns in feedback about communication, results, and attorney responsiveness.
✓ Clear communication style: Your attorney should explain legal concepts in understandable terms, promptly return calls and emails, and keep you informed throughout your case. Schedule consultations with multiple attorneys to assess their communication approach.
✓ Fee transparency: Reputable personal injury lawyers clearly explain their contingency fee percentages, case costs, and what expenses you might owe regardless of outcome. Get fee agreements in writing.
✓ Documented case results: While past results don’t guarantee future outcomes, reviewing an attorney’s track record for cases similar to yours provides insight into their capabilities and experience level.
Each attorney listed here focuses on injury litigation and serves clients in Collin County, bringing local knowledge and established relationships within McKinney’s legal community. This familiarity translates to more efficient case handling and better negotiation outcomes.
McKinney Personal Injury Law: What You Should Know
Understanding key legal principles helps you make informed decisions about your injury claim and recognize when you need immediate legal assistance.
Texas Statute of Limitations
⏰ The clock starts ticking the moment your accident occurs. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 establishes a two-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims, including car accidents, slip and falls, and assault cases. This means you have two years from your injury date to file a lawsuit.
Some exceptions exist:
- Discovery rule: The timeline may start when you discovered (or reasonably should have discovered) your injury in cases where harm wasn’t immediately apparent
- Minor plaintiffs: If the injured person is under 18, the statute of limitations typically doesn’t begin until they turn 18
- Defendant absence: Time may toll if the defendant leaves Texas to avoid legal action
Missing the statute of limitations deadline almost certainly destroys your case. Courts dismiss late-filed lawsuits regardless of merit, and Texas judges rarely grant exceptions. Contact a McKinney personal injury lawyer immediately after your accident to preserve your rights.
Comparative Negligence in Texas
Texas uses a modified comparative negligence system with a 51% bar rule. This affects your compensation if you share any responsibility for the accident that caused your injuries.
Here’s how it works: If you’re 30% at fault for an accident resulting in $100,000 in damages, you’ll recover $70,000 (70% of total damages). However, if a jury determines you’re 51% or more responsible, you receive nothing—regardless of your injury severity.
Hypothetical scenario: Two drivers approach a McKinney intersection. Driver A runs a red light, but Driver B was texting and could have potentially avoided the collision if paying attention. A jury might assign Driver A 75% fault for running the light and Driver B 25% fault for distracted driving. Driver B can still recover 75% of proven damages.
Insurance companies aggressively investigate to shift maximum blame onto you, potentially reducing their payout or eliminating liability entirely. A Dallas personal injury attorney or McKinney lawyer counters these tactics by gathering evidence proving the other party’s primary responsibility.
Filing a Lawsuit in Collin County
Most personal injury cases settle through negotiation, but some require filing formal lawsuits to achieve fair compensation. Understanding the local court process helps you prepare for this possibility.
Venue selection: Personal injury lawsuits typically get filed in the county where the accident occurred or where the defendant resides. For McKinney accidents, that’s usually the Collin County Courts located at 2100 Bloomdale Road in McKinney (just south of Highway 380). The Collin County District Clerk’s office handles civil case filings.
What to expect when filing:
📋 Initial filing: Your attorney files a petition with the District Clerk, typically in the 199th, 366th, 416th, or 469th District Court. Filing fees currently run approximately $300-$400, though your attorney typically advances these costs under contingency agreements.
📅 Court proceedings: After filing, expect several court appearances at the Collin County Courthouse. Initial hearings often involve scheduling conferences, discovery disputes, and pre-trial motions. Parking is available in the public lot behind the courthouse off Chestnut Street.
🏛️ Mediation requirement: Collin County judges frequently order mediation before trial. These sessions often occur at the courthouse or at local mediation centers, where a neutral third party helps both sides negotiate settlement.
Settlement vs. trial considerations:
| Settlement | Trial |
|---|---|
| Faster resolution (months vs. 1-2+ years) | Longer timeline with discovery and court scheduling |
| Lower legal costs | Higher expenses for expert witnesses and trial preparation |
| Guaranteed outcome (you control acceptance) | Uncertain outcome (jury decides) |
| Maintains privacy | Public court proceedings |
| More predictable | Potential for higher awards but risk of receiving nothing |
Your attorney will honestly assess your case’s trial potential and settlement value, helping you make strategic decisions aligned with your goals and circumstances.
Serving McKinney and Surrounding Areas
Our directory includes attorneys serving McKinney and nearby Collin County communities where accidents and injuries occur daily:
- Allen: Growing suburban city with busy retail corridors along US 75
- Frisco: Rapidly expanding area with high traffic volume and construction zone accidents
- Plano: Major employment hub creating commuter traffic and workplace injury cases
- Prosper: Developing community experiencing growing pains with infrastructure challenges
- Collin County: One of Texas’s fastest-growing counties with over 1 million residents
Geographic proximity matters in personal injury cases. Local attorneys understand regional traffic patterns, know frequent accident locations, and maintain relationships with Collin County court staff and opposing counsel. This familiarity translates to more effective representation and often faster case resolution.
Contact a McKinney Personal Injury Lawyer Today
⚡ Time is not on your side after an accident. Evidence disappears, witnesses become harder to locate, and memories fade. Insurance companies use delays against you, arguing that late reporting suggests exaggerated claims or unrelated injuries.
Texas’s two-year statute of limitations creates an absolute deadline for filing lawsuits. While two years seems distant, investigation, medical treatment, and negotiation consume time quickly. Many attorneys won’t accept cases approaching the limitations deadline, reducing your options significantly.
Evidence fades: Surveillance footage typically gets overwritten within 30-90 days. Accident scene conditions change. Physical evidence gets cleaned up or repaired. Witnesses move or forget critical details. Your attorney needs time to preserve this information through formal legal processes.
Insurance tactics work against you: Adjusters may seem sympathetic while gathering statements they’ll use to reduce your claim value. They’ll request medical authorizations accessing your entire health history to find pre-existing conditions they can blame for your current injuries.
Medical treatment documentation matters: Gaps in treatment hurt your case. Insurance companies argue that delayed or sporadic treatment means your injuries aren’t serious. Your attorney will coordinate with medical providers ensuring proper documentation linking your injuries directly to the accident.
Compare top McKinney personal injury attorneys and request your consultation today. You’ll pay nothing for initial meetings, and most consultations can be scheduled within 24-48 hours. Take control of your recovery by securing experienced legal representation that protects your rights and fights for the compensation you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in McKinney?
Most McKinney personal injury attorneys work on contingency, charging 33-40% of your final settlement or court award. You pay no upfront fees or retainers. If your attorney doesn’t win your case, you typically owe nothing for legal fees (though you may be responsible for certain case expenses like filing fees or expert witness costs depending on your agreement).
How long do personal injury cases take in Texas?
Case timelines vary significantly based on complexity, injury severity, and whether litigation becomes necessary. Simple cases with clear liability and willing insurers may settle within 3-6 months. Cases requiring lawsuits typically take 12-24 months or longer, especially if they proceed to trial. Your attorney can provide realistic timelines after evaluating your specific situation.
What if I was partially at fault?
You can still recover compensation in Texas as long as you’re 50% or less responsible for the accident. Your damage award reduces by your fault percentage. For example, if you’re 20% at fault in an accident causing $50,000 in damages, you’d recover $40,000. An experienced attorney will fight to minimize your assigned fault percentage.
Do I need a lawyer for a minor accident?
Even “minor” accidents can involve complex legal and medical issues. Insurance companies may deny claims, dispute injury severity, or offer inadequate settlements. Consider consulting a McKinney personal injury lawyer if you have any injuries (even if they seem minor), face disputed liability, or receive settlement offers that don’t cover your expenses. Most attorneys offer free consultations to assess whether legal representation benefits your situation.
What’s the difference between a settlement and going to trial?
Settlements resolve cases through negotiation between your attorney and the insurance company or defendant. You agree to accept a specific payment in exchange for releasing your claims. Trials involve presenting your case before a judge or jury who decides liability and damages. Settlements offer faster resolution and guaranteed outcomes, while trials carry higher risk but potential for larger awards.