Car Doesn’t Yield And Crashes Into A House – Who Pays For Damages?

Posted May 22, 2024 | Personal Injury Blog

Most of the time car accidents are between two motor vehicles, or occasionally between a car and a pedestrian. However, there are exceptions, such as when a vehicle collides with something stationary, such as a light pole or a building. Even more serious is when a car crashes into a house where people live, risking their lives as well as the driver’s.

That is exactly what happened to one Mesquite family who lived on the corner of Willowglen Drive and Town East Boulevard. On March 14, 2024, a truck involved in a collision with another vehicle at the corner was plunged into the home of the Mitchell family. The vehicle breached the wall of a child’s bedroom. Sadly, several members of the family were injured, and they now live in fear it will happen again, according to local news outlets.

When a motor vehicle accident poses a threat to you even inside your own home, this can be disheartening and frightening. Know that you have legal rights, and you don’t have to feel afraid for your financial future due to the reckless actions of another person. 

Who Is Liable for Damage If a Car Crashes Into a House?

Motor vehicle accidents are dangerous and unfortunate events that might seem to be something you do not need to worry about off the road or sidewalk. Unfortunately, car crashes can still affect you even when you are not driving or simply a pedestrian on the sidewalk. As recent events show, the carelessness of other drivers can even impact you directly even from within the comfort of your own home.

Like what happened to the Mitchell family in Mesquite, there are incidents where reckless or incapacitated drivers veer off the road and crash into a house. The risks of property damage, bodily injuries, or even death can be high in these cases – both for the driver and the homeowner. The aftermath of a serious accident like that can be overwhelming, forcing the involved parties to deal with insurance policies and more, all while trying to fix the damage and recover. 

Rest assured, if a car crashes into your home, the driver will likely be deemed liable for the accident and therefore held responsible for paying for any damage he or she may have caused. The driver’s auto insurance should cover these costs, but your homeowner’s insurance could kick in to cover the remainder when it doesn’t.

If you are unsure how to proceed or want to make your chances of a full recovery higher, make sure to contact a personal injury lawyer skilled in handling motor vehicle accident cases of all kinds. Fielding Law has an office right here in Mesquite where our professional and compassionate legal team has helped clients with many different kinds of car accidents.

What to Do If a Car Damages Your Home

In the minutes that follow a car crashing into your home, your mind may be racing, unsure of what damage has been done, prioritizing checking to see if there are any serious injuries. 

Unfortunately, matters that might slip your mind at the moment can become crucial later on when seeking compensation for the damage done to your home or the injuries sustained by you and your family. 

Seek medical attention

Even when it may seem that only the driver of the car responsible for the crash is injured, homeowners and visitors could also unknowingly be hurt. A home collision causes debris to go flying, which can hit a person on a different side of the house from the side of impact. Glass, drywall, and other building materials become shrapnel to any who are in the immediate vicinity. 

Even if you do not believe you are badly injured, getting checked out by a medical professional – sooner than later – is still ideal. Sometimes, shock can conceal an injury that will present itself later on. Either way, medical records going back as far as the day of the crash can help you battle with the insurance company and any legal claims in the future. 

Assess and document the damage

Depending on where the collision occurred, the damage to your property may vary. Taking pictures of the scene of the accident preserves evidence of what happened and the extent of the damage. These photos can later be used for insurance or legal claims to help prove your case. 

Taking detailed pictures and noting down the names of people involved, as well as their insurance information, can help you to put a good foot forward towards compensation in the future. 

Additionally, you could seek an assessment or quote of how much it would cost to repair the damage. This can give you an idea of the figure you need to receive as compensation from the responsible party. 

Report the accident to the relevant agencies

Just like any other traffic accident, it is important to report the accident to local law enforcement and all involved parties’ insurance companies. Remember that it is better to do this sooner rather than later.

You have limited time to report your accident. Plus, the statute of limitations for reporting personal injury and property damage claims in Texas is 2 years. 

Each of these steps is crucial to ensure that you can best pursue your claim and recover for your damaged property, injuries, and even emotional trauma.

Seek legal help

Making sure that the responsible party is held liable for property damage and personal injury is sometimes complicated, so get help.

You can protect your rights by hiring a law firm that has handled similar cases successfully in the past. An experienced lawyer can guide you through the process and protect your legal rights, making sure you get the amount of compensation you deserve for what you have suffered. 

Fielding Law Wants to Help You

If you had a car crash into your home or property, you may be in a tough situation. Dealing with fixing the house to make it live able, treating your injuries, and making ends meet, you may feel overwhelmed. That is where a reliable legal team can step in to help.

At Fielding Law, we fight for our clients’ rights, as well as helping them with all the paperwork and legwork that an insurance or legal claim can entail. We don’t want our clients to suffer any more than they already have. We are there each step of the way to try and ensure a successful outcome for each case we take on. 

If you have not communicated with us yet, don’t delay – we are available for free consultations. Call us at (877) 880-4090 or fill out our online contact form. With over $100 million won for our clients, we want to see you recover, and you are our number one focus. Get help today.