Personal Injury

In most personal injury matters we work on a contingency fee, which means you pay no attorney’s fee up front and we are paid a percentage only if we recover money for you. Case expenses are handled separately. We will explain the exact percentage and how expenses are treated in writing before you hire us.

In Texas the general deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit is two years from the date of the injury. There are important exceptions that can shorten or extend that window, including claims against a government entity, which can require formal notice within months. Because a missed deadline usually ends a case permanently, you should have your specific dates reviewed as early as possible.

Get medical attention, call the police so there is an official report, and photograph the vehicles, the scene, and any visible injuries. Get names and numbers for witnesses. Report the crash to your own insurer. Avoid discussing fault at the scene, and avoid posting about the crash on social media.

You are generally not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company. Adjusters are trained to ask questions in ways that minimise the claim, and an offhand answer given before you know the extent of your injuries can be used against you later. It is reasonable to decline and refer them to your attorney.

Nobody can responsibly quote you a number early on. Value depends on the severity and permanence of your injuries, your medical treatment and bills, lost income, the available insurance coverage, and how fault is apportioned. Be sceptical of anyone who promises a figure before your treatment is understood.

It varies widely. A straightforward claim with clear liability may resolve in a few months. A disputed case, or one where you are still treating, can take a year or longer. We generally do not want to settle before your doctors understand the full extent of your injuries, because settling early can leave future medical needs uncovered.

Texas uses a proportionate responsibility system. Being partly at fault does not automatically end your claim, but your recovery is reduced by your share of the responsibility, and if your share exceeds fifty percent you are generally barred from recovering. Insurers often overstate a claimant’s share, which is one reason to have the evidence reviewed.

Most personal injury claims settle without a trial. That said, cases tend to resolve on better terms when the other side believes you are genuinely prepared to try them. We prepare accordingly, and if trial is the right path we will tell you and explain what it involves.

You may still have options. Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may apply, and there may be other responsible parties, such as an employer if the driver was working. Check your policy and bring it with you, because many people carry this coverage without realising it.

Yes. Adrenaline masks injuries, and some serious conditions, including soft tissue and head injuries, do not present symptoms for days. Getting evaluated protects your health first, and it also creates a medical record close in time to the crash, which matters if an insurer later argues your injuries came from something else.