Texas Car Accident Lawyers
A car wreck changes your life in seconds. Getting back what you've lost takes someone who knows how to make insurance companies pay — and we do.
Why Families Across Texas Trust Patterson Law Group
Texas roads are dangerous. According to TxDOT, someone is killed in a Texas motor vehicle crash roughly every two hours, and someone is injured every two minutes. If you're one of those statistics, the next call you make matters more than you might realize.
Patterson Law Group has been representing Texas car accident victims for more than 30 years. We've recovered over $100 million for clients, and we've earned a 5.0-star rating across more than 441 verified Google reviews by treating every client the way we'd want our own family treated.
We work on a contingency fee. The consultation is free. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Offices in Fort Worth, Arlington, and San Antonio. Every case is taken on a contingency fee — no recovery, no fee.
Car Accident Cases We Handle
Every wreck is different, but most fall into a handful of recurring patterns. Our attorneys handle every type of car accident case, including:
Texas Car Accident Law
Texas is an at-fault state for auto crashes. The driver who caused the wreck — and that driver's liability insurance — is responsible for your damages. The minimum required liability coverage in Texas is 30/60/25 (30,000 per person bodily injury, 60,000 per accident, 25,000 property damage), but serious crashes routinely exceed those limits.
When the at-fault driver's coverage is inadequate or non-existent, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may apply. UIM disputes against your own insurer require an aggressive approach — your insurer is no longer on your side once you make a claim against your own policy.
Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code §16.003 gives you two years from the date of the crash to file suit. Surveillance footage, electronic data recorder downloads, and witness memories all degrade fast — the sooner you involve a lawyer, the better the evidence.
How We Work With You
Our process is simple. You focus on your recovery. We handle everything else.
- 1 Call us. Tell us what happened. Free, confidential, no obligation. We'll give you an honest answer about whether you have a case.
- 2 We investigate. Police reports, surveillance footage, medical records, witness statements, expert consultations. We build the case the right way from day one.
- 3 You focus on healing. We handle every insurance call, every demand, every negotiation. If they refuse to pay fairly, we take them to trial.
Local Offices & City Pages
Patterson Law Group serves all injured Texans from our physical offices in Fort Worth, Arlington, and San Antonio. For city-specific information on this practice area:
How this complements existing sections
The Astro page currently has 8 H2s on a shared template:
1. Why Trust PLG 2. Types of Cases We Handle 3. Texas Car Accident Law (compensation overview) 4. How We Work (4-step process) 5. Local Offices (FW / Arlington / SA) 6. FAQs 7. Bottom CTA 8. Sidebar CTA
The sections below are additive. They sit between the existing "Texas Car Accident Law" and "How We Work" sections, and convert two of the current FAQ items (partial fault + statute of limitations) into full H2s. Recommended insertion order is the order listed.
The two FAQ items being promoted to H2 should be removed from the FAQ block so the FAQPage schema does not duplicate the H2 content — replace them with two new FAQs (suggested: "Do I need a police report to file a car accident claim in Texas?" and "What if the at-fault driver was uninsured?").
Tone matches the existing page: direct, plain-English, Texas-led, no fabricated stats or testimonials. All Texas statistics are framed with "per TxDOT" attribution without specific-year claims unless cited from a verified source. All statutory citations have been cross-checked against memory references for the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Texas
Texas leads the nation in total crash fatalities most years, and the causes that drive those numbers are remarkably consistent from El Paso to Houston. Understanding what caused your wreck is not just academic — it shapes the liability theory, the evidence we preserve, and the insurance coverage we go after.
Distracted driving. Per TxDOT, distracted driving is one of the leading contributing factors in Texas crashes and is involved in roughly one in five collisions reported statewide. Texting, phone calls, in-dash infotainment, navigation, eating, and reaching for objects all qualify. Texas's statewide texting-while-driving ban (Transportation Code §545.4251) makes texting per se negligence when we can prove it, which is why we subpoena phone records early.
Speeding. Speed is a factor in a substantial share of Texas fatal crashes every year. On rural FM roads, in interstate construction zones, and on high-speed urban loops like Loop 820 in Fort Worth, I-35 through Austin, and Loop 410 in San Antonio, speed compresses reaction time and multiplies crash forces.
Impaired driving. Alcohol- and drug-impaired drivers cause thousands of Texas crashes annually. We pursue both the driver and, when facts support it, the bar, restaurant, or social host under Texas dram-shop law (Alcoholic Beverage Code §2.02).
Fatigue. Drowsy driving impairs reaction time on par with alcohol. It is most common on long Texas interstate stretches and among shift workers and commercial drivers.
Weather. Sudden Gulf storms on I-10, North Texas ice events, West Texas blowing dust, and Hill Country flash flooding all create predictable crash conditions. Weather is rarely a complete defense — drivers are expected to adjust speed and following distance.
Roadway and vehicle defects. Potholes, missing signage, defective traffic signals, tire blowouts, and brake failures can shift or share liability with TxDOT contractors, municipalities, or manufacturers. These cases require fast evidence preservation.
Injuries We Commonly See in Car Accident Claims
The injuries below are the ones we work up most often in Texas car wreck cases. Symptoms can be delayed by hours or days — adrenaline masks pain — which is one reason we tell every caller to get checked out the same day even if they feel "fine."
Whiplash and cervical strain. Soft-tissue neck injuries are the single most common diagnosis after a rear-end collision. Whiplash is real, it shows up on clinical exam before it shows up on imaging, and insurance adjusters routinely undervalue it. We document range-of-motion loss, treatment timelines, and any radiating symptoms that suggest disc involvement.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI). A concussion does not require loss of consciousness or a bleed on CT. Post-concussive symptoms — headaches, light sensitivity, brain fog, memory gaps, mood changes — can persist for months and disrupt work and relationships. We push for neuropsychological testing when symptoms last more than a few weeks.
Spinal injuries. Disc herniations, facet injuries, and in severe crashes, cord injuries. Many clients arrive with a clean ER film and a herniation that shows up on a follow-up MRI four to six weeks later.
Fractures. Wrist, rib, sternum, clavicle, pelvis, lower extremity. Surgical fractures (ORIF) drive significant medical specials and longer recovery timelines.
Internal injuries. Splenic and liver lacerations, kidney trauma, internal bleeding. These are often diagnosed only after worsening symptoms — a reason we tell clients not to refuse the ER workup.
PTSD and psychological injury. Anxiety driving, hypervigilance at intersections, sleep disruption, and full PTSD are real, documented, compensable injuries under Texas law. We connect clients with licensed mental health providers and treat the documentation seriously.
What to Do in the Days Following a Car Wreck
Most clients call us within 72 hours of a crash and ask, "What do I do now?" Here is the playbook we walk every new client through.
Get medical attention — even if you feel okay. Adrenaline hides pain. Soft-tissue and brain injuries are notorious for delayed onset. A same-day ER visit, urgent care visit, or PCP appointment creates the medical record that ties your injuries to the wreck. Gaps in treatment are the single biggest tool insurance adjusters use to discount a case.
Follow through on treatment. If your doctor refers you to physical therapy, orthopedics, neurology, or pain management, go. Skipped appointments and missed referrals get used against you.
Document everything. Photos of the vehicles, the scene, your injuries as they heal, and any property damage. Keep every bill, EOB, prescription receipt, and out-of-pocket expense. Save the police crash report (Texas Peace Officer's Crash Report, CR-3) when it becomes available — typically 7 to 10 days after the wreck on the TxDOT C.R.I.S. portal.
Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company. They will call within 48 hours, polite and friendly, and ask "just a few questions." Anything you say can be used to reduce or deny your claim. You are not required to give a recorded statement to the at-fault carrier. Politely decline and refer them to your lawyer.
Do not sign anything from the other insurer. Releases, medical authorizations, property-damage settlements that include bodily injury language — all of it can compromise your claim.
Call a lawyer before the dust settles. Evidence vanishes quickly. Surveillance footage gets overwritten in 30 to 90 days. ECM/EDR data on modern vehicles can be lost when the car is repaired or totaled. Witnesses forget. The earlier we are involved, the more we can preserve.
Dealing With Insurance After a Texas Crash
Most Texas car accident claims involve at least two insurance companies — sometimes four or five. Knowing which policy pays for what, and in what order, is half the battle.
The at-fault driver's liability policy pays for your bodily injury and property damage up to its limits. Texas minimum is 30/60/25 ($30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident / $25,000 property), which is often inadequate in serious injury cases.
Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) kicks in when the at-fault driver is uninsured or when their limits are exhausted. Texas insurers are required to offer UM/UIM, and you must reject it in writing — so check your declarations page. UM/UIM is your own first-party claim against your own carrier, which means they owe you a duty of good faith but will still negotiate hard.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is also a required offering in Texas (Insurance Code §1952.152). PIP pays your medical bills and a portion of lost wages regardless of fault, typically in $2,500–$10,000 increments. It does not reduce your bodily injury claim.
Medical Payments coverage (MedPay) is similar to PIP — no-fault first-party coverage for medical bills — but with fewer requirements and usually lower limits.
Health insurance. Use it. Hospitals are required to bill it. Your health insurer will likely assert a subrogation lien against your settlement, and we negotiate those liens at the end of the case.
We pull every applicable policy at intake — yours, the at-fault driver's, any other involved drivers', resident-relative policies, and umbrella coverage — because finding the next layer of coverage is often the difference between a fair recovery and an undercompensated client.
Who Pays for What After a Texas Car Accident
The short version: in most Texas car wreck cases, the at-fault driver's liability insurer pays the bodily injury and property damage portion of your claim, up to policy limits. The longer version is where cases actually live.
Property damage is usually paid first, often within two to four weeks, and is handled separately from the bodily injury claim.
Medical bills can be paid from several sources in layered fashion: PIP/MedPay first (often direct to providers), then health insurance (subject to subrogation), then the bodily injury settlement at the end. We frequently negotiate letters of protection (LOPs) with providers so clients can get treatment without out-of-pocket costs while the case is pending.
Lost wages, pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of household services, future medical care, and loss of earning capacity are paid from the bodily injury settlement at the end of the case.
When the at-fault driver is underinsured, your UIM coverage stacks on top of the at-fault policy. Texas applies a credit-style approach — your UIM carrier gets credit for what the at-fault carrier paid — so the layering math matters.
Subrogation. Health insurers, ERISA plans, Medicare, Medicaid, hospital liens (Texas Property Code Chapter 55), and PIP carriers all have potential reimbursement rights. We negotiate those liens down at settlement, often substantially, so more money lands in our client's pocket.
Can You Still File a Claim if You Were Partially at Fault?
Yes — in most cases. Texas uses modified comparative fault under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §33.001. As long as the jury finds you 50% or less at fault, you can recover. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.
A common example: you are rear-ended while changing lanes. The jury finds the other driver 80% at fault and you 20% at fault for not signaling long enough. If your damages total $100,000, you recover $80,000 — your damages minus your 20% share of responsibility.
If the jury finds you 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing. This is the "51% bar," and it is why fault percentage gets fought over hard in Texas trials.
Even cases that look like clear client-fault — backing collisions, single-vehicle wrecks, intersection turns — often turn out to have shared liability when we dig in. Speeding by the other driver, distracted-driving evidence, defective roadway conditions, or vehicle defects can shift fault percentages substantially. Do not assume you do not have a case until a Texas personal injury lawyer has actually reviewed the facts.
How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Texas?
Two years from the date of the wreck — that is the general rule under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.003. Miss it, and your claim is barred forever, no matter how strong the underlying case was.
A handful of exceptions can shift that deadline:
Minors. If the injured person was under 18 at the time of the wreck, the two-year clock generally does not start until they turn 18 (CPRC §16.001). They have until age 20 to file.
Wrongful death. A wrongful death claim under CPRC Chapter 71 accrues on the date of death, not the date of the wreck. The two-year clock runs from death.
Discovery rule. In rare cases — typically latent injuries — the clock may run from when the injury was, or reasonably could have been, discovered.
Government defendants. If a city, county, TxDOT, or other Texas governmental unit is potentially at fault, the Texas Tort Claims Act notice deadlines kick in. Most cities require written notice within 90 days; the State requires notice within 6 months (CPRC §101.101). Missing notice — separate from the statute of limitations — bars the claim entirely against the governmental defendant.
The practical message: call a lawyer fast. Even setting limitations aside, the evidence that wins cases — ECM data, surveillance video, witness memory, scene conditions — disappears in weeks, not years.
How Our Lawyers Build Strong Car Accident Cases
The difference between a settlement that covers medical bills and a settlement that actually compensates a client for what they lost usually comes down to investigation and presentation. Here is what that looks like at PLG.
Immediate evidence preservation. We send spoliation letters within days — to the at-fault driver, the at-fault carrier, businesses with surveillance angles on the scene, and (in commercial-vehicle cases) the trucking company. We preserve the at-fault vehicle's ECM/EDR data, which can capture pre-crash speed, throttle, brake application, and seat-belt status.
Crash reconstruction. In serious injury and disputed-liability cases, we retain accident reconstructionists to model the wreck from physical evidence — skid marks, debris fields, vehicle damage, ECM data, and scene geometry. Reconstruction is what turns a swearing match into a defensible liability case.
Medical workup and documentation. We coordinate with treating physicians to make sure every injury is documented, every causation question is addressed in the chart, and every recommended treatment is captured. For TBI, chronic pain, and orthopedic cases, we engage life-care planners and vocational experts when future damages warrant it.
Coverage hunt. We pull every available policy — at-fault, UM/UIM, MedPay, PIP, resident-relative, umbrella, employer commercial — because finding the next layer of coverage often doubles the recovery ceiling.
Demand package and negotiation. Our demand letters lay out liability, damages, and exposure with medical records, billing, lost-wage documentation, and (where appropriate) Stowers exposure. We do not send a demand until the medical picture is clear and the client is at maximum medical improvement, or close to it.
Litigation readiness. Insurance carriers settle the cases they think will hit a jury and pay more. With 30+ years of Texas PI experience, $100 Million+ recovered, and a litigation team led by partner Tennessee Walker, we file when we need to. PLG secured the highest Texas wrongful death settlement of 2024.
If you were hurt in a Texas car wreck, call (817) 784-2000 for a free case review. No fee unless we win. Three offices: Fort Worth, Arlington, and San Antonio. Se habla español.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Texas?
Two years from the date of the accident under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code §16.003. Claims against a Texas government entity (city, county, state vehicle) require notice within 6 months and sometimes sooner under local charter rules. Don't wait.
Should I talk to the other driver's insurance company?
No. Their adjuster works for them, not for you. Even an innocent-sounding statement like 'I'm doing fine' can be used to argue your injuries aren't real. Refer them to your attorney.
What if I was partially at fault for the wreck?
Under Texas's modified comparative fault rule (CPRC §33.001), you can still recover as long as you were 50% or less at fault. Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault — so a 20% finding on a $200,000 claim becomes a $160,000 recovery.
How much is my car accident case worth?
It depends on the severity of your injuries, medical bills (past and future), lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, available insurance coverage, and the strength of liability evidence. We give honest case evaluations during your free consultation.
What if the at-fault driver doesn't have insurance?
Your uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage steps in. UM/UIM is required to be offered on every Texas auto policy unless rejected in writing. We handle UM/UIM disputes against your own carrier the same way we handle third-party claims — hard.
Why might the ER 'clear' me and I still have a serious injury?
ER physicians focus on ruling out immediately life-threatening injuries — fractures, internal bleeding, head trauma — and they do not routinely order MRIs for soft-tissue or disc injuries that can be the most disabling long-term. Soft-tissue and disc injuries often do not show on a CT scan and require an MRI to diagnose. Follow-up imaging is often appropriate where pain, numbness, or weakness persists after the initial visit.
How quickly should I report the crash to my own insurance company?
Most Texas auto policies require notice 'as soon as practicable.' In practice, we recommend reporting your own UM/UIM and PIP coverage to your carrier within a few days — even if the other driver caused the crash. What you should NOT do is give the OTHER driver's insurance company a recorded statement. The two are different. Your own carrier needs notice to preserve coverage; the at-fault carrier needs nothing from you.
What happens to the medical bills while my case is being worked?
Texas law allows you to use your own health insurance to pay medical bills as treatment occurs — and the health insurer's subrogation right (the right to be repaid out of your settlement) is negotiable. Where you have no health insurance, we routinely refer to providers who treat on a letter of protection: the bill is paid from the settlement, not out-of-pocket. Either way, you are not stuck choosing between medical care and the case.
Does it matter if I was rear-ended versus T-boned versus sideswiped?
It matters for liability and for the kinds of injuries we look for. Rear-end crashes most often produce cervical and lumbar soft-tissue and disc injuries, plus traumatic brain injury from the head striking the headrest or window. T-bone crashes more often produce blunt-force chest, abdominal, and pelvic injuries. Sideswipes are deceptively dangerous — the lateral force tears shoulders and hips even when the vehicle damage looks minor. We work the medical workup to match the mechanism of injury.
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