Our Practice Areas

Motor Vehicle Accidents

• Car Accidents
• Fatal Car Accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Drunk Driving Accidents
• Rideshare Accidents (Uber & Lyft)
• Uninsured Motorist Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Bus Accidents
• Bicycle Accidents
• Airplane & Helicopter Accidents
• Boating Accidents

Serious Injuries and Wrongful Death

• Amputation Injury
• Back, Neck and Spinal Injury 
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Burn Injury
• Wrongful Death

Workplace Injuries

• Maritime Injury
• Jones Act
• Underwater Welding
• Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act
• Oil Rig Injury
• Work Injury
• Industrial Equipment Accident
• OSHA Violations
• Toxic Chemical Exposure

How Our Injury Lawyers Can Help You With The Legal Process

5 Step Injury Lawsuit Process

Most people have never been involved in a personal injury lawsuit and are unfamiliar with the process of pursuing a claim in court. Although most cases are settled before trial, it is useful to understand the steps involved in a personal injury lawsuit. Below is a general overview of the personal injury lawsuit process.

1. Investigation

Once you’ve hired a personal injury attorney, your lawyer will need to conduct an investigation to determine the cause of your accident and who is responsible. In a personal injury lawsuit, you must be able to prove that you were injured in an accident, another party’s negligence caused the accident, and that the accident resulted in your injuries.

During an investigation, your attorney will collect evidence that is necessary to prove liability and support your claim for compensation. This may include reviewing your medical records, interviewing witnesses, taking photos or videos of the scene of the accident, obtaining police reports, and consulting with experts.

2. Filing a Claim

Insurance issues can be complex. If a settlement cannot be reached with the insurance company or responsible party, your lawyer can file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf.

Preparing and filing a personal injury claim (known as a petition or complaint) is a complicated task that requires an understanding of the laws that apply to your case, where claims must be filed, the timelines for filing, and knowledge of civil procedure rules.

Once the defendant(s) has been provided legal notice of the lawsuit, the parties involved will submit various pleadings, motions, and responses throughout the pre-trial phase.

Texas Personal Injury Statute of Limitations

There are important time limitations for filing your personal injury claim. Generally you have 2 years from the date of the accident to file your claim.

However, it is in your best interest to speak with a qualified injury attorney as soon as possible to give your lawyers as much time as possible to conduct a full investigation.

After the statute of Limitations passes, you will no longer be able to file an injury claim.

3. Discovery Process

After a personal injury claim lawsuit is filed in court, the discovery process begins. Discovery is governed by rules of civil procedure and is the process by which opposing parties exchange information about evidence that each side will be using in the case. Discovery tools can include any of the following:

• Oral or Written Depositions
• Interrogatories
• Requests for admission or disclosure
• Requests for production
• Request for mental or physical exams

4. Settlement Negotiations

Settlement negotiations will typically commence following the discovery process, but a settlement agreement can be reached at any point during a lawsuit.

In fact, the overwhelming majority of personal injury lawsuits are resolved through a settlement agreement and do not proceed to trial.

The court can also order parties to enter into mediation or arbitration, whereby a neutral third party helps opposing sides reach a mutually satisfactory resolution to a dispute. You should always consult with your personal injury lawyer before accepting a settlement offer.

5. Trial

If the parties cannot come to an agreement regarding settlement, the case will proceed to trial. At trial, each side will present evidence and either a judge or jury will decide the outcome of the case. If you’re able to successfully prove your personal injury case, you may be able to recover compensation damages for past and future:

• Medical costs
• Loss of earning capacity
• Physical limitations
• Disfigurement
• Mental anguish
• Physical pain

Basics of Personal Injury Damages

There are two types of Texas personal injury damages: compensatory and exemplary (punitive damages) such as in drunk driving accident claims.

Compensatory damages are designed to make the plaintiff whole and include economic damages and non-economic damages like:

• Medical bills
• Prescription medications
• Lost income and benefits
• Lost earning capacity
• Physical pain
• Mental anguish
• Physical limitations or disability
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Rehabilitation and therapy costs