Houston is one of the most congested driving cities in the United States. Add in I-10 truck traffic, the Katy Freeway expansion, and the 610 Loop at rush hour, and the math is grim: car accidents in Texas are common, and the insurance industry is well-practiced at minimizing what they pay you when one happens to you.
Newman Injury Law has spent 13+ years on the other side of that table. We've recovered more than $20 million for clients, and we've handled over 1,000 cases — many of them involving exactly the kind of car wreck you're dealing with right now.
How Texas car accident law actually works
Texas's modified comparative fault rule means the insurance company has a clear incentive: shift as much of the blame onto you as they can. Every percentage point of fault they pin on you reduces what you collect. Tip past 50% and you collect nothing.
That's why what you say in the days after an accident matters so much — and why we tell clients to refer the at-fault carrier directly to us.
Common causes of Houston car wrecks
- Distracted driving (Tex. Trans. Code § 545.4251)
- Drunk or impaired driving (Tex. Penal Code § 49.04)
- Speeding on I-10, I-45, US-59, and the Beltway
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Aggressive or road-rage driving
- Unsafe lane changes / merges
- Drowsy commuter driving (especially long Katy/Sugar Land commutes)
- Weather-related crashes (rain on I-69, fog near the Gulf)
Injuries we routinely see
Even a "minor" rear-end collision at 25 mph can produce injuries that take months — or years — to fully manifest. Soft-tissue damage, disc herniation, and concussion symptoms are notoriously under-diagnosed at the ER.
- Whiplash and cervical strain
- Herniated and bulging discs
- Concussions / traumatic brain injuries
- Shoulder, wrist, and rotator cuff injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Internal organ damage
- Soft-tissue back injuries
- PTSD and emotional trauma
Compensation we pursue
A car accident claim isn't just about your hospital bill. Texas law lets us pursue a much fuller picture of what the crash has cost you — including damages the insurance company will never volunteer to pay.
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Property damage (vehicle, contents)
- Loss of consortium
- Disfigurement and disability
- Punitive damages in DUI / gross negligence cases
What to do after a car accident in Texas
- Get medical attention immediately. Even if you feel okay. Adrenaline masks injuries, and a gap in medical records gives insurers ammunition to argue you weren't really hurt.
- Call the police. Get a Texas Peace Officer's Crash Report (CR-3). It's the single most important early document in your case.
- Document the scene. Photos of all vehicles, license plates, debris field, road conditions, traffic signals. Witness names and phone numbers if possible.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company.
- Call us before you sign anything. Especially a release or "final settlement" check. Once signed, the claim is over.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Texas?
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 sets a two-year statute of limitations for most car accident personal injury claims, measured from the date of the accident. Wrongful death claims also generally carry a two-year deadline. Missing the deadline almost always permanently bars the claim, so call us as early as you can — even if you're still under treatment.
What if I was partly at fault for the accident?
Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001. You can still recover if you are 50% or less at fault, but your recovery is reduced by your share of fault. If you are 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing. This is why the insurance company will work hard to attribute fault to you — and why what you say in the first 48 hours matters.
Should I talk to the other driver's insurance company?
No. Adjusters for the at-fault driver's carrier are not on your side. Their job is to close your claim for as little as possible. Statements made early — even casual ones — are routinely used to reduce or deny claims later. Refer them to your lawyer.
What if the other driver was uninsured?
If you carry Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your own policy, that's the policy we'll pursue. Texas insurers are required to offer UM/UIM coverage; if you weren't expressly offered it in writing and didn't reject it, you may have it even if you don't remember buying it. We'll review your declarations page during the free consultation.
What does it cost to hire a car accident lawyer?
Nothing up front. We work on contingency: you pay only if we recover compensation for you. The consultation is free, and we advance every cost of the case — investigators, expert witnesses, court fees, medical record requests — so you can focus on getting better.
How much is my Texas car accident case worth?
It depends. The honest factors are: severity and permanence of injuries, total medical bills (past and projected), lost wages and earning capacity, available insurance coverage on the at-fault driver's policy, and your share of fault. We've recovered settlements ranging from the low six figures to over $1 million on individual auto cases. Tell us what happened and we'll give you a real assessment.