Texas Car Accident Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Texas car accident attorneys who can navigate the state’s modified comparative fault rule and use the Stowers doctrine to push insurers toward fair settlements. Whether your crash happened on I-35 through Austin, on I-10 through Houston, or anywhere from Dallas to El Paso, we’ll match you with the right attorney — at no cost to get started.

Two years from the date of the crash for personal injury and property damage under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003. Claims against governmental units under the Texas Tort Claims Act (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101) require notice within 6 months.

You pursue the at-fault driver and their liability insurer directly. Texas does not require no-fault PIP, though PIP is offered as an option. If you contributed to the crash, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, and if you’re more than 50% at fault, you recover nothing under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001.

You file an uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) claim against your own policy. Texas insurers must offer UM/UIM coverage but it can be rejected in writing under Tex. Ins. Code § 1952.101.

The Stowers doctrine (Stowers Furniture Co. v. American Indem. Co.) creates a duty for insurers to accept reasonable settlement demands within policy limits when liability is clear. If they refuse and the insured is hit with a judgment above limits, the insurer can be liable for the excess. A skilled Texas attorney uses Stowers demands to pressure insurers to pay full policy limits.

It depends on medical bills, lost income, future treatment, vehicle damage, and the strength of your liability evidence. Texas does not cap compensatory damages in standard auto cases. Punitive damages are capped under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 41.008 at the greater of $200,000 or 2x economic damages plus non-economic damages up to $750,000.

The same statute of limitations and fault rules apply, but Texas’s urban interstates see heavy commercial truck traffic, especially around Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, and the border. Federal trucking regulations and multiple insurers add complexity.

Texas car accident attorneys typically work on contingency: no upfront cost, paid a percentage of the recovery if they win. Typical contingency fees range from 33% to 40%. If there’s no recovery, you owe no attorney fee.

Why Do You Need a Car Accident Attorney in Texas?

Texas records over 550,000 crashes each year — more than any other state — with serious injuries concentrated along I-10, I-35, I-45, and I-20. Texas follows modified comparative fault under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001 — recovery is barred if your fault exceeds 50%. Texas’s Stowers doctrine creates bad-faith pressure on insurers to settle within policy limits when liability is clear. Texas caps punitive damages but not most compensatory damages in standard auto cases.

When Do You Need a Car Accident Attorney in Texas?

Our network includes Texas car accident attorneys who handle every kind of case, including:

Types of Car Accident Cases in Texas

From the moment you connect with a Texas car accident attorney, they go to work protecting your claim. The most common case types we handle:

Not understanding that more than 50% fault in Texas means zero recovery

Failing to use a Stowers demand to pressure insurers into paying policy limits

Missing the 6-month notice deadline under the Texas Tort Claims Act

Accepting a quick settlement before the full extent of injuries is known

Giving a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurer without legal counsel

Missing the 2-year statute of limitations under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003

Not understanding that more than 50% fault in Texas means zero recovery

Failing to use a Stowers demand to pressure insurers into paying policy limits

Missing the 6-month notice deadline under the Texas Tort Claims Act

Accepting a quick settlement before the full extent of injuries is known

Giving a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurer without legal counsel

Missing the 2-year statute of limitations under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003

Common Texas Car Accident Mistakes

Even a small misstep can hurt your case. Here’s what to avoid:

How Much Do Texas Car Accident Attorneys Cost?

33%

Typical starting contingency fee — you pay nothing unless your attorney recovers compensation for you.

Car accident attorneys in Texas work on a contingency fee basis — typically 33% to 40% of the total recovery. Case costs are typically advanced by the firm and deducted from the final recovery.

What Can Your Texas Car Accident Compensation Include?

Economic Damages

All medical expenses, lost wages, future care costs, and other quantifiable losses — no statutory cap.

Non-Economic Damages

Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment — no statutory cap in standard auto cases.

Punitive (Exemplary) Damages

Available under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 41.003 for malice or gross negligence (e.g., DWI). Capped at the greater of $200,000 or 2x economic damages plus non-economic damages up to $750,000.

Property Damage

Repair or replacement of your vehicle and personal belongings. Pursued through the at-fault driver’s property damage coverage.

Wrongful Death

Recovery for loss of consortium, services, and pre-death pain and suffering via survival action under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 71.002 and § 71.021.

Dram Shop Damages

Separate recovery under Tex. Alco. Bev. Code § 2.02 against establishments that served an obviously intoxicated patron who then caused injury.

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DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.

Texas Car Accident Attorneys

Why Do You Need a Car Accident Attorney in Texas?

When Do You Need a Car Accident Attorney in Texas?

Types of Car Accident Cases in Texas

Common Texas Car Accident Mistakes

How Much Do Texas Car Accident Attorneys Cost?

What Can Your Texas Car Accident Compensation Include?

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