Pasadena Personal Injury Attorney — Serving Harris County, TX

How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Texas? In most cases, you must file a lawsuit within two years from the date of the injury. Certain exceptions can extend or shorten this deadline, so it is important to consult promptly to preserve your legal options.

You can seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and future care costs, as well as non-economic damages like pain and suffering. The exact types and amounts depend on the facts of your case and documented losses. An attorney can help calculate current and projected damages and work to present a demand that accounts for both immediate and long-term needs arising from the injury.

Many personal injury claims are resolved through negotiated settlements with insurance companies, avoiding trial. Settlement is often faster and less costly, but it must fairly compensate for your losses. If a fair resolution cannot be reached, filing a lawsuit and proceeding to trial may be necessary. We prepare each claim as though it could go to court to maximize negotiating leverage.

Most personal injury firms, including ours, work on a contingency-fee basis for injury claims, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Costs and fee arrangements will be explained during the initial consultation. You should also ask about how litigation expenses are handled and whether any costs are advanced by the firm or deducted from a recovery.

You are not obligated to provide a recorded statement to the other party’s insurer, and doing so can sometimes harm your claim if inconsistencies appear later. It is wise to consult with counsel before speaking to opposing insurers. If you must provide basic information for your own insurance, stick to factual details and avoid guessing about fault or future medical needs until you have documentation and legal advice.

Proving liability typically involves showing that the defendant had a duty, breached that duty, and that the breach caused your injuries. Evidence can include police reports, witness statements, surveillance video, and expert opinions. Medical records and testimony linking injuries to the incident are also critical, as they establish causation and the extent of damages for compensation purposes.

Texas applies a modified comparative fault rule that reduces your recovery by your percentage of fault, provided you are not more than 50% responsible for the incident. If you are over 50% at fault, you generally cannot recover damages. An attorney can help investigate the facts to minimize your assigned fault and advocate for a fair apportionment based on the evidence.

Case timelines vary widely based on the complexity of injuries, the need for ongoing medical treatment, and whether the matter settles or goes to trial. Some matters resolve in months, while others take a year or more when litigation is necessary. We provide clients with realistic timelines based on the specifics of their case and stay in regular contact about progress and key milestones.

If the at-fault party has limited insurance, recovery may still be possible through your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, third-party claims, or pursuing other liable parties. Each situation requires careful review of policies and available assets. We evaluate all potential sources of recovery to maximize compensation for medical bills and other losses, including coverage analysis and negotiations with insurers.

Bring any medical records, bills, police reports, photographs of the incident or injuries, insurance information, and notes about how the injury has affected your life. These items help us evaluate your claim efficiently. If records are not yet complete, provide what you have and our team will guide you on additional documentation to obtain and steps to preserve evidence.