Yes, you should get a lawyer if your car accident was not your fault and you were injured, fault is disputed, or the insurance company is offering a low settlement. In Texas, comparative fault rules mean the other side will look for ways to reduce your payout. A lawyer protects your claim from the start.
Yes, you should. The other driver’s insurance company is not your partner. Their job is to pay you as little as possible. They do not explain your rights and will not tell you how much your claim is really worth.
Not because you did anything wrong, but because a lawyer handles everything: communication with the insurance company, gathering evidence, calculating your full damages, and negotiating your settlement. Not being at fault is not enough. You pay nothing unless we win, so there’s no financial risk to hiring a lawyer.
Get a car accident lawyer if any of these apply to your accident:
A lawyer protects your rights and ensures you do not settle for less than you deserve.
Not every car accident requires legal assistance. You may not need a lawyer for these cases:
Even if all four conditions are true, you can negotiate on your own. But if the insurer delays, disputes, or lowballs you, that is a sign you may need a car accident lawyer.
A car accident lawyer handles every part of your personal injury claim so you can focus on recovering. A lawyer will:
The other driver’s insurance will work against you even when the other driver was clearly at fault. Common insurance company tactics include:
A lawyer prevents all of these tactics. Whether you are in Houston or anywhere else in Texas, once you have a lawyer, you do not speak to the insurance company directly.
Claimants with lawyers recover significantly more. Data from Nolo shows lawyers secure payouts nearly 3.6x higher on average. 91% of claimants with a lawyer received a payout compared to only 51% of claimants without a lawyer. The average payout in settlements with a lawyer is $77,600, while the average payout without a lawyer is $17,600.
Insurance companies know unrepresented claimants do not know the full value of their claim and will settle for less.
Get a lawyer for a minor accident if you feel any soreness, stiffness, or pain in the hours or days after the accident. Also, if the insurance company is slow to respond or offers far less than your repair costs.
Minor accidents are the most common situation where people skip legal help and regret it later. Symptoms like whiplash and soft tissue injuries often do not appear until 24 to 72 hours after the crash. If you settle before those symptoms surface, you cannot reopen the claim. A personal injury lawyer can evaluate your case before you accept anything.
You have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Texas. Miss this deadline, and your claim is permanently barred. This deadline applies to claims against the at-fault driver and their insurance company.
Insurance companies will delay negotiations until the deadline approaches. A lawyer prevents this and ensures your claim is filed on time.
Comparative fault in Texas means your payout is reduced if the other side can prove you were even partially responsible for the crash. If the other driver’s insurance company can shift even a small percentage of blame to you, your compensation drops by that amount.
Texas personal injury laws determine that if you are 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing. The other driver’s insurance company will look for any evidence that you were even partially at fault.
Thompson Law offers Houston car accident victims a Free Consultation with No Fee Unless We Win. We handle everything: insurance company communication, evidence gathering, and paperwork, so you can focus on recovering. We are Texas-based lawyers who know Texas law and how insurers work against not-at-fault drivers.
Contact us today to understand what your claim is worth before the insurer sets the terms.
Yes. If you were injured, fault is disputed, the insurance company offers a low settlement, a commercial vehicle was involved, the other driver fled, or your claim was denied, you need a lawyer to protect your claim.
Claimants with lawyers recover nearly 3.6 times more on average. Payouts are about $77,600 with a lawyer and $17,600 without. 91% of claimants with a lawyer receive a payout compared to only 51% without a lawyer.
Two years from the date of the accident. This date cannot be extended for most cases.
Texas follows a modified comparative fault. You can recover compensation only if you are 50% or less at fault. Your payout is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing.
Sí, ofrecemos servicios legales en español si tuviste un accidente automovilístico en Texas. Contáctanos para una consulta gratuita. No tienes que pagar nada si no ganamos tu caso.
Thompson Law charges NO FEE unless we obtain a settlement for your case. We’ve put over $2.1 billion in cash settlements in our clients’ pockets. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your accident, get your questions answered, and understand your legal options.
State law limits the time you have to file a claim after an injury accident, so call today.
