Houston Personal Injury Lawyer

Quick Answers About Texas Injury Claims

• Deadline: Most Texas personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years from the date of injury (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003). Some claims—especially against government entities—require written notice much sooner.
• Fault: Texas uses "proportionate responsibility." You can recover damages only if your share of responsibility is 50% or less, and your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §§ 33.001, 33.012).
• Insurance: Texas drivers must carry at least $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per accident for injuries, and $25,000 for property damage—often written as 30/60/25 (Tex. Transp. Code § 601.072).
• Damages: Injured people may seek economic losses (medical bills, lost earnings) and non-economic losses (pain, mental anguish, impairment). Punitive ("exemplary") damages are limited by Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 41.008.
• Consultation: Our initial consultation is free.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Houston

Each type of case has its own rules, evidence, and insurance questions. Choose the page that best fits what happened to you:

Motor Vehicle Accidents

• Car accidents – rear-end, intersection, head-on, freeway, and parking-lot crashes.
• Truck and 18-wheeler accidents – commercial trucks governed by federal safety rules and higher insurance minimums.
• Motorcycle accidents – crashes where riders are often blamed unfairly.
• Uber and Lyft accidents – claims involving the special insurance rules for rideshare companies in Texas Insurance Code Chapter 1954.
• Pedestrian and bicycle accidents – collisions involving people outside a vehicle.
• Drunk driver accidents – including claims against bars that over-serve under the Texas Dram Shop Act (Tex. Alco. Bev. Code § 2.02).
• Hit-and-run and uninsured motorist claims – when the at-fault driver flees or has no insurance or not enough.

Premises and Other Injuries

• Slip and fall and premises liability – injuries caused by dangerous conditions on someone else's property.
• Dog bites – claims against owners who knew or should have known of a dangerous animal or failed to use reasonable care.
• Workplace and construction injuries – including injuries at companies that do not carry workers' compensation insurance.
• Roofing accidents – falls and other injuries on roofing and construction sites.
• Catastrophic injuries – serious, life-changing injuries that affect long-term care and earning ability.
• Wrongful death – claims by surviving family members under the Texas Wrongful Death Act (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code ch. 71).

How a Personal Injury Claim Usually Works in Texas

No two cases are the same, but most Texas injury claims follow a similar path.

1. Medical care comes first

Your health matters more than any claim. Prompt treatment also creates a record connecting your injuries to the incident. Gaps in treatment are one of the most common arguments insurance companies use to reduce claims.

2. Evidence is gathered

Evidence can disappear quickly. Depending on the case, it may include the police crash report (Texas Peace Officer's Crash Report, often called a CR-3), photographs, video from businesses or traffic cameras, witness names, vehicle data, and medical records. In Texas, crash reports can be requested through TxDOT's Crash Report Online Purchase System.

3. Insurance companies are notified

Usually the at-fault party's liability insurer handles the claim. Your own policy may also provide Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. In Texas, PIP and UM/UIM coverage are included in auto policies unless the policyholder rejected them in writing (Tex. Ins. Code §§ 1952.101, 1952.152). It is wise to speak with a lawyer before giving a recorded statement to another driver's insurer.

4. Damages are documented

Your claim is built on proof of your losses: medical bills, future treatment, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage, and the impact the injury has on your daily life. Texas law limits recovery of medical expenses to amounts actually paid or incurred (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 41.0105).

5. Negotiation

Many claims resolve through negotiation with the insurance company after treatment progresses and damages can be measured.

6. Filing a lawsuit if necessary

If a fair resolution is not reached, a lawsuit may be filed—generally in a Harris County district court or county civil court at law, or another court with jurisdiction and venue. Lawsuits involve discovery (exchanging information and depositions), often mediation, and, if the case does not settle, trial.

Texas Laws That Can Affect Your Case

Statute of limitations

The general deadline for personal injury lawsuits in Texas is two years from the date the cause of action accrues (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a)). For wrongful death, the two years generally run from the date of death (§ 16.003(b)). Missing the deadline can bar the claim entirely, so do not wait.

Claims against government entities

If a city, county, or state vehicle or property is involved, the Texas Tort Claims Act generally requires formal notice of the claim within six months of the incident, and a city charter may require notice even sooner (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101). The Act also limits the amount of damages that can be recovered (§ 101.023).

Proportionate responsibility (comparative fault)

Texas juries assign each party a percentage of responsibility. If your percentage is greater than 50%, you cannot recover damages. If it is 50% or less, your damages are reduced by your percentage (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §§ 33.001, 33.012). Insurers often try to shift blame onto injured people, which is why evidence matters.

Damages

Texas law recognizes economic damages (such as medical expenses and lost earnings) and non-economic damages (such as physical pain, mental anguish, disfigurement, and physical impairment) (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 41.001). Exemplary damages may be available only in limited situations, such as gross negligence proven by clear and convincing evidence, and are capped (§§ 41.003, 41.008).

Texas is an "at-fault" state

Texas follows a fault-based system for car accidents. The driver who caused the crash—and that driver's insurance company—is generally responsible for the resulting damages, up to policy limits.

What to Do After an Injury in Houston

1. Call 911 if anyone is hurt and get medical care.
2. If you were in a vehicle crash, stay at the scene and exchange information as Texas law requires (Tex. Transp. Code §§ 550.021–550.023).
3. Take photos of the scene, vehicles, hazards, and your injuries.
4. Get names and phone numbers of witnesses.
5. Keep receipts, bills, and records of missed work.
6. Do not post about the incident on social media.
7. Be careful talking to the other side's insurance adjuster.
8. Talk with a lawyer about deadlines and next steps.

How Basu Law Firm Helps Injured Houstonians

When you contact our firm, we listen to what happened, review the information you have, and explain the options available to you under Texas law. If we represent you, our work can include investigating the incident, requesting reports and records, identifying every potential insurance policy, communicating with insurers so you can focus on recovery, documenting your damages, negotiating, and filing suit when needed.

We serve clients throughout Houston and Harris County, and nearby communities. Our West Houston office is at 8612 Long Point Rd, Houston, TX 77055, close to the Harris County Civil Courthouse and near Memorial City Mall and the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center. Consultations can be scheduled by phone, email, or in person. Se habla español.

Annie Basu (Abogada Annie) is the founder of Basu Law Firm and a graduate of South Texas College of Law Houston. She speaks Spanish, English, and Hindi.

Related pages

More Houston personal injury topics:

• Houston Car Accident Lawyer
• Houston 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer
• Houston Truck Accident Lawyer
• Houston Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
• Houston Uber / Lyft Accident Lawyer
• Houston Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
• Dog Bite Lawyer (Houston)
• Motor Vehicle Accidents

Basu Law Firm at a Glance

• 3,200+ personal injury matters (firm records through October 31, 2026)
• Rated 4.8 stars from 960+ Google reviews (as of October 2026)
• Serving Houston clients since 2006, per firm records
• Office at 8612 Long Point Rd, Houston, TX 77055 · Se habla español

Case figures are counts of matters logged in Basu Law Firm's internal records as of October 2026 and include matters with all kinds of outcomes. Google reviews reflect the individual opinions of the reviewers. Past results and reviews do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any other matter; every case depends on its own facts.

Talk With Basu Law Firm

Call (713) 460-2673 or email info@basulaw.com to schedule a free consultation. Fax: 281-404-9142. Se habla español.

Basu Law Firm, PLLC
8612 Long Point Rd
Houston, TX 77055

Reach Out To Basu Law Firm Today

Attorney Advertising & Disclaimer

Attorney advertising. Responsible attorney: Annie Basu, Basu Law Firm, PLLC, 8612 Long Point Rd, Houston, TX 77055. This page provides general information about Texas law and is not legal advice. Reading it or contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different, and no particular outcome is promised. Unless a page states otherwise, the attorneys of Basu Law Firm are not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Laws change; information is current as of the date of review and should be confirmed for your situation.