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Austin and central Texas · Travis · Williamson · Hays · Bastrop

Austin car accident lawyer for the whole central Texas region

If you or someone you love was hit on I-35, on MoPac, on 183, or on any street in this area, you talk to the attorney handling your case, and we do not charge a fee unless we win. Se habla español.

(512) 500-2810

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We cover all of central Texas, including Austin, Round Rock, San Marcos, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Leander, Kyle, Buda, Bee Cave, Manor, Bastrop, Hutto, Taylor, Dripping Springs, Lakeway and Cedar Park.

Free consultation · No fee unless we win · Immigration status does not stop a claim

What actually happens on Austin roads

Every figure below comes from the City of Austin's own crash record, which the City builds from the crash reports Austin Police and other agencies file into the TxDOT CRIS system. It covers crashes inside the Austin full-purpose city limits in 2025. We pulled it on 2026-08-10 and it is reproducible from the dataset itself.

11,973

Crashes reported in Austin in 2025

About 32.8 a day inside the city limits, every day of the year.

7,981

People hurt

307 of those injuries were classified as suspected serious.

99

People killed

Across 97 fatal crashes. 45 were people in vehicles, 30 were on foot, 16 were on motorcycles.

1,527

Crashes in a work zone

12.8% of the year's crashes happened where the road was under construction.

2,421

Crashes between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.

20.2% of the crashes, and 46.5% of the deaths. Six hours of the day carry almost half the fatalities.

3,478

Rear-end and stopped-traffic crashes

29% of all Austin crashes. It is the single most common way people get hurt here.

Where the crashes happened, by road

Crashes reported on each road inside the Austin city limits in 2025. The I-35 row includes the main lanes and the frontage roads in both directions; the frontage-road line under it is part of that total, not additional to it.

RoadCrashesSerious injuriesDeaths
I-35 (main lanes and frontage roads)1,869339
I-35 frontage roads alone555174
MoPac (Loop 1)766124
Research Blvd (US-183)45783
Lamar Blvd362206
Ben White Blvd (TX-71)316175
Parmer Ln26873
US-29022242
William Cannon Dr171104
Burnet Rd14020
RM 62013731

Five years of Austin crashes

YearCrashesPeople injuredSerious injuriesDeaths
202113,1958,769520114
202213,6529,139542117
202313,0228,66547190
202412,0518,42741997
202511,9737,98130799

Statewide, TxDOT counted 3,769 traffic deaths in 2025, down 9.38% from 4,159 the year before, across 314,006 million vehicle miles traveled. That works out to 1.2 deaths per hundred million miles driven and an estimated $54.2 billion in economic loss.

One honest limit on all of this: the Austin dataset stops at the city's full-purpose boundary. Round Rock, Georgetown, Kyle, San Marcos, Hutto and the rest of the suburbs are not counted in it, and TxDOT publishes county-level counts only through its query application. Where you see a number on this page, it is Austin or it is statewide, and we have said which.

Hit this week? Call today while the evidence is still there.

Free consultation, English or Spanish. No fee unless we win your case.

Call (512) 500-2810

What to do in the first 48 hours

What you do in the first two days shapes the whole case. These are the six things we most often see decide the outcome, and most of them are free.

  1. 1

    Call 911 and let an officer document the scene

    Who shows up depends on where you were hit. Inside city limits it is the municipal department, which in Austin is the Austin Police Department. On the interstate, the state highways, and the toll roads outside a city, it is a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper. On county roads it is the Travis, Williamson, Hays, or Bastrop County sheriff. Ask for a report every time, even when the other driver wants to settle it between the two of you in the road.

  2. 2

    Get seen by a doctor the same day

    Neck, back, and head injuries usually announce themselves a day or two later, once the adrenaline drops. A gap between the crash and your first medical visit is the first thing an adjuster reaches for to argue you were never hurt. Go to the emergency room, an urgent care, or your own doctor that day, and describe every complaint, including the ones that feel minor.

  3. 3

    Photograph everything before the cars get moved

    Shoot both vehicles from all four corners, the resting position in the lane, the glass and debris on the pavement, the skid marks, the signs and signals, and your own injuries. On an I-35 frontage-road crash or a MoPac interchange, where the debris landed often settles which car crossed the line.

  4. 4

    Get witness names and numbers on the spot

    A witness who does not make it into the report is a witness you lost. The officer cannot always interview everyone, especially in a multi-car wreck at rush hour. Ask anyone who stopped for a name and a number, and note whether a nearby business has a camera pointed at the street.

  5. 5

    Request your CR-3 crash report

    The Texas crash report is called a CR-3 and the responding officer fills it out. TxDOT normally publishes it about ten days after the crash through the state crash records system. That document is the first thing the adjuster reads, so it is worth reviewing early. Errors in the diagram, the direction of travel, or a driver name are far easier to correct in the first few weeks.

  6. 6

    Do not give the other insurer a recorded statement

    The other driver’s adjuster will call quickly and will sound helpful. The job is to close your claim for as little as possible. You are not required to give a recorded statement or to sign an open-ended medical records authorization. You can say your attorney will be in touch and end the call.

The roads here, and why your crash happened where it did

Every corridor in this area has its own crash pattern. Knowing how the stretch where you were hit actually works helps prove who was at fault, because the place explains the maneuver.

I-35, from downtown Austin to Georgetown and San Marcos

I-35 is the spine of the Austin area and its worst stretch. Through downtown, the upper and lower decks, the short entrance ramps, and the constant weaving between main lanes and frontage roads produce rear-end and sideswipe crashes at every hour. North through Round Rock and Georgetown it carries some of the heaviest congestion in central Texas. South it runs through Buda, Kyle, and San Marcos, where outlet-mall traffic and the Texas State University exits add their own pattern. The I-35 rebuild keeps lanes shifted, concrete barriers up, and the configuration changing from one month to the next.

MoPac (Loop 1)

MoPac runs parallel to I-35 on the west side. The express lane is separated by flexible posts, and drivers cutting in or out of it away from the legal entry points cause frequent sideswipes. The classic bottlenecks are the downtown merge and the north stretch near Parmer Lane. The MoPac interchange with US-183 brings two high-speed highways together on tight ramps and shows up repeatedly in our own case files.

US-183 and 183A, from Leander and Cedar Park to the airport

US-183 changes character several times in a few miles. Northwest it runs as Bell Boulevard through downtown Cedar Park with signals and commercial driveways. Further north, 183A Toll carries fast traffic down from Leander. Through north Austin it is Research Boulevard, elevated lanes over frontage roads, and a lot of crashes happen right where traffic drops off the upper deck onto the frontage. South of the river, 183 South becomes a tollway to the airport.

Ben White Boulevard (TX-71) and the South Lamar crossing

Ben White is the east-west route across south Austin and the natural road to the airport. The intersection with South Lamar Boulevard concentrates left turns across fast traffic and is a known side-impact location. East of there, Ben White meets I-35 in an interchange with short ramps and a lot of merging in very little space.

The Oak Hill Y

Where US-290 and TX-71 come together in southwest Austin sits the Oak Hill Y, one of the oldest funnels in the city. Everything coming in from Dripping Springs and the Hill Country on 290 meets everything coming in from Bee Cave and Lakeway on 71, and the two streams squeeze into a handful of lanes. The corridor rebuild has moved traffic in phases, with detours and temporary lanes. In a work-zone crash it matters how the stretch was signed and striped that day, because last week’s configuration no longer exists.

RM 620, Lakeway and Bee Cave

RM 620 is effectively the only road serving Lakeway, Bee Cave, and the south-shore communities of Lake Travis, and it is one of the most congested corridors in the region. Crashes cluster at the TX-71 intersection in Bee Cave, at Lakeway Boulevard, and at Lohmans Crossing. Weekend lake traffic and the absence of an alternate route mean one crash stops the whole corridor.

SH-130 and SH-45, the eastern toll roads

SH-130 loops the Austin area to the east through Pflugerville, Manor, Hutto, and Taylor. Some segments are posted at 85 miles per hour, the highest limit in the country. At that speed, a crash that would be a fender-bender on a city street becomes a serious-injury case. The SH-130 and SH-45 interchange and the connections to US-79 and US-290 East are where we see the most multi-vehicle wrecks.

US-79 through Round Rock, Hutto and Taylor

US-79, called Palm Valley Boulevard through parts of it, connects Round Rock to Hutto and Taylor. Construction of the Samsung semiconductor plant in the Taylor area has filled that corridor with construction traffic, worker trucks, and heavy equipment. The intersections at CR 108 (Exchange Boulevard), FM 1660, and SH-95 carry the crashes.

US-290 East toward Manor and TX-71 toward Bastrop

The two eastern exits from the Austin area share a problem: long stretches of two-lane-each-way road, private driveways and new subdivisions feeding straight onto it, and highway speeds. US-290 East runs through Manor and meets SH-130 there. TX-71 drops toward Bastrop along the Colorado River and is the daily commute for thousands of people who work in Austin and live in Bastrop County. Head-on crashes and turning crashes at driveways dominate both corridors.

Hill Country roads and the area FMs

FM 2222 (Bull Creek Road) climbs into the northwest hills with blind curves and short sight lines. RR 12 and FM 1826 serve Dripping Springs, with weekend traffic headed to distilleries, wineries, and event venues. FM 1626 and FM 967 connect Buda to Kyle and Dripping Springs. SH-29 crosses Georgetown east to west, and Williams Drive (FM 2338) feeds the northwest side of Williamson County. These roads were built for rural volumes and now carry suburban traffic.

The county where you crashed changes your case

Central Texas spreads across several counties, each with its own courts, its own jury pool, and its own timelines. These are the four that come up most in cases from this area. Living in Austin does not mean your case is tried in Austin.

Travis County

Travis County Civil Courthouse · 1700 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78701

Travis County has several district courts handling civil matters, all in downtown Austin.

Cities: Austin, Pflugerville, Manor, Lakeway, Bee Cave

It carries the heaviest civil docket in the Austin area and the longest waits to reach trial.

Williamson County

Williamson County Justice Center · 405 Martin Luther King Jr St, Georgetown, TX 78626

The 26th, 277th, 368th, and 425th District Courts handle the county’s civil matters.

Cities: Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Leander, Hutto, Taylor

Williamson is one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas and draws a different jury pool than Travis. A crash on I-35 at Round Rock is tried in Georgetown, not Austin.

Hays County

Hays County Government Center · 712 S Stagecoach Trail, San Marcos, TX 78666

The 22nd, 207th, and 428th District Courts handle the county’s civil matters.

Cities: San Marcos, Kyle, Buda, Dripping Springs

Buda sits fifteen miles from downtown Austin and the case still files in San Marcos. It is the most common point of confusion for clients on the south corridor.

Bastrop County

Bastrop County Courthouse · 804 Pecan St, Bastrop, TX 78602

The 21st and 335th District Courts handle civil matters at the Bastrop courthouse.

Cities: Bastrop and the TX-71 corridor east of Austin

The TX-71 corridor crosses the Travis-Bastrop line, so two crashes a few miles apart can end up in different courthouses.

The general Texas venue rule sits in Section 15.002 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code: suit is filed in the county where a substantial part of the events happened, or in the county where the defendant lives. When those two point at different counties, the choice is a strategic one that changes the jury pool, the court’s calendar, and how long the case takes. It is one of the first things we look at when a case from this area comes in.

The types of crash we handle

The kind of impact decides what has to be proved, which evidence disappears first, and which Texas statute applies. These are the ones we see most in central Texas. If yours is not on the list, call anyway.

Car accidents generally

Also called: auto accident, car wreck, motor vehicle collision

The ordinary Austin crash happens in stopped or nearly stopped traffic: I-35 at rush hour, a queue on a frontage road, a light on Lamar. Low speed does not mean low injury, and insurers count on you believing otherwise. Rear-end and stopped-traffic crashes were 29% of every crash reported inside Austin in 2025.

How fault gets proved

Fault turns on which driver failed the duty to operate a vehicle safely. Police reports, witness statements, traffic-camera footage, and phone records establish the at-fault driver’s negligence. Texas follows modified comparative fault, and recovery is barred only if the injured party is more than 50 percent at fault.

The Texas law that applies

Chapter 545 of the Transportation Code sets the rules of the road every driver has to follow. Chapter 33 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code governs how fault is apportioned between the parties, and Section 16.003 sets the two-year deadline to file suit.

Texas Transportation Code Chapter 545 · Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Chapter 33 · Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003

Rear-end collisions

Also called: getting rear-ended, being hit from behind, a rear-ender

This is the most common crash in the area. Sudden slowdowns on I-35, ramp queues on MoPac, and abrupt stops in work zones produce rear impacts every day. Whiplash is the signature injury, along with herniated discs, concussions, and chronic back pain that shows up days later. Of the 11,973 crashes reported in Austin in 2025, 3,478 were a rear-end or a strike on stopped traffic.

How fault gets proved

The following driver is presumed at fault, because every driver owes a duty to keep a safe following distance. That presumption can be rebutted in narrow cases, such as when the lead vehicle reverses suddenly or has burned-out brake lights. Insurers minimize these claims by calling them minor impacts, so documenting every symptom and finishing treatment is what sets the value.

The Texas law that applies

Section 545.062 of the Transportation Code requires an assured clear distance ahead, and that is the legal basis for liability in rear-end crashes. Texas courts have held there is no minimum speed threshold for a valid personal injury claim.

Texas Transportation Code Chapter 545 · Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Chapter 33

Head-on collisions

Also called: wrong-way crash, frontal collision, crossing the center line

Head-on crashes in this area concentrate on the undivided two-lane roads: TX-71 toward Bastrop, US-290 toward Dripping Springs, RR 12, FM 1826, FM 2222 in the hills. One moment of distraction or drowsiness sends a vehicle into oncoming traffic, and the impact carries the speed of both cars. Inside Austin city limits, opposite-direction crashes where both cars were going straight numbered 158 in 2025 — rare, and disproportionately severe.

How fault gets proved

Fault is usually clear because one driver crossed into the opposing lane. Physical evidence — debris patterns, skid marks, vehicle deformation — shows who crossed the center line. When intoxication or distraction is involved, toxicology and phone records also support a claim for exemplary damages.

The Texas law that applies

Section 545.051 of the Transportation Code requires driving on the right half of the roadway. Chapter 41 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code allows exemplary damages where intoxication is involved, and Sections 71.001 through 71.012 govern the wrongful death claims these crashes produce too often.

Texas Transportation Code Chapter 545 · Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Chapter 41 · Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code §§ 71.001-71.012

T-bone and intersection crashes

Also called: side-impact, broadside, angle collision, running a red light

The side impact is the Austin intersection crash. It happens when someone runs a red light or turns left without yielding: Ben White at South Lamar, N Lamar at US-183, SH-29 at DB Wood in Georgetown, FM 685 through downtown Pflugerville. The side of a car protects far less than the front, so injuries are severe out of proportion to the speed. Angle crashes were 2,596 of Austin’s 2025 total, and another 913 were an oncoming car turning left across a driver going straight.

How fault gets proved

Liability turns on who had the right of way. Traffic-camera footage, witness testimony, and signal timing records are the evidence that decides it. Rapid growth has pushed volume onto intersections that were never designed for it, and where a poorly maintained or poorly signed intersection contributed, the entity responsible for that maintenance can share liability.

The Texas law that applies

Section 544.007 of the Transportation Code defines what traffic signals mean, and Section 545.151 sets right of way at uncontrolled intersections. Disobeying a traffic-control device is negligence per se under Texas law.

Texas Transportation Code Chapter 544 · Texas Transportation Code Chapter 545

Hit-and-run crashes

Also called: the other driver took off, fled the scene, unidentified driver

Hit-and-run crashes in the Austin area cluster at night, downtown and along the bar and restaurant corridors, and in shopping-center parking lots. The victim is left with the medical bills and nobody to bill. We move fast: traffic cameras, nearby business surveillance, vehicle debris on the pavement, and paint transfer.

How fault gets proved

Identifying the driver who left is the first job. When they cannot be identified, you still recover through your own uninsured motorist coverage. If the driver surfaces later, the act of fleeing itself is evidence of consciousness of guilt and supports an additional claim.

The Texas law that applies

Section 550.021 of the Transportation Code requires any driver involved in a crash with injury or death to stop, give information, and render aid. Fleeing is a felony where there is serious injury or death.

Texas Transportation Code § 550.021 · Texas Insurance Code § 1952.101

Distracted driving crashes

Also called: texting and driving, phone use behind the wheel, inattentive driver

Stopped traffic on I-35 and MoPac is exactly where people pick up the phone. A driver who looks down for three seconds at 60 miles per hour covers most of a city block blind. Phone records, app usage data, and the vehicle’s infotainment logs prove what the driver denies.

How fault gets proved

Witness testimony that a driver was looking down, or never braked before impact, strengthens the proof of inattention. These are strong liability cases because the driver made a deliberate choice to take attention off the road.

The Texas law that applies

Section 545.4251 of the Transportation Code bans reading, writing, or sending an electronic message while driving, statewide. Some Texas cities have passed stricter local ordinances on top of it. Violating the state ban is negligence per se, which removes the need to prove a separate standard of care in the civil case.

Texas Transportation Code Chapter 545 · Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Chapter 33

Drunk driving crashes

Also called: DWI accident, drunk driver hit me, intoxicated driver

Austin has a nightlife that draws from the whole region, and impaired-driving crashes concentrate on the downtown exits, Riverside, Sixth Street, and the early-morning routes back to the suburbs. City data backs the timing up: the six hours between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. carried 20.2% of Austin’s 2025 crashes and 46.5% of its deaths. The civil claim runs alongside the criminal case and does not depend on it.

How fault gets proved

The intoxicated driver bears primary responsibility, and a DWI conviction or a blood alcohol result above 0.08 is powerful evidence of negligence in the civil case. Liability also extends to the bar or restaurant that served the driver while they were obviously intoxicated.

The Texas law that applies

Section 2.02 of the Alcoholic Beverage Code creates dram shop liability against an establishment that served an obviously intoxicated person. Chapter 41 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code governs exemplary damages, which are commonly sought in these cases, and Section 49.04 of the Penal Code defines the criminal offense.

Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code § 2.02 · Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Chapter 41

Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims

Also called: the other driver had no insurance, not enough coverage, UM/UIM claim

Texas has one of the highest uninsured-driver rates in the country; studies put it near one in five. When that driver causes the crash, chasing a judgment against someone with no insurance usually means chasing someone with no assets.

How fault gets proved

That is where your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage comes in. The UM/UIM carrier steps into the at-fault driver’s shoes, and you still have to prove the other driver’s negligence exactly as you would in a normal claim. Your own insurer can fight the claim as hard as the other side would, and it pays to walk in ready for that.

The Texas law that applies

Section 1952.101 of the Insurance Code requires insurers to offer UM/UIM coverage to every policyholder, and a rejection is only valid in writing. The coverage exists to put you in the position you would have been in had the at-fault driver carried adequate insurance.

Texas Insurance Code § 1952.101

Multi-vehicle crashes and pileups

Also called: chain-reaction crash, pileup, three-car accident

Pileups here happen on I-35 and SH-130 where high speed meets stopped traffic, and on bridges and overpasses during the rare central Texas freeze that catches everyone out. Dawn fog in the eastern corridors adds its own share.

How fault gets proved

The work is identifying the driver whose initial negligence set off the chain. Reconstruction experts analyze impact patterns, final rest positions, and event data recorders to fix the sequence. Several drivers can share fault, and the jury assigns a percentage to each person involved.

The Texas law that applies

Chapter 33 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code governs proportionate responsibility. Each defendant answers for their own percentage, unless one is found more than 50 percent at fault, in which case joint and several liability can apply under Section 33.013.

Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Chapter 33

Uber and Lyft crashes

Also called: rideshare accident, hit by an Uber driver, injured as a Lyft passenger

Austin has a high rideshare density for its size, driven by downtown, the university, and the airport. The claim gets complicated because coverage changes with the app phase the driver was in: logged off, logged on and waiting, en route to a pickup, or carrying a passenger.

How fault gets proved

When the driver has a passenger or is on the way to one, Uber and Lyft provide up to one million dollars in liability coverage. Logged on with no ride accepted, the coverage drops sharply. The platforms classify drivers as independent contractors to keep liability away from the company, and every available policy has to be pursued.

The Texas law that applies

Chapter 1954 of the Insurance Code, the Texas Transportation Network Company Act, sets the required coverage levels for each phase of driver activity.

Texas Insurance Code Chapter 1954

Crashes with commercial trucks, 18-wheelers, and motorcycles are handled separately because the law and the proof change. See truck accidents and motorcycle accidents.

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Call (512) 500-2810

Insurance, coverage, and where the money comes from

Texas minimum limits almost never cover it

Texas law requires each driver to carry minimum liability coverage of $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per crash, and $25,000 for property damage. One night in an Austin emergency room with imaging can eat most of that before physical therapy starts. When the at-fault policy runs out, the question becomes what other coverage exists.

Your own policy may be the one that pays

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is what responds when the at-fault driver has no insurance, has too little, or fled and was never identified. Texas insurers are required to offer it and you can only decline it in writing, so a lot of people carry it without knowing. Pull your declarations page before you accept any offer.

Personal injury protection pays without an argument about fault

Texas PIP coverage pays medical expenses and a share of lost income regardless of who caused the crash, and it pays right away. It is also offered by law and declined only in writing. It is money a lot of people leave on the table because nobody told them they had it.

Medical liens decide what you actually keep

Texas hospitals can file a lien against your recovery for the care they gave you after the crash. Your health insurer, Medicare, or Medicaid may also claim reimbursement. Negotiating those liens down changes the number that reaches you, and it is the part of the work that happens at the end of the case and rarely gets explained at the start.

See also what compensation you can claim.

Medical care: where they take you and why it matters

Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas, downtown, is the Level I trauma center for the Austin area, and it is where the serious case off I-35, MoPac, or 71 ends up. Seriously injured children go to Dell Children’s Medical Center. A transfer to Dell Seton on the ambulance record is itself a marker of how hard the impact was.

Austin

Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas (Level I trauma), St. David's South Austin Medical Center, Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin, St. David's North Austin Medical Center, Ascension Seton Southwest, Dell Children's Medical Center

North corridor (Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Leander, Hutto, Pflugerville, Taylor)

St. David's Round Rock Medical Center, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Round Rock, Ascension Seton Williamson, Cedar Park Regional Medical Center, St. David's Georgetown Hospital, Baylor Scott & White Hospital Taylor

South corridor (Kyle, Buda, San Marcos, Dripping Springs)

Ascension Seton Hays in Kyle, Central Texas Medical Center in San Marcos, St. David's South Austin Medical Center

West and east (Lakeway, Bee Cave, Manor, Bastrop)

Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Lakeway, Ascension Seton Bastrop, with transfer to Dell Seton for serious cases

Keep every bill, prescription, discharge sheet, and medical transport receipt. The medical record is the backbone of the claim: it ties the crash to the injury and holds the value up in front of the adjuster. A gap in treatment — three weeks without therapy because nobody could drive you — shows up later in the insurer’s letter as proof you had already recovered. If something is keeping you from treatment, tell us while it is happening and we document it then.

We cover all of central Texas, including these cities

If your crash was in central Texas, we handle it. These are some of the cities where we work. Each one has its own county, its own courthouse, and its own corridors, and that changes how the case is worked from day one.

Austin

Travis County

I-35, MoPac (Loop 1), US-183, Ben White (TX-71), US-290 East, FM 2222

The city recorded 11,973 crashes in 2025, about 33 a day, with 7,981 people hurt and 99 killed. I-35 alone accounted for 1,869 of them.

The crashes we see here: Rear-end crashes in stopped I-35 and MoPac traffic, T-bone crashes at the big signalized intersections, sideswipes in the express-lane weave, and hit-and-run crashes downtown at night.

An Austin car accident lawyer who works this city every week knows which frontage-road merge produced your crash and which camera was pointed at it.

Round Rock

Williamson County

I-35, US-79 (Palm Valley Blvd), SH-45 Toll, FM 1431 (University Blvd)

About 140,000 residents and the world headquarters of Dell Technologies, which loads the I-35 corridor with commuter traffic morning and evening. Crashes cluster at the I-35 and SH-45 interchange and at the University Boulevard exit.

The crashes we see here: Rear-end collisions in the I-35 backups, T-bone crashes turning off University Boulevard, and multi-vehicle wrecks where SH-45 traffic merges down into the interstate.

A Round Rock car accident lawyer files that case in Georgetown, at the Williamson County Justice Center, not in downtown Austin.

San Marcos

Hays County

I-35, SH-80 (Hopkins St), SH-123, Wonder World Drive

Home to Texas State University and more than 38,000 students, plus two outlet centers that draw millions of shoppers a year. I-35 at the outlets is one of the most reliable sudden-braking stretches on the whole corridor.

The crashes we see here: Rear-end collisions at the outlet exits, rideshare crashes around the campus and the bars on the square, and uninsured-driver crashes that leave students without a claim to make.

A San Marcos car accident lawyer handles a Hays County case, filed in San Marcos, with a Hays County jury pool.

Georgetown

Williamson County

I-35, SH-29, US-183, FM 2338 (Williams Drive)

The county seat and one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. The Sun City retirement community adds a high number of older drivers to the Williams Drive corridor and SH-29.

The crashes we see here: Left-turn and T-bone crashes at the SH-29 signals, rear-end collisions on the I-35 frontage roads, and multi-vehicle wrecks where SH-29 crosses the interstate.

A Georgetown car accident lawyer is already at the courthouse — Williamson County civil cases are heard three blocks from the square.

Pflugerville

Travis County

SH-130 Toll, SH-45 Toll, FM 685 (Pecan Street), Dessau Road

The SH-130 segment through Pflugerville includes stretches posted at 85 miles per hour, the highest limit in the country. FM 685 through downtown and the Dessau corridor into Austin carry the intersection crashes.

The crashes we see here: High-speed multi-vehicle crashes on SH-130, T-bone crashes at the FM 685 signals, and rear-end collisions where Dessau backs up toward Austin.

A Pflugerville car accident lawyer files in Travis County even though the crash happened on a toll road most Austin drivers never use.

Leander

Williamson County

US-183, 183A Toll, FM 2243, Ronald Reagan Blvd

Fewer than 8,000 residents in 2000 and more than 75,000 now. The Leander station is the north terminal of the MetroRail line into downtown Austin, and residential development along US-183 has multiplied daily traffic.

The crashes we see here: Head-on and lane-departure crashes on the two-lane FM roads, rear-end collisions at the 183A toll plazas, and left-turn crashes at the new commercial driveways on US-183.

A Leander car accident lawyer deals with a Williamson County filing and a commute-hour crash pattern that looks nothing like downtown Austin.

Kyle

Hays County

I-35, FM 150, FM 1626, Kohlers Crossing

More than 55,000 residents and one of the fastest-growing cities in the country over the past decade. It lives on the daily I-35 movement between Austin and San Marcos, with heavy peak congestion and repeat crashes on the frontage roads.

The crashes we see here: Rear-end collisions on the I-35 frontage roads, T-bone crashes at Kohlers Crossing, and distracted-driving crashes in the stop-and-go commute.

A Kyle car accident lawyer files in San Marcos, because Kyle is Hays County even though the drive to downtown Austin is twenty minutes.

Buda

Hays County

I-35, FM 967, FM 1626, Main Street (Old San Antonio Road)

Fifteen miles from downtown Austin on I-35. The frontage roads and the Main Street interchange at exit 220 are the known crash points, along with the FM 1626 and FM 967 crossing.

The crashes we see here: Rear-end collisions at the exit 220 backup, T-bone crashes at FM 1626 and FM 967, and hit-and-run crashes in the retail parking lots along the frontage.

A Buda car accident lawyer files in Hays County, in San Marcos, which surprises almost every client on the south corridor.

Bee Cave

Travis County

TX-71 (Bee Caves Road), RR 620, Hamilton Pool Road

The Galleria at Bee Cave and the Hill Country Galleria generate constant retail traffic on TX-71. The TX-71 and RR 620 intersection is the highest-concentration crash point on the west side of the Austin area.

The crashes we see here: Left-turn and T-bone crashes at TX-71 and RR 620, rear-end collisions in the shopping-center queues, and head-on crashes on the narrow Hill Country roads west of town.

A Bee Cave car accident lawyer is handling a Travis County case with a west-side crash pattern and a very different jury than downtown.

Manor

Travis County

US-290 East, SH-130 Toll, FM 973, Manor Road

About twelve miles northeast of downtown Austin on US-290 East. Residential growth and new schools have multiplied daily traffic on a corridor that still behaves like open highway.

The crashes we see here: Head-on and turning crashes where driveways feed straight onto US-290 East, and high-speed multi-vehicle wrecks at the SH-130 interchange.

A Manor car accident lawyer works a Travis County case built on a rural-highway crash, which is a different proof problem than a city intersection.

Bastrop

Bastrop County

TX-71, TX-21, SH-95

About 30 miles southeast of Austin on the Colorado River, with TX-71 as the daily commute. The TX-71 stretch between Bastrop and Austin and the SH-95 crossing carry the county’s crashes.

The crashes we see here: Head-on collisions on the undivided stretches of TX-71, drowsy and distracted driving on the long commute, and turning crashes at private driveways.

A Bastrop car accident lawyer files at the Bastrop County Courthouse, and the case never touches Travis County at all.

Hutto

Williamson County

US-79, CR 108 (Exchange Blvd), SH-130 Toll, FM 1660

More than tripled its population since 2010 and hosts a Samsung semiconductor facility. US-79 (Palm Valley Blvd) through downtown and the SH-130 interchange are the critical points.

The crashes we see here: Construction-traffic and work-zone crashes on US-79, T-bone crashes at FM 1660, and high-speed merges onto SH-130.

A Hutto car accident lawyer is dealing with a corridor that changed character in five years and a Williamson County jury that has watched it happen.

Taylor

Williamson County

US-79, SH-95, SH-130 Toll, FM 973

A semiconductor megaproject with more than $17 billion of announced investment nearby has brought a wave of construction traffic, new workers, and commercial development to a corridor that was agricultural.

The crashes we see here: Work-zone and heavy-equipment crashes on US-79, head-on collisions on the two-lane FM roads, and intersection crashes at SH-95.

A Taylor car accident lawyer files in Georgetown, and the construction traffic on US-79 is now part of the liability story in most of these cases.

Dripping Springs

Hays County

US-290, RR 12, FM 1826

The gateway to the Hill Country, with distilleries, wineries, and event venues that fill US-290 on weekends. The US-290 stretch between Dripping Springs and Oak Hill is one of the most congested two-lane roads in central Texas.

The crashes we see here: Head-on crashes on the undivided US-290 stretch, drunk-driving crashes on the weekend return trip, and turning crashes at venue driveways.

A Dripping Springs car accident lawyer files in Hays County and usually starts with the question of who was coming back from where.

Lakeway

Travis County

RR 620, TX-71 (Bee Caves Road), Lakeway Blvd, Lohmans Crossing

On the south shore of Lake Travis, with heavy tourist and recreational traffic. RR 620 is the main artery and one of the most congested corridors in the Austin area, with widening work under way.

The crashes we see here: Rear-end collisions in the RR 620 queues, left-turn crashes at Lakeway Boulevard and Lohmans Crossing, and weekend impaired-driving crashes coming off the lake.

A Lakeway car accident lawyer works a Travis County case where one road carries almost every fact in it.

Cedar Park

Williamson County

US-183 (Bell Blvd), 183A Toll, FM 1431 (Whitestone Blvd)

More than 80,000 residents and better than 50 percent growth over the last decade. The H-E-B Center drives event-day traffic peaks on US-183, and the Whitestone crossing at 183 is a repeat crash point.

The crashes we see here: T-bone crashes at Whitestone and Bell Boulevard, rear-end collisions in the event-day backups, and rideshare crashes on the way home from the arena.

A Cedar Park car accident lawyer files in Williamson County, and the event calendar at the arena is often the first thing worth checking.

Your city not listed? Call anyway. We take cases across central Texas and up the I-35 corridor, and the list above is where the work lands most often, not the edge of what we handle.

Questions we get from around the metro

These are real questions, in the words people use when they call. If yours is close to one of these, the answer is probably close too.

I was rear-ended on I-35 in Round Rock. Do I file in Travis County or Williamson County?

Williamson County, in Georgetown. Round Rock is Williamson, and civil cases there are filed at the Williamson County Justice Center. Texas venue law sends the suit to the county where a substantial part of the events happened or where the defendant lives, so sometimes there are two options and choosing well matters. It changes the jury pool, the court’s calendar, and how long the case takes to reach trial.

Someone ran the light and T-boned me at SH-29 in Georgetown. What proves who had the green?

Signal timing records, any camera with a view of the intersection, and the witnesses who were stopped behind you. Georgetown’s SH-29 corridor has grown faster than its signals were designed for, and we request the timing data early because agencies do not keep it forever. Disobeying a traffic-control device is negligence per se in Texas, so once the light sequence is established, the liability argument mostly ends.

A driver with no insurance hit me in Kyle. Do I have any claim at all?

Usually yes, through your own uninsured motorist coverage. Texas insurers have to offer UM/UIM and you can only decline it in writing, so a lot of drivers carry it without realizing. Your carrier steps into the at-fault driver’s shoes and you prove that driver’s negligence the same way you otherwise would. Pull your declarations page before you accept anything.

I got hit head-on on TX-71 outside Bastrop. Why does that road produce so many of these?

Long undivided two-lane stretches, highway speeds, and private driveways feeding straight onto the road. One drift over the center line puts two cars together at the sum of both speeds. These cases turn on physical evidence: debris field, skid marks, and how the vehicles deformed. When drowsiness, phone use, or alcohol is in the picture, that also opens the door to exemplary damages under Chapter 41.

My crash was in a work zone at the Oak Hill Y. Does that change anything?

It can. In a construction zone we document how the stretch was signed and striped that day: where the cones sat, which lanes were open, what the signage said, and whether the configuration differed from the week before. That evidence disappears fast because the work keeps moving. Where the traffic control was inadequate, the contractor or the responsible agency can share liability with the driver. Austin recorded 1,527 crashes in work zones in 2025, 12.8 percent of the city’s total.

An Uber driver hit me downtown at night. Who pays?

It depends on the app phase the driver was in. Carrying a passenger or en route to a pickup brings the platform’s coverage, up to one million dollars. Logged on with no ride accepted drops the coverage sharply. App closed puts it on the driver’s personal policy, which often excludes commercial use. The first thing we do is fix the app status at the minute of impact.

I was hit on the I-35 frontage road in Buda, not the main lanes. Is that different?

The law is the same and the proof changes. Frontage roads mix traffic exiting the interstate at speed with local traffic pulling in and out of businesses, plus signals at the crossings. The usual fight is who had the right of way at the merge. Frontage-road crashes alone accounted for 555 of the I-35 crashes reported inside Austin in 2025, which is why the frontage-road cameras and the businesses along them matter so much.

A driver hit me and drove off in San Marcos. Can anything be done?

Yes. We go after traffic cameras, business surveillance, debris and paint transfer from the vehicle, and any partial plate a witness caught. If the driver is never identified, your uninsured motorist coverage is what responds. If the driver is identified later, the fact that they left is itself evidence that supports the claim, and fleeing a crash with injuries is a felony under Section 550.021.

Who responds to a crash on SH-130 or 183A? It is a toll road, not a city street.

On toll roads and state highways outside city limits it is normally a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper. Inside city limits it is the municipal police department. On county roads it is the sheriff’s office. What matters for your case is that a CR-3 report gets written and that it records who responded, because that is the agency we request the file from.

I live in Pflugerville and the crash was on the toll road at 85 miles per hour. Are these cases different?

The injuries are. At 85 the energy in the impact is in a different category, and cases that would be soft-tissue at city speeds turn into fractures, head injuries, and multi-vehicle chain reactions. Event data recorders matter more in these cases because the speed dispute is real, and we send preservation letters early so that data does not get overwritten.

I was hit turning left on RR 620 in Lakeway. Is a left turn automatically my fault?

No. A left turn creates a duty to yield to oncoming traffic, and it is a duty, not an automatic verdict. If the oncoming driver was speeding, ran the light, or was in a lane they should not have been in, fault shifts. RR 620 is one of the most congested corridors in the area with almost no alternate route, and sight-line and queue-position evidence often decides these.

My accident was on US-79 in Taylor with all the construction traffic. Who is responsible?

Start with the driver, then look wider. Where a construction vehicle, a work-zone configuration, or a contractor’s traffic control contributed, more than one party can share responsibility, and Chapter 33 lets the jury assign a percentage to each. The Samsung project traffic changed that corridor quickly, and the identity of the company whose truck was involved is often not obvious from the crash report.

A distracted driver hit me on Research Boulevard. How do you prove they were on the phone?

Phone records, app usage data, and the vehicle’s infotainment logs, requested early and preserved in writing. Witnesses who saw the driver looking down, or who noticed no braking before impact, add to it. Texas bans reading, writing, or sending an electronic message while driving statewide, and violating that ban is negligence per se, which takes a step out of the civil case.

A drunk driver hit me coming out of downtown. Do I have to wait for the criminal case?

No. The civil claim runs in parallel and does not depend on the outcome of the criminal case. A conviction or a blood alcohol result over 0.08 is strong evidence, and the bar or restaurant that served an obviously intoxicated person can also be liable under Section 2.02 of the Alcoholic Beverage Code. Waiting mostly costs you evidence, since bar video is often overwritten within weeks.

I was in a chain-reaction pileup on I-35. Everybody is blaming everybody. How does that get sorted?

By reconstruction. Impact patterns, final rest positions, and event data recorders establish the sequence and identify whose negligence started it. Texas assigns a percentage of responsibility to each party under Chapter 33, so several drivers can share it. Your own recovery is reduced by your percentage and is barred only if you are found more than 50 percent at fault.

Do I have to come to Austin if I live in Bastrop, Taylor, or San Marcos?

No. Most of the case runs by phone, text, and email, and we come to you when it needs doing in person. Our office is at 6701 Burnet Rd #132, Austin, TX 78757 and you are welcome there, and nobody has to drive an hour to open a case or to get an update on one.

Deadlines and the Texas law that decides your case

Two years to file suit

Section 16.003 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code gives you two years from the date of the crash to file. After that the claim is gone, however strong it was. Two years sounds like a long time and it disappears fast between medical treatment, negotiation with the insurer, and waiting on records.

Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003

The 51 percent rule

Texas uses modified comparative fault under Chapter 33. You recover as long as your share of the fault does not exceed 50 percent, and your recovery is reduced by that share. That is why the insurer works so hard to pin part of the blame on you: every percentage point costs you money, and at 51 percent it costs you everything.

Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Chapter 33

Claims against a city, a county, or the state

When the at-fault vehicle belongs to a government entity, or a dangerous road condition contributed to the crash, the Texas Tort Claims Act applies and it requires formal notice on a much shorter clock than the general two years. Several home-rule cities impose shorter notice deadlines still. If there was an official vehicle or a road defect involved, this moves in weeks.

Texas Tort Claims Act, Civil Practice & Remedies Code Chapter 101

Wrongful death

When a crash takes a life, Sections 71.001 through 71.012 define who may sue: the surviving spouse, children, and parents of the person who died. The representative of the estate can also bring a survival claim for what the person suffered before death.

Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code §§ 71.001-71.012

Exemplary damages

Chapter 41 allows exemplary damages where the conduct crosses from carelessness into conscious indifference to the safety of others. In this area the cases that carry them are drunk driving and leaving the scene.

Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Chapter 41

Where the case gets filed

Section 15.002 puts venue in the county where a substantial part of the events happened or where the defendant lives. In a metro that spans four counties, those often point in different directions, and the choice affects the jury, the docket, and the time to trial.

Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 15.002

Counting a deadline yourself? Use our free Texas deadline calculator.

What it costs to hire us

You pay nothing up front

We work on a contingency fee. You pay nothing to hire us and you owe no fee if we do not recover money for you. Case expenses — medical records, reconstruction, experts, court filing — are advanced by the firm and come out of the recovery at the end.

The consultation is free, in English or Spanish

You talk to your attorney directly, in the language you prefer, with nobody in between. We will tell you straight whether the case is strong and what we expect to happen, including when the answer is that it is not worth opening.

Immigration status does not stop a claim

Texas law lets you bring a claim for your injuries regardless of immigration status. We do not ask about it and we do not report anyone’s status, and an injured person’s immigration status is not something the other side gets to use freely in the case. Families across this area let legitimate claims expire over that fear.

You do not have to come to Austin to start

We take cases across central Texas. Most of the work happens by phone, text, and email, and we travel to you when it matters. Living in Bastrop, San Marcos, or Taylor does not change how the case gets worked.

See how we work a case, step by step.

The lawyer who will handle your case

Israel Ruiz Medina

Founding Partner · Texas Bar No. 24130487 · Juris Doctor (J.D.), Baylor University School of Law

Israel Medina is a trial attorney and founding partner of Medina & Medina in Austin, Texas. He is a first-generation American. His family came to this country from Mexico, built a life through hard work, and raised him to believe that a person who keeps their word and outworks everyone in the room can build something real. He carried that lesson into the law. Today he spends his days fighting for accident victims and their families across the state.

Watching his family work hard for everything they had taught Israel how the deck can be stacked against honest people. The legal system is complicated, and insurance companies count on that. That is part of why he became a lawyer. He started this firm with one goal in mind. Every injured person deserves a strong advocate who will fight for full and fair compensation.

Israel handles personal injury cases from start to finish. He investigates the facts, builds strong claims, and prepares every case as if it will go to trial. Insurance companies know that he is willing to take cases to court, and that reputation gets results. His clients are real people with real injuries who need someone in their corner. He treats every one of them like family, whoever they are and wherever they come from.

Bar admissions

State Bar of Texas · State Bar of Nevada

Memberships

Texas Trial Lawyers Association · Travis County Bar Association · Austin Bar Association · American Association for Justice

Full biography · Rikki Medina, Founding Partner

Common questions

36 questions people ask us after a crash in this area, answered the way we answer them on the phone.

How much is my car accident case worth?

Nobody can put a number on it honestly in the first week, and you should be careful with anyone who does. Value comes from the medical record: what the injury is, what treatment it required, whether it left something permanent, what income was lost, and what coverage exists to pay it. Cases get valued as treatment finishes, because that is when the picture is complete. What we can tell you early is whether liability is clear and what coverage we can find.

Do I need a lawyer for a minor car accident?

Not always. If nobody was hurt and the property damage is small, you may not need one. The reason people call anyway is that injuries from low-speed crashes surface days later, and by then the adjuster already has a recorded statement and a signed medical authorization. A free consultation costs you nothing and tells you which situation you are in.

How long does a car accident settlement take in Texas?

It depends mostly on how long treatment takes. A claim with a short course of treatment and clear liability can resolve in a few months. A case with surgery, a disputed fault picture, or a coverage fight takes longer, and a case that has to be filed takes longer than that. Settling before treatment ends usually means settling for less than the case is worth.

How much do car accident lawyers charge in Austin?

Personal injury lawyers here work on contingency, meaning the fee is a percentage of the recovery and there is no fee if there is no recovery. Case expenses are separate from the fee and are typically advanced by the firm and repaid out of the settlement. Ask any firm to show you the fee percentage and the expense terms in writing before you sign.

Who pays my medical bills while the case is going?

Several sources can, and they stack in a particular order. Personal injury protection on your own policy pays medical bills and part of lost income without regard to fault. Health insurance can pay and later assert reimbursement. Some providers will treat on a letter of protection and wait for the settlement. Part of our job at the end is negotiating those liens down so more of the recovery reaches you.

The insurance company offered me money already. Should I take it?

Read what you are signing before you decide. An early offer usually arrives before anyone knows the full extent of the injury, and accepting it closes the claim permanently, including for treatment you have not had yet. If the offer genuinely covers everything, we will tell you so. That happens.

Can I still recover if I was partly at fault?

Yes, as long as you are not more than 50 percent responsible. Texas reduces your recovery by your percentage of fault under Chapter 33, so being 20 percent at fault means recovering 80 percent of your damages. This is exactly why insurers spend so much energy assigning you a share of the blame.

What if I did not go to the hospital right away?

Go now, and be honest about the timeline. A delay makes the claim harder because the insurer argues something else caused the injury, and it does not make the claim impossible. What helps is a consistent record from the day you did seek care forward, and an explanation for the gap that holds up, which is often something ordinary like no ride, no childcare, or no insurance.

How do I get a copy of my crash report in the Austin area?

The report is a CR-3, filled out by the responding officer. TxDOT publishes it roughly ten days after the crash through the state crash records system, and it can be requested online or from the responding agency. We obtain it for you as part of the case. Look at it early, because errors in the diagram or in a driver’s information are much easier to correct in the first few weeks.

I was not wearing my seat belt. Does that kill my case?

No. Since 2015 Texas juries are allowed to hear seat-belt evidence, and the insurer will try to use it to cut what it pays. To make it work, the other side has to prove with real evidence, usually expert evidence, that not wearing the belt caused or worsened those specific injuries. Often they cannot. The other driver still caused the crash, and that is still the central question.

Do I have to give a statement to the other driver’s insurance company?

No. You have a duty to cooperate with your own insurer. You have no obligation to give the other side a recorded statement or to sign a blanket authorization for your medical history. Those calls come early precisely because your answers are least informed at that point.

What if the crash happened on my way to work, or while I was working?

Then there may be two claims running at once: a workers compensation claim, and a third-party liability claim against the driver who caused it. They interact, and the comp carrier will assert a right to be repaid out of the recovery. It is worth sorting out at the beginning rather than after a settlement is signed.

The other driver was in a company vehicle. Does that change the case?

Usually for the better. An employer can be liable for a crash caused by an employee acting in the course of their work, and commercial policies carry higher limits than personal auto policies. It also opens up questions about hiring, training, supervision, and whether the vehicle was maintained. The first step is identifying the company and its policy before anyone starts moving records.

How soon after a car accident should I talk to a lawyer?

The useful window is the first days and weeks, because that is when evidence still exists. Traffic and business camera footage gets overwritten. Skid marks disappear. Vehicles get repaired or scrapped. Witnesses forget. A crash report can be corrected. None of that gets easier at the six-month mark.

Do you handle cases in Spanish?

Yes. Both attorneys at this firm are bilingual and you speak to your lawyer directly in Spanish, without a translator in the middle. There is a full Spanish version of this page as well.

What if the person who hit me died in the crash, or I lost someone?

A claim still exists. Where the at-fault driver died, the claim proceeds against their estate and their insurance. Where you lost a family member, Texas wrongful death law lets a surviving spouse, children, and parents bring a claim, and the estate representative can also bring a survival claim for what the person went through before death. These cases move on the same two-year clock.

How do I determine who is at fault in a Texas car accident?

Fault in a Texas car accident is determined by examining evidence such as the police report, witness statements, traffic camera footage, and vehicle damage patterns. Texas follows a modified comparative fault system, meaning each party can be assigned a percentage of responsibility. An experienced attorney can investigate the crash, gather critical evidence, and build a strong case establishing the other driver's negligence. Insurance companies often try to shift blame onto the injured person, so having legal representation is essential to protect your rights. Contact our firm for a free consultation so we can evaluate your case and identify who was truly at fault.

When is the best time to hire a car accident lawyer after my accident?

The best time to hire a car accident lawyer is as soon as possible after the accident occurs. Evidence can disappear quickly, witnesses may forget details, and the insurance company will begin building its case against you right away. An attorney can preserve crucial evidence, handle communications with the insurance adjuster, and ensure you do not inadvertently say something that damages your claim. Many injured people make the mistake of waiting too long, which can weaken their case significantly. Our firm offers free consultations, so there is no risk in calling us to discuss your situation immediately.

How do car accident lawyers typically charge for their services?

Most car accident lawyers, including our firm, work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay nothing upfront and no legal fees unless we win your case. The attorney fee is a percentage of the recovery amount, which is agreed upon before representation begins. This arrangement allows anyone to access quality legal representation regardless of their financial situation. If we do not recover compensation for you, you owe us nothing. Call us today to learn more about how our fee structure works and how we can help you.

What should I look for when hiring a car accident lawyer in Austin?

When hiring a car accident lawyer in Austin, look for an attorney with proven experience handling cases in Travis County and surrounding areas. A local lawyer will understand the specific courts, judges, and insurance practices in the Austin area. You should also look for a firm that offers a free initial consultation, works on contingency fees, and has a track record of successful settlements and verdicts. Personal attention matters as well, so choose a firm that treats you as a priority rather than just another file number. Our Austin based team is ready to fight for you and we encourage you to call us for a free case review.

How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Texas?

In Texas, the statute of limitations for most car accident personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident. If you fail to file a lawsuit within this window, you will almost certainly lose your right to seek compensation. However, certain circumstances may affect this deadline, such as when the injured person is a minor or when the at fault party is a government entity. Because building a strong case takes time, it is critical to contact an attorney well before the deadline approaches. Reach out to our firm today so we can protect your right to recovery before time runs out.

What are the benefits of hiring a local Austin lawyer vs. a national firm?

A local Austin lawyer offers significant advantages over a national firm. Local attorneys have established relationships with Travis County courts, know the tendencies of local judges, and understand the insurance companies that operate in Central Texas. National firms often assign your case to associate attorneys you never meet and may not be familiar with Texas specific laws. A local attorney can meet with you face to face, visit the accident scene personally, and provide the hands on attention your case deserves. Our Austin based firm gives every client direct access to their attorney throughout the entire process.

What types of damages can I claim after a car accident in Texas?

After a car accident in Texas, you may be entitled to several types of damages. Economic damages include medical bills, lost wages, future medical expenses, and property damage. Non economic damages cover pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and physical impairment. In cases involving extreme negligence or intentional misconduct, punitive damages may also be available. The full value of your claim depends on the severity of your injuries, the impact on your daily life, and the strength of the evidence. Our attorneys will fight to ensure you receive every dollar you deserve.

What happens if the other driver doesn't have insurance in Texas?

If the other driver does not have insurance, you may still have options for recovering compensation. Your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage can step in to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Texas law allows but does not require drivers to carry UM coverage, so it is important to check your own policy. In some cases, other parties such as a vehicle owner or employer may also be held liable. An experienced attorney can identify all available sources of compensation and fight to get you the recovery you need. Contact our firm to discuss your options in an uninsured motorist situation.

How can a car accident lawyer help me deal with the insurance company?

A car accident lawyer handles all communications with the insurance company on your behalf, preventing adjusters from using your own words against you. Insurance companies employ trained professionals whose job is to minimize or deny your claim, and they use tactics like recorded statements, quick lowball offers, and surveillance to reduce what they pay. Your attorney will gather and present evidence, calculate the true value of your claim, and negotiate aggressively for a fair settlement. If the insurance company refuses to offer a reasonable amount, your lawyer can file a lawsuit and take the case to trial. Let our team handle the insurance company while you focus on healing.

How long do car accident settlements take in Texas?

Car accident settlements in Texas can take anywhere from a few months to over a year, depending on the complexity of the case. Factors that affect the timeline include the severity of your injuries, whether you have reached maximum medical improvement, the number of parties involved, and how cooperative the insurance company is. Simple cases with clear liability and minor injuries may settle in three to six months. More complex cases involving serious injuries, disputed fault, or large policy limits may take longer. Our firm works to resolve your case as quickly as possible while still maximizing your compensation.

What mistakes should I avoid after a car accident?

After a car accident, avoid admitting fault or apologizing at the scene, as this can be used against you later. Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company without consulting an attorney first. Avoid posting about the accident on social media, because insurance companies monitor your accounts for evidence to use against your claim. Do not accept a quick settlement offer from the insurance company before understanding the full extent of your injuries. Finally, do not delay seeking medical attention, as gaps in treatment can hurt your case. Call our firm for guidance on protecting your rights from the very beginning.

What is the average car accident settlement in Texas?

There is no single "average" car accident settlement in Texas because every case is unique. Settlements can range from a few thousand dollars for minor fender benders to millions of dollars for cases involving catastrophic injuries or wrongful death. The value of your case depends on factors like the severity of your injuries, the cost of your medical treatment, your lost income, and the impact on your quality of life. Insurance companies often cite low averages to pressure victims into accepting less than they deserve. Our attorneys evaluate each case individually and fight to recover the maximum amount based on your specific circumstances.

What should I do immediately after a car accident in Texas?

Immediately after a car accident in Texas, check yourself and your passengers for injuries and call 911 to report the accident. Move to a safe location if possible and exchange information with the other driver, including names, insurance details, and license plate numbers. Take photographs of the vehicles, the scene, any visible injuries, and road conditions. Seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you feel fine, because some injuries do not show symptoms right away. Then contact a personal injury attorney before speaking with any insurance company. Our team is available around the clock to help you take the right steps from day one.

How does Texas's comparative fault rule affect my car accident case?

Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule under which you can recover damages as long as you are not more than 50% responsible for the accident. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 20% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you would receive $80,000. If you are found 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover anything. Insurance companies frequently try to inflate the injured person's share of blame to reduce their payout. An attorney can present evidence and arguments to minimize any fault attributed to you and maximize your recovery.

Can I still recover compensation if I was partially at fault?

Yes, you can still recover compensation in Texas even if you were partially at fault, as long as your share of responsibility does not exceed 50%. Under Texas's modified comparative fault system, your recovery is reduced proportionally by your percentage of blame. Even if you believe you may share some fault, it is important to speak with an attorney before assuming anything. Insurance adjusters are trained to make you feel more responsible than you actually are. Our lawyers will thoroughly investigate the facts and work to ensure your share of fault is accurately and fairly assessed so you can receive the compensation you are entitled to.

What are the most dangerous roads and intersections in Austin?

Austin has several roads and intersections that are known for high accident rates. Interstate 35, which runs through the heart of the city, is consistently one of the most dangerous corridors due to heavy congestion, ongoing construction, and high speed differentials. Other dangerous roads include Highway 183, Highway 71/Ben White Boulevard, MoPac Expressway, Lamar Boulevard, and Riverside Drive. Intersections with high crash rates include the I-35 and Highway 290 interchange, the intersection of Lamar and Rundberg, and the area around Slaughter Lane and I-35. If you have been injured in an accident on any Austin road, our local attorneys know these dangerous areas well and can use that knowledge to strengthen your case.

What should I do if I'm hit by a rideshare driver in Austin?

If you are hit by a rideshare driver such as an Uber or Lyft driver in Austin, follow the same steps you would after any accident. Call 911, document the scene, and seek medical attention. Additionally, try to determine whether the driver was logged into the rideshare app at the time of the accident, as this affects which insurance policies apply. If the driver was actively on a trip or waiting for a ride request, the rideshare company's commercial insurance policy may provide coverage up to $1 million. If the driver was not logged in, only their personal auto insurance applies. These cases involve multiple layers of insurance coverage and can be complex. Our attorneys have experience handling rideshare accident claims in Austin and can navigate the process for you.

What should I do if I'm involved in a hit-and-run in Texas?

If you are involved in a hit and run in Texas, try to note as many details about the fleeing vehicle as possible, including its make, model, color, and license plate number. Call 911 immediately and file a police report. Check for any surveillance cameras in the area and ask nearby witnesses for their contact information. Seek medical attention for your injuries right away. Even if the at fault driver is never identified, you may be able to recover compensation through your own uninsured motorist coverage. Texas law treats hit and run drivers as uninsured motorists for insurance purposes. Our attorneys can help you file a claim under your own policy and pursue every avenue of recovery available to you.

How do construction zones on I-35 contribute to Austin accidents?

The ongoing I-35 expansion project in Austin has created significant safety hazards for drivers. Construction zones feature narrowed lanes, shifted traffic patterns, reduced speed limits, concrete barriers close to travel lanes, and confusing signage that changes frequently. These conditions lead to rear end collisions, sideswipe accidents, and crashes caused by drivers suddenly merging or braking. Construction debris on the roadway can also cause tire blowouts and loss of vehicle control. When construction zone conditions contribute to an accident, liability may extend to the construction company, the Texas Department of Transportation, or other parties responsible for maintaining safe conditions. Our attorneys investigate construction zone accidents thoroughly and hold all responsible parties accountable.

What hospitals should I go to after an accident in the Austin area?

After an accident in the Austin area, the hospital you go to may depend on the severity of your injuries and your location. For serious or life threatening injuries, Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas is the region's only Level I trauma center and is equipped to handle the most critical cases. St. David's Medical Center, Ascension Seton Medical Center, and Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Round Rock are also excellent options for emergency care. For less severe injuries, urgent care centers and emergency rooms throughout the Austin metro area can provide treatment. The most important thing is to seek medical attention as soon as possible after an accident, as prompt treatment creates a documented record that strengthens your injury claim.

See all of the firm's frequently asked questions.

Talk to a lawyer today

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Call (512) 500-2810

Medina & Medina Personal Injury Attorneys

6701 Burnet Rd #132, Austin, TX 78757

Phone: (512) 500-2810

Fax: (512) 500-2774

Email: info@winner.law

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