What to Do After a Car Accident in Texas |Attorney911’s Step-by-Step

When Your World Turns Upside Down: The First Moments After a Texas Car Accident

You’re driving through Houston, maybe at the corner of Voss and Westheimer, when suddenly a red sports car runs a red light and slams into your vehicle. In that instant, your life changes. The trauma of the impact is followed by immediate chaos: your car is damaged, you’re shaken, your children might be crying in the backseat, and your entire world is, as Attorney Ralph Manginello describes it, “discombobulated.” This moment of crisis is where the entire personal injury claims process begins—and the decisions you make in the hours and days that follow can determine whether you receive full compensation for your injuries or get taken advantage of by an insurance system designed to minimize payouts.

At Attorney911, we’ve represented thousands of Texans just like you over our 25+ years in practice. Ralph Manginello, our managing partner admitted to practice in 1998 and to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, has seen firsthand how insurance companies exploit this moment of vulnerability. “When someone’s in a bad car wreck they don’t know what to do,” Ralph explains on the Attorney911 Podcast. “They have kids, they have family, now they’ve got a broken down car. They are discombobulated.” This comprehensive guide will walk you through exactly what to do after a Texas car accident, why each step matters legally, and how our firm’s unique combination of experience, insider knowledge, and proven results can protect your rights when you need it most.

Why This Texas-Specific Knowledge Matters

Texas operates under unique laws that significantly impact your claim. Our state follows a modified comparative negligence rule (Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 33.001), meaning if you’re found 51% or more at fault for the accident, you recover nothing. Insurance companies know this and will aggressively look for ways to shift blame onto you. Furthermore, Texas has a strict two-year statute of limitations (Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003) for filing personal injury lawsuits—miss this deadline by even one day, and your claim is forever barred, regardless of its merits. At Attorney911, with offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont serving all of Texas, we navigate these complex state laws daily. Our experience includes everything from straightforward car accidents to complex litigation like the BP Texas City explosion cases, giving us the depth of knowledge needed to handle any situation.

Step 1: Immediately After Impact—Call the Police and Document Injuries

“Well the first thing you got to do is call the police so you can document what happened,” Ralph emphasizes. This isn’t just good advice—it’s often legally required under Texas Transportation Code § 550.026, which mandates reporting accidents involving injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,000. But the police report serves a deeper purpose: it creates an official, third-party record that establishes key facts before memories fade or stories change.

What to Specifically Tell Texas Police Officers

Ralph provides exact language: “You need to tell the police, you know, I was at the corner of Voss and Westheimer. That red sports car came through the red light and hit me. I didn’t do anything wrong. I’m injured.” The critical component here is reporting your injuries immediately. “Make sure you tell them whether or not you’re injured because what happens a lot of times in cases is the person is so shaken up they don’t realize whether or not they’re hurt,” Ralph explains. “But if it’s a hard enough impact most likely you are going to have some sort of injuries or soreness. So in the abundance of caution, you know, if you’ve been jostled around in the car say yes, you know, I may be hurt whether you know it or not.”

This immediate documentation matters because insurance adjusters—especially in Texas—will scrutinize every detail. If you don’t mention injuries at the scene but seek treatment days later, they’ll argue your injuries weren’t accident-related or weren’t serious. We’ve seen this tactic repeatedly through our firm’s unique perspective: Associate Attorney Lupe Peña spent years working for a national defense firm, where he learned firsthand how insurance companies use these inconsistencies to devalue claims. “When I was on the defense side,” Lupe notes, “we’d look for any gap between the police report and medical records. If someone said ‘I’m fine’ at the scene but went to the ER three days later, we’d argue the injuries were exaggerated or from something else entirely.”

The Adrenaline Effect and Delayed Injuries

Many accident victims don’t feel their worst injuries until hours or even days later due to adrenaline and shock. Soft tissue injuries, concussions, and spinal issues often have delayed onset. That’s why Ralph’s advice about reporting potential injuries “in the abundance of caution” is medically and legally sound. At Attorney911, we’ve handled cases where clients initially felt “fine” only to discover serious conditions later. In one recent multi-million dollar settlement, our client suffered a brain injury with vision loss when a log dropped on him at a Texas logging company—symptoms that developed gradually but were devastating in their impact.

If the police don’t come to the scene (which happens increasingly with minor accidents in Houston and other Texas cities), you must still file a Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-2) within 10 days if there was injury, death, or property damage over $1,000. Failure to do so can result in license suspension. This is exactly the type of procedural knowledge that separates Attorney911 from settlement mills—we guide you through every requirement, not just the obvious ones. Call our legal emergency line at 1-888-ATTY-911 immediately after any accident, and we’ll ensure all reporting requirements are met correctly.

Step 2: Document Everything—Your Digital Evidence Toolkit

“Second thing you’re going to do is document the damages,” Ralph instructs. In today’s digital age, your smartphone is your most powerful tool for evidence preservation. But knowing what to document and how to do it effectively makes all the difference when presenting your case to insurance companies or Texas courts.

The Essential Photographic Evidence Checklist

• Vehicle Damage from Multiple Angles: Take wide shots showing vehicle positions relative to traffic signals, intersections, or lane markings. Then take close-ups of all damage. Texas follows the rule of spoliation—if evidence is lost or destroyed, a judge can instruct jurors they may presume it would have been unfavorable to the party who lost it. Photographing everything immediately preserves this evidence.
• License Plates and VIN Numbers: Get clear photos of all vehicles’ license plates and, if possible, the Vehicle Identification Number (usually visible through the windshield). This helps identify the vehicle if insurance or registration information proves inaccurate.
• Driver’s License and Insurance Card: “Get a picture of their driver’s license, get a picture of their insurance,” Ralph advises. “If they ask for yours, give them yours. Let them take a picture of yours.” Under Texas Transportation Code § 550.023, drivers must exchange this information. Photographing prevents transcription errors and creates a timestamped record.
• Scene Context: Photograph skid marks, debris fields, traffic signals, road conditions, and weather. These details can prove critical in reconstructing the accident.
• Visible Injuries: Photograph any cuts, bruises, or swelling immediately and as they develop. Bruises often darken over days, providing visual documentation of injury progression.

The Critical Witness Component

“Next thing you want to do is, you know, write down the names and numbers of any witnesses,” Ralph stresses. “If someone stops, says, hey, I saw what happened to you, make sure you get their name and number. A lot of times the police just don’t get that information. They may put in the report that there was a witness and this is what they saw. But it’s super, super important to get that witness’s name and phone number because sometimes the person that caused the collision will tell their insurance company, no, it wasn’t my fault. And then there’s a dispute. And if you have a witness, that really helps.”

Witness testimony often proves decisive in Texas personal injury cases, particularly when liability is contested. Independent witnesses with no connection to either party carry tremendous weight with juries in Houston, Austin, Beaumont, and throughout Texas courts. At Attorney911, our investigative team immediately contacts witnesses while memories are fresh, obtaining detailed statements that preserve their recollection. This proactive approach has made the difference in numerous cases, including our multi-million dollar trucking wrongful death settlements where witness accounts established critical negligence patterns.

What Most Accident Victims Miss—And Why It Matters

Beyond the obvious evidence, our experience reveals several often-overlooked documentation opportunities:

• Surveillance Cameras: Many Houston intersections, businesses, and even private homes have surveillance systems. Footage is typically overwritten within 7-30 days. We immediately send preservation letters to all potential sources, a step most individuals don’t know to take.
• Event Data Recorders (EDRs): Modern vehicles contain “black boxes” that record speed, braking, and impact data. This evidence must be preserved quickly before it’s lost.
• Social Media Awareness: Insurance companies will scour your social media for any activity they can misrepresent. As Lupe Peña warns from his defense experience: “They’ll take one frame of you moving ‘normally’ and ignore the ten minutes of struggling before and after.”

Our firm’s comprehensive evidence preservation protocol stems from Ralph Manginello’s 25+ years of litigation experience, including federal court cases where evidentiary standards are exceptionally strict. When you call 1-888-ATTY-911 after an accident, we immediately implement this protocol, protecting evidence that might otherwise disappear.

Step 3: Seek Immediate Medical Attention—The Medical-Legal Connection

“Once you’ve left the scene of the collision and you’ve done all those things, if you are injured, you need to go to an urgent care or an emergency room or your PCP, go to a doctor and get that documented,” Ralph advises. This step creates the essential link between the accident and your injuries—a link that Texas insurance companies will aggressively challenge if not properly established.

Why Timing Matters Medically and Legally

Many injuries, including concussions, soft tissue damage, and internal bleeding, have delayed symptoms. Seeking immediate medical attention serves two vital purposes: First, it identifies potentially serious conditions that might not be immediately apparent. Second, it creates a contemporaneous medical record that establishes causation. As Ralph notes: “What’s hurting your neck, your back, you have a headache, you have a scratch, your knee hit the dashboard, your elbow hit the side of the window. Sometimes people’s heads hit the window and that can cause a concussion. Concussions can last, you know, weeks, months. I’ve had clients where they’re, have post-concussion syndrome for years. So that’s something that has to be documented for you to get compensated for once the insurance company claims, insurance company’s claims manager gets in touch with you and starts processing your claim.”

In Texas, the medical records generated in the first days after your accident become the foundation of your claim. Insurance adjusters use sophisticated software like Colossus that heavily weights early medical documentation. Gaps in treatment become “red flags” that adjusters use to justify lowball offers. Our firm includes a former insurance defense attorney—Lupe Peña—who literally used this software to value claims against injured people. Now, he uses that insider knowledge to ensure our clients’ medical documentation meets the standards insurance companies can’t challenge.

The Financial Barrier to Care—And How We Help

Many accident victims hesitate to seek medical attention due to cost concerns. “I’ve got to survive. I’ve got kids,” as Ralph acknowledges clients often say. This understandable worry shouldn’t prevent necessary care. At Attorney911, we maintain relationships with medical providers throughout Texas who treat accident victims on a letter of protection or lien basis, meaning you receive necessary treatment without upfront payment. These costs are then resolved from your settlement or verdict. This approach ensures you get the care you need while building the medical documentation required for maximum compensation.

We’ve seen repeatedly how proper medical documentation transforms case outcomes. In a recent multi-million dollar settlement involving a car accident amputation, detailed medical records established how staff infections during treatment led to partial amputation—connecting the accident directly to the catastrophic outcome. Without thorough, timely medical documentation, this connection would have been difficult to prove.

Step 4: Follow Your Doctor’s Orders—The Compliance Imperative

“Next thing is follow your doctor’s orders,” Ralph states plainly. “If your doctor says, okay, I think you need an MRI. You may have a disc injury, go get the MRI. If your doctor says, I think you need to get a MRI, go get the MRI. If your doctor says, I think you need to three weeks of physical therapy for your back injury, do the physical therapy.” This advice addresses one of the most common ways insurance companies undermine legitimate claims.

The Insurance “Gap in Treatment” Argument

“Because what ends up happening,” Ralph explains, “the reason why you need to do that is because an insurance company can come back and say, well, the doctor recommended that you do this and you didn’t do it. So you must not have been hurt.” In Texas personal injury law, this is known as the “gap in treatment” or “failure to mitigate damages” argument. Even if your injuries are legitimate, insurance companies will argue that by not following prescribed treatment, you failed to minimize your damages, reducing what they owe.

Lupe Peña’s defense experience reveals how aggressively this tactic is deployed: “When I worked for insurance companies, we’d have entire sections of our settlement evaluations dedicated to ‘compliance issues.’ Missing even a few physical therapy appointments could reduce a settlement offer by thousands of dollars, regardless of the actual medical necessity.” At Attorney911, we help clients navigate these challenges by communicating with medical providers about scheduling difficulties, documenting legitimate reasons for missed appointments, and ensuring the overall treatment narrative remains consistent and compelling.

Balancing Real-Life Challenges With Medical Necessity

Ralph acknowledges the real-world constraints accident victims face: “When it comes to, you know, I’ve had thousands and thousands of clients. Sometimes, you know, they’re like, well, it’s taking too much time from work. I’ve got to survive. I’ve got kids. And it’s like, okay, I get it. That’s your life. Then you got to take care of you. Then don’t do it. Or if they don’t feel comfortable doing it, you know, I’m too claustrophobic to get an MRI machine. I can’t do it. It’s like, okay, then you can’t do it. But in general, follow the doctor’s orders.”

The key is documentation and communication. If you cannot follow a treatment recommendation for legitimate reasons, document why and discuss alternatives with your doctor. At Attorney911, we help clients navigate these conversations and ensure their medical records reflect these discussions, preventing insurance companies from exploiting understandable life challenges. This compassionate, practical approach is why clients like Donald Wilcox say: “One company said they would not except my case. Then I got a call from Manginello…I got a call to come pick up this handsome check.”

Step 5: Navigating the Insurance Maze—When to Bring in Legal Reinforcement

“And then lastly, if you don’t feel like you can deal with the insurance company because they have lawyers, doctors, nurses, staff, and all these resources to fight against you and you’re fighting on your own, next thing is call an attorney,” Ralph advises. This isn’t an admission of weakness—it’s a strategic recognition of the uneven playing field. Insurance companies spend billions annually on strategies to minimize payouts, and they begin building their case against you from the moment the accident is reported.

The Insurance Playbook—Exposed by a Former Insider

At Attorney911, our biggest competitive advantage comes from Associate Attorney Lupe Peña’s years working for a national defense firm. He learned firsthand how insurance companies operate: “I’ve reviewed hundreds of surveillance videos and social media posts as a defense attorney. Here’s the truth: Insurance companies take innocent activity out of context. They freeze ONE frame of you moving ‘normally’ and ignore the 10 minutes of you struggling before and after. They’re not documenting your life—they’re building ammunition against you.”

Lupe’s insider knowledge extends to every aspect of claim handling:

• Recorded Statement Traps: Adjusters ask seemingly innocent questions designed to elicit responses they can use against you. “I used to take these statements,” Lupe explains. “We’d ask ‘How are you feeling today?’ If someone said ‘Okay,’ we’d argue they were mostly recovered, even if they meant ‘Okay considering I was in a major accident.'”
• Quick Settlement Tactics: Early lowball offers come with pressure to settle quickly before the full extent of injuries is known. These offers often seem generous initially but represent fractions of actual case value.
• IME (Independent Medical Exam) Games: “There’s nothing independent about these exams,” Lupe notes. “Insurance companies use a small pool of doctors who reliably minimize injuries. I used to hire these same doctors when I worked for the defense.”
• Colossus Software Manipulation: This claims valuation software has hidden levers adjusters use to systematically reduce values. Lupe knows exactly how it works and how to counter it.

The Attorney911 Difference: Former Defense Tactics Now Used FOR You

When Ralph says, “So if you don’t feel like you can do it, the attorney assess your case and your damages. If they want to represent you and feel like they can get you a good deal on your compensation and do a better job than you’re doing yourself, then hire yourself an attorney,” he’s describing our firm’s philosophy. We evaluate cases based on our unique ability to maximize results, not just process claims.

Our approach includes:

• Immediate Investigation: While evidence is fresh, we deploy resources to preserve surveillance footage, download vehicle EDR data, and locate witnesses.
• Medical Liaison Services: We help coordinate your care with providers who understand the legal process and document injuries effectively.
• Strategic Demand Packages: We present claims with the force of proven trial readiness, knowing insurance companies evaluate cases differently when they know the attorney prepares every case for trial.
• No Fear of Trial: With Ralph’s federal court experience and our firm’s trial record, we don’t bluff. Insurance companies know we’ll take cases to Texas courtrooms if fair settlements aren’t offered.

This comprehensive approach has yielded multi-million dollar results for clients across Texas, from Houston to Austin to Beaumont. As client Glenda Walker attests: “They make you feel like family and even though the process may take some time, they make it feel like a breeze. They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.”

Why Attorney911 Stands Apart in Texas Personal Injury Representation

When you choose Attorney911—The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC—you’re not hiring just another law firm. You’re gaining a team with unparalleled credentials, insider knowledge, and proven results. Our “Legal Emergency Lawyers™” approach means we treat your case with the urgency it deserves from day one.

Ralph Manginello’s 25+ Years of Texas Courtroom Experience

Admitted to the Texas Bar in 1998 and to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Ralph brings quarter-century of experience that includes:

• BP Texas City Explosion Litigation: Our firm is one of the few in Texas involved in this landmark litigation against a multinational corporation, demonstrating our capacity for complex, high-stakes cases.
• Federal Court Proficiency: Many Texas attorneys never practice in federal court. Ralph’s admission and experience there means we can handle cases removed to federal jurisdiction or involving diverse citizenship.
• HCCLA Membership: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association—an elite criminal defense organization—provides unique insights when accidents involve DWI or other criminal charges.
• Texas Roots: Raised in Houston’s Memorial area and educated at the University of Texas at Austin, Ralph understands Texas courts, juries, and legal culture intimately.

As client Jamin Marroquin describes: “Mr. Manginello guided me through the whole process with great expertise…tenacious, accessible, and determined throughout the 19 months.”

Lupe Peña’s Insurance Defense Insider Advantage

Lupe’s years working for insurance defense firms give us what we call our “unfair advantage”: “We know their playbook because we ran it.” This insider knowledge informs every aspect of our practice:

• We know how claims are valued because Lupe calculated those values himself
• We recognize defense tactics because Lupe deployed them
• We understand settlement authority structures because Lupe worked within them
• We anticipate IME doctor strategies because Lupe hired those same doctors

This unique perspective is why clients like Greg Garcia came to us after other attorneys failed: “In the beginning I had another attorney but he dropped my case although Mangiello law firm were able to help me out.”

Documented Multi-Million Dollar Results

While every case is unique and past results don’t guarantee future outcomes, our track record demonstrates our capability:

• Logging Brain Injury: “Multi-million dollar settlement for client who suffered brain injury with vision loss when log dropped on him at logging company”
• Car Accident Amputation: “In a recent case, our client’s leg was injured in a car accident. Staff infections during treatment led to a partial amputation. This case settled in the millions”
• Trucking Wrongful Death: “At Attorney911, our personal injury attorneys have helped numerous injured individuals and families facing trucking-related wrongful death cases recover millions of dollars in compensation”
• Maritime Back Injury: “In a recent case, our client injured his back while lifting cargo on a ship. Our investigation revealed that he should have been assisted in this duty, and we were able to reach a significant cash settlement”
• Active High-Stakes Litigation: We’re currently litigating a $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi fraternity (Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc.), demonstrating our willingness to take on powerful institutions.

What Our Texas Clients Say—251+ Google Reviews at 4.9 Stars

Our clients’ experiences speak volumes about our approach:

Brian Butchee: “Melanie was excellent. She kept me informed and when she said she would call me back, she did. I got to speak with Ralph Manginello once and knew quickly the way his Firm was ran.”

Stephanie Hernandez: “When I felt I had no hope or direction, Leonor reached out to me…She took all the weight of my worries off my shoulders.”

Chad Harris: “You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client…You are FAMILY to them.”

Kiwi Potato: “This place feels like having a family over your case. And communication with you every step of the way. That’s how you know you’re in good hands.”

Jacqueline Johnson: “One of Houston’s Great Men Trae Tha Truth has recommended this law firm. So if he is vouching for them then I know they do good work.”

The Financial Reality: How Attorney911 Makes Representation Accessible

Many accident victims worry they can’t afford quality legal representation. At Attorney911, we operate on a contingency fee basis: we advance all case costs, and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Our standard fee is 33.33% before trial or 40% if the case goes to trial. This aligns our interests completely with yours—we only succeed when you succeed.

We also offer:

• Free Initial Consultations: We assess your case at no cost and with no obligation
• Bilingual Services: Lupe Peña and staff member Zulema provide fluent Spanish communication
• Statewide Service: With offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve all of Texas
• 24/7 Accessibility: Our emergency line 1-888-ATTY-911 connects you directly to our team

Your Immediate Action Plan: What to Do Right Now

If you’ve been in a Texas car accident, time is your enemy. Evidence disappears daily—surveillance footage is typically overwritten within 30 days, witnesses’ memories fade, and the insurance company is already building their case against you. Here’s your immediate action plan:

1. Seek Medical Attention: Even if you feel “okay,” get evaluated. Document everything.
2. Preserve Evidence: Take photos, get witness information, save all documents.
3. Do NOT Give Recorded Statements: Insurance adjusters are trained to extract damaging admissions.
4. Do NOT Accept Early Settlement Offers: These are almost always far below actual case value.
5. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 Immediately: Our legal emergency line connects you directly with our team.

As Ralph concludes on the Attorney911 Podcast: “If you have any other problems or questions, always reach out to Attorney 911 because if we can’t help you, we’ll definitely find someone who can.”

Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Car Accident Claims

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

Texas has a strict two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims (Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003). This means you have exactly two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit. However, waiting until the deadline approaches can harm your case—evidence disappears, witnesses become unavailable, and insurance companies know they can delay with impunity. Contact Attorney911 immediately at 1-888-ATTY-911 to begin preserving your rights.

What if I was partially at fault for the accident?

Texas follows the “modified comparative negligence” rule (Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 33.001). If you’re found 50% or less at fault, you can still recover damages, but your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you’re found 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing. Insurance companies aggressively push comparative fault arguments. Having Attorney911 on your side—with our former insurance defense attorney who knows these tactics intimately—ensures these arguments are properly countered.

How much is my car accident case worth?

Case value depends on numerous factors: severity of injuries, medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, property damage, and insurance policy limits. Insurance companies use sophisticated software (like Colossus) to systematically undervalue claims. At Attorney911, Lupe Peña’s experience with this software gives us unique insight into how claims are valued and how to maximize your recovery. We provide honest assessments during free consultations at 1-888-ATTY-911.

What if the other driver has no insurance or minimal coverage?

Texas requires only $30,000 in bodily injury coverage per person—often insufficient for serious accidents. If the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, you may recover through your own UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage. These claims involve complex negotiations with your own insurance company. Having experienced counsel is crucial, as insurance companies often resist paying these claims. Attorney911 has successfully handled numerous UM/UIM cases throughout Texas.

How long will my car accident case take?

Most cases settle within 6-18 months, but serious injury cases requiring extensive treatment may take longer. The timeline depends on injury healing, treatment completion, and negotiation dynamics. At Attorney911, we prepare every case as if it’s going to trial, which actually speeds settlement because insurance companies know we’re not bluffing. We maintain regular communication—clients like Dame Haskett note: “Consistent communication and not one time did I call and not get a clear answer.”

Will I have to go to court?

Approximately 95% of personal injury cases settle before trial. However, insurance companies only offer fair settlements when they know your attorney is prepared and willing to try the case. At Attorney911, we prepare every case for trial from day one. Ralph Manginello’s federal court experience and our firm’s trial readiness mean insurance companies take us seriously. As client Cassie Wright says: “Ralph is an AMAZING ATTORNEY. I have used him 2 TIMES FOR 2 separate cases…He gets the JOB DONE RIGHT!!!!”

Your Next Step: Protecting Your Rights Before Time Runs Out

The moments, hours, and days after a Texas car accident set the trajectory for your entire claim. The insurance company is already working to minimize what they’ll pay. Evidence is disappearing. Witnesses are becoming harder to locate. The two-year statute of limitations is ticking. You don’t have to navigate this complex process alone against billion-dollar corporations with endless resources.

At Attorney911, we bring 25+ years of Texas courtroom experience, former insurance defense insider knowledge, and a proven track record of multi-million dollar results. We treat your case with the urgency of a legal emergency because that’s exactly what it is. We advance all costs and only get paid if we recover compensation for you. With offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont serving all of Texas, we’re here to help you rebuild your life.

Call our legal emergency line right now at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911) for a free, no-obligation consultation. Visit our website at attorney911.com to learn more about our firm, read our 251+ Google reviews with 4.9-star average, and see why Texas families trust Attorney911 when their world has been turned upside down. As Ralph Manginello says: “You just learned something new.” Now take the next step toward protecting your rights and securing your future.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Texas has a strict two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003. You must file a lawsuit within two years of your accident date, but waiting risks evidence loss and witness unavailability. Contact Attorney911 immediately at 1-888-ATTY-911 to preserve your rights.

What if I was partially at fault for the accident?

Texas follows modified comparative negligence rules. If you’re 50% or less at fault, you can recover reduced damages. If you’re 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing. Insurance companies aggressively push fault arguments—having Attorney911 with former defense attorney Lupe Peña ensures proper counterarguments.

How much is my car accident case worth in Texas?

Value depends on injury severity, medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and policy limits. Insurance companies use software to undervalue claims. Attorney911’s Lupe Peña knows this software from his defense work, giving us unique insight to maximize your recovery during free consultations at 1-888-ATTY-911.

What if the other driver has no insurance or minimal coverage?

Texas minimum coverage is often insufficient. You may recover through your UM/UIM coverage, but these claims involve complex negotiations with your own insurer. Attorney911 has successfully handled numerous UM/UIM cases across Texas and knows how to navigate these challenging situations.

How long will my Texas car accident case take to resolve?

Most cases settle in 6-18 months, but serious injuries may take longer. At Attorney911, we prepare every case for trial, which often speeds settlement because insurance companies know we’re not bluffing. We maintain regular communication—clients praise our consistent updates throughout the process.

Will I have to go to court for my car accident case?

About 95% of cases settle before trial. However, insurance companies only offer fair settlements when they know your attorney is trial-ready. Attorney911 prepares every case for trial from day one—Ralph Manginello’s federal court experience means insurance companies take our trial capability seriously.