Houston Car Accident Lawyer

Houston, Texas Car Accident Statistics

• Houston has the most traffic accidents of any Texas city. (75,711 in 2022).
• 1,592 people were seriously injured and 323 people were killed in Houston, Texas car accidents in 2022.
• 37% of Texas traffic deaths involve alcohol or drug impairment.
• Texas has more commercial vehicle-passenger vehicle collisions than any other state.

What To Do After a Car Accident in Texas

Texas law requires drivers involved in an accident to stop, give information, and render aid. Texas Transportation Code governs driver duties after an injury accident, property damage, or accident involving unattended vehicles.

When you’re in a car accident in Texas, you must stop, give information and render aid.

If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately. Follow operator instructions until help arrives.

As you wait, be aware of your surroundings. Stay away from traffic. Move vehicles from the roadway if you can.

See Texas Transp. Code § 550.021 (injury), § 550.022 (damage), and § 550.024 (unattended vehicle).

Your medical care comes first

Prioritize medical attention for anyone injured. If you can, take photos and video of the accident scene. Get contact information for witnesses, and vehicle, license and insurance information.

Reporting the accident

Texas Transp. Code § 550.026 says that drivers in an accident resulting in injury, death or damage that makes a vehicle inoperable must immediately report the accident to law enforcement. In Houston, that means reporting the accident to the Houston Police Department, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, or other appropriate law enforcement agency.

If the police respond, they must complete an accident report if there is injury, death, or apparent damage of $1,000 or more. Law enforcement must complete the report within 10 days. (§ 550.062).

Building your case

Get a copy of the car accident report when it becomes available.

Save the clothes you were wearing and any damaged personal property.

If you or someone in your vehicle is injured, involve an attorney as early as possible.

Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle

Our Houston car accident attorneys handle every type of car accident injury claim, including:

Drunk driving accident injury

Drunk driving accidents are completely avoidable. We can pursue your case whether or not criminal charges have been filed.

Texting and driving

Texting and driving reduces reaction time. Our team investigates whether distracted driving played a role in the accident.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist

15% of drivers on the road are uninsured. Our lawyers explore all possibilities for your compensation for an accident involving an uninsured or underinsured motorist.

Rear-end collisions

Rear-end collisions can result in significant injury. Our attorneys handle claims involving the Texas following too closely law (assured clear distance), § 545.062.

Head-on collisions

Head-on collisions can be especially devastating. We investigate the cause of the accident and details that may have been missed in the police report.

T-bone, side impact

T-bone, or side impact accidents, can occur when one party violates the right of way. § 544.007 requires drivers to observe traffic signals. Our lawyers build your claim for compensation.

Vehicle rollover

When you’re involved in a vehicle rollover, you may have serious injury. Our lawyers investigate contributing factors like road conditions and vehicle design.

Single and multi-vehicle accidents

Our law firm handles claims involving single-vehicle accidents, two vehicles and pile ups. We handle claims where more than one party may have legal fault.

Serious and catastrophic injury

If you or a loved one have suffered a life-changing injury, an attorney is especially important to handle your case. We work in detail to make your case complete.

Wrongful death

If you have lost a loved one in a car accident, our caring team can help. We handle wrongful death claims with compassion. We provide skilled legal representation while you are grieving.

Our 18 Wheeler Truck Accident Lawyers Take On Trucking Companies

Do you need an 18 wheeler accident lawyer after a crash with a semi, bus, or other commercial vehicle? Usually, yes. An 18 wheeler truck accident lawyer from Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC investigates the driver, the trucking company, and any company that loaded or maintained the truck. We understand the complex mechanics of commercial vehicle accidents, and we fight for you.

Pedestrian, bicycle and scooter

Your rights as a pedestrian or bicyclist are important. We fight for fair compensation.

Our law firm is experienced in a wide range of motor vehicle collision claims, including cars, commercial vehicles, motorcycles and more. Whatever your situation, we pursue your case in full.

Common Car Accident Injuries

Here are some common car accident injuries:

• Resulting from soft tissue strain.
• Broken bones. Including ribs, legs, arms, wrists and facial bones.
• Organ damage. Serious injury to vital organs.
• Traumatic brain injury. When injury disrupts normal brain function.
• Cuts and bruises. Cuts and bruises can be painful with risk of infection.
• Burns can result in pain, disfigurement and complications.
• Spinal cord injury. Causing paralysis, tingling, numbness and loss of feeling.

Whatever your injuries, you deserve fair compensation.

Damages You Can Recover in a Car Accident Claim

Houston car accident damagers are categorized as economic and non-economic losses and include medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, emotional anguish, and ongoing medical care

A car accident claim is about monetary compensation. This means damages. Damages are the losses that the victim has because of the accident.

Losses are both financial and personal. Medical bills, for example, are a monetary loss. You also have physical suffering, which is a personal loss.

Damages you can recover may include:

• Emergency medical care
• Ongoing medical care
• Physical therapy
• Lost income
• Personal care expenses
• Replacement household expenses
• Physical pain
• Emotional anguish, grief
• Scars, disfigurement, disability
• Loss of life expectancy
• Loss of society and personal activities
• Other ways that you are impacted by the accident

Each case is valued individually. An attorney from Goldenzweig Law Group can value your claim.

How Insurance Companies Try to Minimize Your Car Accident Claim

Texas insurance companies are motivated to minimize car accident claim payouts to protect their profit margins, not to pay you what your case is worth. When an insurance adjuster requests document after document without ever making a settlement offer, that is a deliberate delay tactic designed to wear you down. Texas Insurance Code Chapter 541 prohibits unfair claims settlement practices by insurers, and Texas Insurance Code Section 542 requires an insurer to acknowledge your claim within 15 business days of receiving it. Despite these protections, insurance companies routinely attempt to wrongly assign fault to the Houston car accident victim to justify reducing or denying the payout. A Houston car accident attorney counters these tactics by documenting evidence, establishing true fault, and building a claim the insurer cannot easily dismiss. When you hire Goldenzweig Law Group, the insurance company immediately knows you have serious legal representation, and that changes how they handle your case.

Determining Fault in a Houston Car Accident

Houston car accident fault is determined by whose negligence contributed to the crash. Under Texas negligence law, establishing fault requires proof of four elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages. Common breaches include speeding on I-10, where the posted limit in Houston ranges from 60-70 mph, and failure to yield, which violates Texas right of way rules across Houston’s road network. Drunk driving constitutes negligence under both Texas DWI law and civil liability standards, while reckless driving, operating with willful disregard for the safety of others, is expressly prohibited by Transp. Code § 545.401.

Not all fault is obvious at the scene. Vehicle malfunction contributes to approximately 2% of motor vehicle crashes according to NHTSA data, and those cases often require investigation beyond what any police report captures. Goldenzweig Law Group investigates fault beyond what the Houston police report documents, examining physical evidence, witness accounts, traffic camera footage, and vehicle data to build a complete picture of what actually caused your crash and who is legally responsible for it.

Texas Car Accident Laws You Need to Know

Texas car accident laws allow injured victims to seek compensation from any party at fault for the accident. Usually, fault is based on a driving infraction.

Here are some Texas car accident laws that you need to know:

Texas Is an At-Fault State

Texas is an at-fault state for car accidents. That means the responsible party pays.

In no-fault states, minor accident claims are handled through each party’s own insurance, and fault matters only when injuries are severe. There are only 12 no-fault states in the United States.

Because Texas is an at-fault state, you can pursue compensation from those responsible for the accident, regardless of the degree of injury or the amount of damages.

Modified Comparative Negligence – the 51% Rule

Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001 creates a modified comparative negligence system for car accident compensation. Fault is assigned to every responsible party as a percentage. Fault is 0% for someone with no fault at all. Shared fault totals 100% for all parties.

If someone is 50% or less at fault for the accident, they may collect compensation. Compensation is reduced as a percentage of fault. For example, if you’re 25% at fault, you recover 75% of your damages. This is called comparative negligence.

There is a 51% bar to compensation for Texas car accidents. When a party is 51% or more at fault for an accident, they receive no compensation. This is what makes the Texas rule modified comparative negligence.

Remember, the insurance company wants to pay as little as possible. Just because they accuse you of fault doesn’t make it so. A Houston car accident lawyer can assist you.

Texas Minimum Insurance Requirements

Texas requires every vehicle owner to have car insurance. Drivers must have a minimum of:

• $30,000 injury, per person
• $60,000 injury, per accident
• $25,000 property damage, per accident

You may see these minimums referred to as 30/60/25 coverage. Texas does not require uninsured/underinsured coverage.

Insurance is an important part of most Texas car accident claims. Your attorney can help you explore policy limits, collision or comprehensive coverage, uninsured/underinsured coverage, commercial insurance or assets that may pay a claim.

(Texas Transportation Code § 601.072).

Statute of Limitations for Car Accidents in Texas

Most Texas car accident claims in Texas must be filed within two years. This time limit is called a statute of limitations (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003). Missing the statute of limitations means getting no compensation, even if you have a great case.

Sometimes, the statute of limitations is longer or shorter. For example, if the injured person is a minor or legally incompetent, or if the defendant is outside of the State of Texas, the deadline can be longer. When the defendant is a government agency, the time limit can be shorter (180 days for most government agencies, and 90 days for the City of Houston).

Negotiating with the insurance company doesn’t count as filing a case. Don’t wait to contact a lawyer.

For more information about Texas car accident laws, see Texas Transportation Code § 550.001 et. seq., Collisions and Collision Reports.

Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC, Houston Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Is the Car Accident Attorney Near You for Houston Crash Victims

Who is the best car accident attorney near you after a Houston crash? Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC, Houston Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers is a Houston car accident attorney with a headquarters at 5847 San Felipe St near the Galleria and a North Houston office at 363 N Sam Houston Pkwy E near I-45 and Bush Intercontinental Airport. If you searched for an attorney near me because you were just hurt, call 713-903-3988 any time for a free consultation, and you pay nothing unless we win.

Car Accident Lawyers Serving All of Texas

The Goldenzweig Law Group headquarters are in Houston. We have four local offices to serve you.

• • Houston Car Accident Lawyer – Headquarters – Located at 5847 San Felipe St, near The Galleria and Interstate 610 between I-10 and I-69 in Greater Uptown. Open 24 Hours

• • North Houston Car Accident Lawyer – N Sam Houston Parkway E – near I-45 and George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Open 24 Hours

• Pasadena, TX, Car Accident Lawyer – On W Southmore Ave, between I-45 and Highway 225 in Pasadena, TX, near South Houston and William P. Hobby Airport.
• Bellaire, TX, Car Accident Lawyer – On W Loop S – Off Interstate 610 between Bissonnet St. and Bellaire Blvd.

Areas We Serve

Acres Home, Addicks / Park Ten, Afton Oaks / River Oaks, Alief, Astrodome Area, Braeburn, Braeswood, Brays Oaks, Briar Forest, Carverdale, Central Northwest, Central Southwest, Clear Lake, Clinton Park / Tri-Community, Denver Harbor / Port Houston, Downtown, East Houston, East Little York / Homestead, Edgebrook, El Dorado / Oates Prairie, Eldridge / West Oaks, Fairbanks / Northwest Crossing, Fondren Gardens, Fort Bend / Houston, Fourth Ward, Golfcrest / Bellfort / Reveille, Greater Eastwood, Greater Fifth Ward, Greater Greenspoint, Greater Heights, Greater Hobby Area, Greater Inwood, Greater OST / South Union, Greater Third Ward, Greater Uptown, Greenway / Upper Kirby, Gulfgate Riverview / Pine Valley, Gulfton, Harrisburg / Manchester, Hidden Valley, Hunterwood, IAH Airport, Independence Heights, Jensen, Kashmere Gardens, Kingwood, Lake Houston, Langwood, Lawndale / Wayside, Lazybrook / Timbergrove, MacGregor, Magnolia Park, Meadowbrook / Allendale, Medical Center, Memorial, Meyerland, Midtown, Mid-West, Minnetex, Museum Park, Neartown / Montrose, Northshore, Northside / Northline, Northside Village, Park Place, Pecan Park, Pleasantville Area, Second Ward, Settegast, Sharpstown, South Acres / Crestmont Park, South Belt / Ellington. South Main, South Park, Spring Branch Central, Spring Branch East, Spring Branch North, Spring Branch West, Sunnyside, Trinity / Houston Gardens, University Place, Washington Avenue Coalition / Memorial Park, Westbranch, Westbury, Westchase, Westwood, Willow Meadows / Willowbend, Willowbrook.

Houston Car Accident Lawyer FAQs

Does a Houston Car Accident Attorney Charge Upfront Fees?

Does a Houston car accident attorney charge upfront fees? At Goldenzweig Law Group, there is no initial payment to hire our Houston car accident lawyers. We work on a contingency basis, which means our fee comes out of the compensation we recover for you, and you pay nothing if we don’t win. Your free consultation is where we explain the fee agreement in writing before you commit.

Should I Give a Recorded Statement to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company?

Should you give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company? In most cases, no. You can generally give basic contact information and decline a recorded statement until you have spoken with a car accident lawyer. Adjusters use recorded statements to look for comments that shift fault onto you or minimize your injuries, and a casual “I’m fine” on day one can be used against you later.

What Happens if the Driver Who Hit Me Had No Insurance in Houston?

What happens if the driver who hit you had no insurance in Houston? You may still be able to recover through the uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your own policy, if you carry it. Texas does not require UM/UIM coverage, so your policy matters, and your own insurer can still dispute fault and the value of your claim. A Houston car accident attorney can review your policy, identify every available coverage source, and handle the claim for you.

What Should I Do After a Hit-and-Run Accident in Houston?

What should you do after a hit-and-run accident in Houston? Call 911, report the crash to the Houston Police Department or other responding agency, and get medical care right away. Write down anything you remember about the other vehicle, and photograph the scene and look for nearby cameras that may have recorded it. Your own UM/UIM coverage may apply when the at-fault driver is never found, so speak with a car accident attorney before you give your insurer a statement.

How Do I Get a Copy of My Houston Car Accident Report?

How do you get a copy of your Houston car accident report? Ask the officer for the report number at the scene, then request the report through the TxDOT crash report system, which the page already links above. Reports can take several days to become available. If you hire Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC, Houston Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, we can get the report as part of our investigation.

Can I Wait to See a Doctor if I Feel Fine After a Houston Car Accident?

Can you wait to see a doctor if you feel fine after a Houston car accident? You shouldn’t. Whiplash, concussions, and internal injuries can take hours or days to show symptoms, and adrenaline can hide pain at the scene. Getting evaluated right away protects your health and creates the medical record that ties your injuries to the crash.

How Long Does a Houston Car Accident Claim Take?

How long does a Houston car accident claim take? There is no fixed answer, because it depends on how serious your injuries are, how clearly fault can be shown, and whether the insurer negotiates in good faith. Claims with minor injuries can settle in months, while serious injury cases and lawsuits can take much longer. A Houston car accident attorney will usually advise you not to settle until your medical treatment has reached a point where your full damages are known.

Do I Need an 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyer After a Truck Crash in Houston?

Do you need an 18 wheeler accident lawyer after a truck crash in Houston? If a commercial truck caused your injuries, an 18 wheeler truck accident lawyer is usually the better fit. These claims can involve the driver, the trucking company, and the companies that loaded or maintained the truck. Driver logs, inspection records, and electronic data can be lost if no one demands they be preserved, so contact a lawyer early. Our Houston truck accident lawyers can send those demands for you.

Can I Recover for My Vehicle Damage as Well as My Injuries?

Can you recover for your vehicle damage as well as your injuries after a Houston car accident? Yes. Property damage is a separate part of the claim and generally covers the cost to repair your vehicle or, if it is totaled, its value before the crash. Insurers often lowball total-loss valuations. Your car accident lawyer can challenge a low figure while pursuing your injury damages.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim After a Fatal Houston Car Accident?

Who can file a wrongful death claim after a fatal Houston car accident? Texas law generally allows the surviving spouse, children, and parents of the person who died to bring the claim, and the estate may have a separate claim as well. The same two-year time limit generally applies. Our wrongful death team can explain who qualifies in your situation while you focus on your family.

How Do I Find a Car Accident Attorney Near Me in Houston?

How do you find a car accident attorney near you in Houston? Look for a firm with a real office close to you, a track record in car accident cases, and a free consultation. Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC, Houston Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers has offices in Houston, North Houston, Pasadena, and Bellaire, and phones are answered 24/7 at 713-903-3988. We also offer virtual consultations if your injuries make travel hard.

Reviews of Car Wreck Lawyers Near You in Houston, TX

“They did a wonderful job in handling my car accident. I am very pleased with their customer service. I want to highly recommend Ashley and thank her for her commitment and understanding in any question and concerns I had. My car accident was a very emotional experience for me and she did very well in handling all of my emotions.”

– Leslie P

“Goldenzweig Law Group was amazing I can’t thank Cynthia and Elias enough for the incredible support they gave me after my car accident. From start to finish, they made the entire process so much easier. they both were absolutely amazing—always on top of everything, quick to answer any questions I had, and consistently kept me updated on the progress. Their professionalism, responsiveness, and kindness truly stood out. I’m so grateful for all their help and would highly recommend Goldenzweig Law Group to anyone who needs a dependable and caring legal team.”

– Dianna

“Goldenzweig did amazing in handling my daughters car accident. Highly recommend Ashley, she did phenomenal in taking care of my daughter. Thank you very much, will keep you guys in mind for anyone in the future.”

– Jeanette B

Stephen Goldenzweig is the founder of Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC, and a top-rated personal injury attorney in Houston, Texas. With over 16 years of legal experience, Stephen brings a unique strategic advantage to his clients as a former insurance defense attorney who knows the playbook insurance companies use to minimize payouts. A graduate of the Hofstra University School of Law, he is licensed to practice in both Texas and New York and has been selected to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for five consecutive years (2020–2024). Stephen is known for his trial-ready philosophy and his commitment to maximizing the final in-pocket recovery for victims of car accidents, truck collisions, and catastrophic injuries across Harris County.