Board-certified car accident trial lawyers in Richmond, Texas. Seven minutes from the Fort Bend County courthouse. Free consultation, in English or Spanish. No fee or expenses unless we win.
Call (281) 238-5400 · Tell us what happened
- Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law — Texas Board of Legal Specialization (Joshua A. Estes; Gary M. Freeman)
- 716 S. Union St, Richmond, Texas 77469
- Hablamos español
- Free consultation
If the crash just happened, do these four things.
- Get checked, even if you feel “mostly fine.” Adrenaline hides injuries. An urgent care or ER visit protects your health first and documents the injury second.
- Politely say no to a recorded statement. The other driver’s insurance company will ask for one, and Texas law does not require you to give it. “Send me that in writing” is a complete answer.
- Get the crash report number. The officer’s report (CR-3) is the backbone of a Fort Bend County claim. If you don’t have it, we can help you get it.
- Write down what you remember today: where you were headed, the lane, the light, and what the other driver said. Memory fades faster than you’d think.
Then, whenever you’re ready, today or next week, talk to a lawyer before you sign anything from an insurance company. The consultation is free either way.
More: What to do after a crash
The adjuster’s first offer is meant to close your claim small.
Insurance adjusters are trained professionals, and their job is to pay as little as the file allows. The first offer usually arrives before anyone knows whether that shoulder needs an MRI or that headache is a concussion. Once you sign a release, the claim is over, no matter what a doctor finds later.
A Texas injury claim, properly built, can include:
- the ER bill and everything after it
- follow-up treatment and physical therapy
- lost wages, including sick days you had to use
- future care your doctor recommends
- mileage to appointments
- the physical pain, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life the law recognizes
Claims are often undervalued because nobody itemized them. That itemizing is the job we do.
More: Claim value and damages · Insurance and settlements
Who can be responsible for a Richmond car crash?
Texas claims are based on fault. To recover, you show that someone failed to use reasonable care, and that the failure caused your injuries. That means four things: a duty to drive safely, a breach of that duty (speeding through a work zone, texting, running a light), causation, and damages.
The careless driver is not always the only responsible party:
- An employer. When the driver was working, for example in a company vehicle on a delivery route, the employer is usually responsible for the driver’s negligence.
- A vehicle owner who lent the car. An owner who lets an unlicensed or reckless driver use the car can be responsible for their own poor judgment. The law calls this negligent entrustment.
- A manufacturer or repair shop. A defective part or a botched repair can be a product liability or negligence claim against the company that made or worked on it.
- A city, county or the state. Claims about road conditions or government vehicles fall under the Texas Tort Claims Act. Formal notice is often due within six months, and some city charters require it sooner. Call a lawyer quickly if a government vehicle or a road defect was involved.
If you were partly at fault: Texas uses proportionate responsibility. You can generally recover if you were 50% or less at fault, and your recovery is reduced by your percentage. If a jury finds you 20% at fault, you recover 80% of your damages. The insurance company may also try to prove you were partly at fault, which is one more reason to be careful what you say early on.
More: Fault and evidence
Evidence that wins car accident claims
If you are able, take photos at the scene:
- where the vehicles ended up
- the damage to every vehicle
- skid marks, signs and signals
- anything blocking the view
Get names and phone numbers of witnesses, passengers and bystanders. Keep every medical bill, receipt and repair estimate in one folder.
We handle the rest. That includes the crash report, any dash-cam or business camera footage (some systems overwrite it within days), the vehicles’ event data, and, when the case calls for it, medical, engineering and economic experts.
Board certification is the credential insurance companies actually check.
Two of our attorneys, Joshua A. Estes and Gary M. Freeman, are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Certification requires substantial trial experience, peer review and a written examination. How to verify it.
Insurers also check whether a firm actually tries cases or just settles them. Our office is in Richmond, seven minutes from the Fort Bend County Justice Center, where Fort Bend County injury cases are usually tried. We’re not a call center with a Houston billboard. When you call, you’re talking to the firm that would stand in front of your jury.
No recovery, no fee. No expenses either.
Some contingent-fee agreements cover only the attorney’s fee, so the client can still owe case expenses if there is no recovery. Our agreement is simpler: no fee or expenses unless we win. The consultation is free. If we think you don’t need a lawyer at all, we’ll tell you that too, because sometimes that’s the honest advice.
Here’s exactly what the first call looks like.
- You tell us what happened. It takes five to ten minutes, in English or Spanish.
- We tell you honestly whether you have a claim worth pursuing. If you don’t, we’ll say so.
- If you do, we explain the next three steps and send the agreement to your phone. From that moment, the insurance company talks to us, not you.
Texas deadlines
Most Texas car accident claims must be filed within two years of the crash (Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.003). Some situations shorten that window, such as claims involving a government vehicle or road, which need formal notice much sooner. Others can extend it, such as an injured child. Talk to a lawyer about your specific dates. A missed deadline usually ends the claim.
Richmond car accident questions
How much does a car accident lawyer cost in Texas?
At our firm, no fee or expenses unless we win. The consultation is free.
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Texas?
Generally two years from the crash, with exceptions that can shorten or extend it. Talk to a lawyer about your specific dates.
Should I call my own insurance company?
Yes. Most policies require you to report a crash promptly. Stick to the basics: who, when, where, the other driver’s insurance, and the vehicles involved. Don’t guess about fault or injuries, and don’t give a recorded statement before talking to a lawyer.
Should I talk to the other driver’s insurance company?
You’re not required to give them a recorded statement. It’s usually wise to speak with a lawyer first, and the consultation is free.
The insurance company already made an offer. Should I take it?
Not before you know the full extent of your injuries. Once you sign a release, the claim is closed for good. Bring the offer to the free consultation.
Do I have a case if I was partly at fault?
Texas uses proportionate responsibility. You can generally recover if you were 50% or less at fault, reduced by your percentage. Every case turns on its facts.
What if the other driver was uninsured?
You may have coverage through your own policy (UM/UIM). Bring your policy to the free consultation and we’ll read it with you.
Should I see a doctor even if I feel okay?
Yes. Some injuries show up hours or days later, and a prompt visit protects your health. It also creates a record that ties the injury to the crash.
More answers: Richmond car accident FAQ · Texas injury questions, answered · Preguntas en español
Advertisement. Responsible attorney: William F. Estes. Principal office: Richmond, Texas. No fee or expenses unless we win. Free consultation. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This page is general information about Texas law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.