Straight answers to the questions injured Texans ask most. Every case is different — for answers about your specific situation, request a free case review or call (281) 238-5400.
What does “Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law” mean?
Board Certification is awarded by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, the body created by the Supreme Court of Texas to certify attorneys in specific practice areas. To become Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law, an attorney must have years of documented trial experience, pass evaluations by judges and fellow lawyers, and pass a rigorous specialty examination. Only a small fraction of Texas attorneys ever earn it. Attorneys Joshua Estes and Gary Freeman of The Estes Law Firm are both Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law.
How much does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer?
Nothing up front. The Estes Law Firm handles injury cases on a contingency fee: the consultation is free, and we only get paid if we recover money for you. If there is no recovery, you owe us no attorney fee.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Texas?
In most Texas personal injury cases the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the injury. There are important exceptions — claims against government entities require written notice much sooner (sometimes within months), and different rules can apply to minors and certain other situations. The safest move is to talk to a lawyer as early as possible so no deadline is missed.
What should I do after a car accident in Texas?
Call 911 and get a police report, get medical care right away (some serious injuries do not hurt immediately), photograph the vehicles, the scene, and your injuries, and collect names of witnesses. Do not admit fault, and talk to a lawyer before giving any recorded statement or accepting any offer from an insurance company.
Should I give the other driver’s insurance company a recorded statement?
No — not before talking to a lawyer. The other driver’s insurance company is building a defense from the moment the crash is reported, and recorded statements are routinely used to minimize or deny claims. You are generally required to cooperate with your own insurer, but you are not required to give the other side a recorded statement.
What if the police report says the accident was my fault?
A police report is not the final word — it can be challenged with witness testimony, scene evidence, vehicle data, and reconstruction. Texas follows modified comparative fault: you can still recover if you were 50% or less at fault, with your recovery reduced by your percentage. Our firm has recovered for clients many times when a police report blamed them, most recently we recovered $750,000 for a client where the police report stated they were responsible for the crash.
What makes 18-wheeler accident cases different?
Commercial truck cases involve federal safety regulations, multiple potentially responsible parties (the driver, the trucking company, brokers, shippers, maintenance contractors), much larger insurance policies, and evidence — driver logs, electronic control module data, inspection records — that can disappear quickly. Trucking companies often send rapid-response teams to the scene within hours, so getting your own lawyer working early matters.
What is my personal injury case worth?
It depends on your medical bills, lost income, future care needs, pain and suffering, the strength of the liability evidence, and the insurance coverage available. Be cautious of anyone who promises a number before reviewing your records or a promise of quick money. A free case review is the fastest way to get an honest assessment of your specific case.
Hurt in an accident? Get your free case review — no fee unless we win.
This page is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship.