Atascocita Personal Injury Attorney

What Qualifies as a Personal Injury Under Texas Law?

Personal injury law covers harm from another's negligence, recklessness, or intent. Injuries can be physical, emotional, or mental. Car crashes, workplace incidents, medical errors, and unsafe properties all fit this definition.

Texas personal injury claims require four elements:

• Duty of care: The other party had a legal obligation to act reasonably to prevent harm. Drivers must follow traffic laws. Property owners must address known hazards. Medical professionals must meet accepted standards of care.
• Breach of duty: The other party failed to meet that obligation. A driver ran a stop sign at the intersection of Timber Forest Drive and Atascocita Road. A store ignored standing water near an entrance. A doctor misread diagnostic imaging.
• Causation: The breach led directly to your injury. What happened must clearly connect to your harm.
• Damages: You suffered actual losses such as medical bills, lost wages, pain, or reduced quality of life.

When these elements exist, Texas law allows you to pursue compensation for your losses.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Atascocita

Our Atascocita personal injury attorneys handle claims involving:

Motor Vehicle Accidents

• Car accidents,
• Motorcycle accidents,
• Commercial truck accidents,
• Distracted driving crashes,
• DUI accidents,
• Uber and rideshare accidents,
• Bicycle accidents, and
• Pedestrian accidents.

Workplace and Industrial Accidents

• Industrial accidents in warehouses, plants, and construction sites;
• Oilfield accidents involving equipment failures or explosions; and
• Maritime accidents.

Medical and Institutional Negligence

• Medical malpractice involving surgical errors, misdiagnosis, or medication mistakes; and
• Nursing home abuse and neglect.

Other Personal Injury Claims

• Slip and fall accidents, and
• Wrongful death claims.

Injuries Commonly Involved in Personal Injury Claims

Personal injury cases often involve injuries that require extended treatment or result in long-term limitations, including:​

• Traumatic brain injuries,
• Spinal cord injuries,
• Herniated discs and chronic back or neck pain,
• Fractures requiring surgical repair,
• Severe burns, and
• Nerve damage,

The severity of your injury matters, but the specific ways it disrupts your daily life matter just as much. Consider how your injury impacts your ability to work, sleep through the night, care for your children, or enjoy hobbies and activities you did before the accident. These real-world effects help determine the true value of your claim.

How Do Texas Laws Affect My Atascocita Personal Injury Claim?

Two Texas laws directly affect personal injury cases: the modified comparative fault rule and the statute of limitations.

Modified Comparative Fault

Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule. This means you can recover compensation as long as you are not more than 50% responsible for the accident. Your percentage of responsibility reduces your recovery proportionally.

For example, a jury awards you $100,000 but finds you 20% at fault. Your recovery is reduced to $80,000. However, fault of 51% or higher bars you from recovering anything.

Defense attorneys will look for ways to shift blame onto injured parties to reduce what they owe. Having an experienced Atascocita personal injury lawyer helps ensure that fault is fairly assigned based on the evidence.

Statute of Limitations

Under Texas law, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing this deadline typically bars you from pursuing compensation, regardless of how strong your case may be.

Certain circumstances can affect this timeline. Claims against government entities have shorter deadlines. Cases involving minors or injuries that weren't immediately discovered may have different rules. Speaking with an Atascocita personal injury attorney promptly after your injury helps protect your right to file a claim.

Should I Give a Recorded Statement to the Insurance Company?

Insurance adjusters often call within days of an accident to request a recorded statement. You have the right to decline. Waiting to speak with an attorney first protects your claim.

These calls sound routine, but every word becomes part of the permanent record. Simple questions carry hidden weight. "How are you feeling?" can be used to argue your injuries aren't serious. "What happened?" locks you into a version of events before you've had time to understand what occurred.

An Atascocita personal injury lawyer handles these communications so your words can't be used against you.

Other Missteps That Can Affect Your Personal Injury Claim

People recovering from serious injuries often focus on getting better, not on building a legal case. That's understandable. However, certain well-meaning actions can unintentionally weaken a claim. Being aware of these missteps early can help protect your recovery.

Delaying Medical Treatment

When you are hurt but uncertain about the extent, it can be tempting to wait and hope to feel better. Many people avoid the emergency room, thinking their symptoms will improve. Insurance companies may interpret such gaps in treatment as a sign that injuries aren’t serious, which can feel unfair.​

The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to establish a clear connection between the accident and your condition. If you're injured, get evaluated promptly, even if you're uncertain about the severity.

Downplaying Your Symptoms

When someone asks how you're doing, most people instinctively say "fine" or "okay" out of politeness or optimism. Unfortunately, those words can end up in medical records, adjuster notes, or deposition transcripts.​

If you're struggling with pain, sleep disruption, or limited mobility, it's important to be honest with medical providers and anyone documenting your condition.

Posting on Social Media

A photo of you at a family gathering or trying to stay active can be misinterpreted as evidence that you're not really hurt. Adjusters and defense attorneys regularly review social media accounts looking for posts that contradict injury claims.​

Even innocent content—a smile in a picture, attending an event—can be taken out of context. It's often best to limit your social media activity while your case is ongoing.

Signing Documents Without Review

Insurance companies may send forms requesting authorization to access your medical records, employment history, or other personal information. Some of these requests are broader than necessary. Before signing anything, have an attorney review it. You have the right to understand what you're agreeing to.

Accepting the First Offer

When bills are piling up, and income has stopped, a quick settlement can feel like relief. Insurance companies know this. Early offers typically don't account for future treatment, ongoing limitations, or the full scope of your losses.

Once you accept and sign a release, you generally cannot pursue additional compensation later, even if your condition worsens.

After an injury, early decisions can affect your claim. A brief call with an Atascocita personal injury attorney can help you understand your options and avoid common mistakes. Pierce Skrabanek offers free case reviews with no obligation.

Call (832) 690-7000 or contact us online today.

What Compensation Is Available in an Atascocita Personal Injury Lawsuit?

A personal injury claim accounts for everything the accident has cost you, both financially and personally, such as:

• Medical treatment and ongoing care
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Rehabilitation and recovery expenses
• Physical pain and discomfort
• Emotional distress
• Loss of daily activities and independence

In cases involving gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing, Texas courts may award exemplary damages. These go beyond compensating you for your losses and serve to punish the wrongdoer and discourage similar conduct.

“We focus on every part of the impact, from medical bills to lost income to the emotional toll, so our clients get the full support they deserve.”

— Paul Skrabanek

Proven Results for Injured Clients

When Pierce Skrabanek represents you, our goal is to secure maximum compensation for your damages. A Martindale-Nolo survey found that over 90% of people who hired a lawyer received compensation, compared to just 51% of those who handled the process on their own. Here are examples of results we've achieved:​

• $117 million verdict for a 21-year-old mother severely injured when an emergency vehicle driver rear-ended a cane truck. This record-setting result reflects our commitment to holding negligent parties accountable and provides for lifelong medical care and support.
• $350,000 settlement for a slip and fall at a hair salon. Our client fell on exterior stairs that lacked visible nosing and had a substandard handrail. We established the property owner's negligence and recovered compensation that allowed our client to move forward.
• $250,000 settlement for a go-kart accident. A couple was injured when go-kart attendants failed to open the start/stop gate. We held the facility accountable for its employees' negligence and secured compensation for both clients.

Why Should I Hire an Atascocita Personal Injury Attorney?

After an accident, you're often dealing with medical appointments, insurance calls, and lost income all at once. An Atascocita personal injury law firm can handle the legal side while you focus on recovery.​

That includes:

• Investigating how the accident happened and who bears responsibility;
• Collecting evidence such as photos, surveillance footage, police reports, and witness accounts;
• Working with medical providers to document the full extent of your injuries;
• Calculating current and future losses related to income, treatment, and quality of life;
• Managing communication with insurance companies; and
• Negotiating for fair compensation or taking the case to trial if necessary.

Insurance companies frequently open with lowball offers that don't reflect the true value of a claim. Our attorneys push back with documented evidence and a clear picture of what you've lost. If a fair settlement can't be reached, we're prepared to litigate.

What Makes Pierce Skrabanek Different

Pierce Skrabanek has recovered more than $500 million for injured clients through settlements and verdicts. Our firm prepares every case for trial from the outset.