Texas City TX Car Accident Lawyer

Car accidents in Texas City TX happen on Texas Avenue and Bay Street and throughout the area every day. When another driver's negligence causes your crash, Texas law entitles you to compensation for every loss — medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering.

Michelle Acosta Law serves Texas City TX car accident victims. As a small firm with a big commitment, Michelle personally handles every case from first call to final settlement.

Your Rights as a Texas City TX Car Accident Victim

Texas's fault system means the at-fault driver is financially responsible for your damages. Their liability insurance must cover your medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. Texas gives you two years to file a personal injury claim — but acting quickly preserves evidence and strengthens your case.

Insurance companies begin protecting their interests from the moment the accident is reported. Having an attorney on your side from day one levels the playing field.

Why Texas City TX Clients Choose Michelle Acosta Law

Unlike large mills where your case is passed to a paralegal, Michelle personally handles every case. Her office is at 4601 Washington Ave., serving clients throughout Greater Houston. She is bilingual and handles cases in Spanish and English.

Consultations are always free. You pay nothing unless Michelle wins your case.

What to Do Immediately After an Accident in Texas City TX

You get out of your car. You stay there. Don’t move until the police arrive. The road is busy here. One wrong step, and you could be hit by another car. I've seen this happen to clients. Moving too soon at the scene puts you at risk of further injury.

Call 911. Get a police report. In Texas, it’s the CR-3 form. You need it for your claim. The officer will ask for details at the scene. Be honest. Don’t say you’re fine if you’re hurt. You might not feel pain right away. I’ve seen people with hidden injuries like internal bleeding because they thought they were okay.

Take photos. Use your phone. Get pictures of the damage to all cars. Show the skid marks. Capture the road conditions. Was it raining? Were there construction signs? I’ve used photos to prove the road was poorly marked during a construction zone accident. They helped me get a full settlement for my client’s medical bills.

How Texas Fault Law Works

Texas is a comparative negligence state. That means fault isn’t always 100% one person. If you’re 30% at fault, you can still get 70% of your damages. But if you’re 51% or more at fault, you get nothing. I’ve seen cases where the insurance company said the victim was 50% at fault. They were wrong. I argued the point and won the full amount for my client.

It’s a fault state, not a no-fault state. That means you can sue the other driver. You don’t have to file a claim with your own insurance first. This is important. In no-fault states, you’re stuck with your own insurance. Here, you go after the person who caused the crash. I’ve handled cases where the other driver’s insurance paid for everything because we proved they were fully at fault.

The 51% bar is strict. I’ve had clients who thought they were 50% at fault. They tried to settle for less. But if the court finds them 51% at fault, they lose everything. I always explain this clearly. You can’t afford to gamble on that number. I’ve seen cases where the other side tried to pin 51% on my client. We fought it and won.

Types of Injuries Common in Car Accidents

Whiplash is the most common injury I see. It happens in rear-end collisions. The neck snaps back and forth. You might feel fine at first. But pain usually starts within 24 hours. I’ve had clients who ignored it. They ended up with chronic pain for years. Don’t wait to see a doctor. Get checked right away.

Herniated discs are another frequent injury. They happen from the sudden jolt of a crash. The disc in your spine pushes out. You might feel numbness or weakness. I’ve seen people who didn’t get surgery right away. They had to live with pain for years. It’s not just physical. It affects your work, your family life.

Truly dangerous injuries are traumatic brain injuries (TBI). A TBI can happen in a low-speed crash. It’s not always obvious. You might feel confused, have trouble concentrating. I’ve had clients who were told they were fine but later developed memory loss. Delayed symptoms are common. I always advise clients to see a specialist within 72 hours. It’s not a choice. It’s the law in Texas for your claim.

How Insurance Companies Handle Texas City TX Claims

Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts. They’ll say your claim is “low risk.” They want to pay as little as possible. I’ve seen them offer $5,000 for a claim that’s worth $50,000. They do this by questioning your injuries. They’ll say, “You weren’t hurt in the accident.” That’s why you need medical records from day one.

They’ll ask for recorded statements. They’ll call you and say, “Just tell us what happened.” Don’t do it. Anything you say can be used against you. I’ve had clients who said they were “fine” in a recorded statement. Later, the insurance company said they weren’t hurt. They denied the claim. I’ve had to fight hard to get those claims approved.

They use delay tactics. They’ll say, “We’re still reviewing your medical records.” It can take months. I’ve seen claims drag on for over a year. They want you to give up. They want you to accept a low offer. I never let my clients accept that. I push back hard. I know the Texas law that requires them to pay in a timely manner.

What Your Case Is Actually Worth

Your case value starts with medical bills. All your treatment costs count. ER visits, surgeries, physical therapy. I’ve seen clients get bills for $20,000 after a simple crash. They need to be paid in full. The insurance company can’t just say, “We’ll cover the ER visit.” They have to cover everything.

Lost wages matter too. If you missed work because of your injuries, you get paid for that. It’s not just the time you were off. It’s the income you lost. I’ve had clients who were hourly workers. They missed 30 days. The insurance company only offered to pay for 10 days. I fought for the full 30 days and won.

Pain and suffering is real. It’s not just a number. It’s the pain you feel every day. The stress of not being able to work. The fear of going to the doctor. I’ve had clients who had to quit their jobs because of their injuries. They get compensation for that too. Future medical needs count. If you need surgery down the road, the insurance company has to pay for it. I’ve seen cases where the client needed a second surgery 18 months later. The insurance company paid for it because we included it in the original claim.

The Claims Process Timeline

It starts right after the accident. You get medical care. You gather evidence. You file a claim with the insurance company. This takes about 30 days. The insurance company has 30 days to respond. I’ve seen them take 60 days. They try to delay.

Then comes the negotiation phase. The insurance company sends a demand letter. They’ll say, “We’ll pay $10,000.” I send a counter-demand letter. I include all the medical records, lost wages, pain and suffering. This back-and-forth can take 60-90 days. I’ve had cases where it took six months to get a fair offer.

If they won’t pay fairly, I file a lawsuit. Texas law requires you to file within two years. The lawsuit starts the discovery process. We get all the documents from the insurance company. Then comes mediation. It’s a chance to settle before trial. I’ve seen cases where we settled at mediation for 90% of what we asked for. If not, we go to trial. That can take 6-12 months. I’ve handled cases that went to trial in 10 months. The jury usually sides with the injured person.

Statute of Limitations in Texas

The standard deadline is two years from the date of the accident. That’s Texas law. If you don’t file a lawsuit within two years, you lose your right to sue. I’ve seen people miss this deadline. They tried to file after two years. The judge dismissed their case. They lost everything.

There are exceptions. If you’re a minor, the clock doesn’t start until your 18th birthday. So you have two years after you turn 18. I’ve had clients who were 16 when they were in a crash. They got two years after they turned 18. The court accepted their case.

Government entities are different. If the accident involved a city or state vehicle, you must give notice within six months. You file a notice with the government agency. Then you have two years to sue. I’ve handled cases where people missed the six-month notice. The government filed a motion to dismiss. They lost their case. It’s critical to act fast.

Evidence That Strengthens Your Case

Dashcam footage is gold. It shows exactly what happened. I’ve had cases where the other driver was speeding. The dashcam showed the speedometer at 65 in a 45 zone. That’s hard to argue with. Texas City has a lot of commercial drivers with dashcams. I’ve used that footage to prove fault.

Surveillance footage is key. Tanger Outlets Texas City has cameras. The gas stations on Highway 45 have them. I’ve gotten footage showing a truck ran a red light. It was clear. The insurance company had to pay. I’ve also used security cameras from nearby businesses. They show the scene clearly.

Witness statements are powerful. Drivers who saw the accident can say, “He ran the stop sign.” I’ve had clients who had witnesses at the scene. They called them in to testify. The insurance company couldn’t deny it. Medical records are required. You need them to prove your injuries. I’ve had cases where the insurance company said the injuries weren’t related. But the medical records showed a direct link. They had to pay.