Legally Reviewed by Robert Alden on November 5, 2026
Austin drivers share some of the busiest roads in Texas, and one careless decision behind the wheel can upend your health, your income, and your plans in seconds. If another driver caused your crash, Texas law gives you the right to pursue compensation for what you lost, and the choices you make in the first few weeks can shape how much of that recovery is possible.
Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP has stood up for injured Austinites for more than 65 years. As Austin’s oldest personal injury law firm, founded in 1959, we are true trial lawyers who prepare every car accident case for the courtroom so we can press for a fair settlement outside of it. Our attorneys Robert Alden and Kevin Henrichson are Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and we handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no fees unless we win.
⚠ Time-Sensitive: Texas Limits Your Window to File
Texas gives you two years from the date of your car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Once that deadline passes, your right to recover is usually gone.
Austin’s oldest personal injury law firm. Board Certified trial attorneys. No fees unless we win.
Why Car Accidents in Austin Lead to Serious Claims
Austin’s growth has put more cars on the same roads, and the crash numbers show the cost. According to Travis County’s Safe Streets and Roads for All Safety Action Plan, the City of Austin recorded 59,708 crashes from 2019 to 2023. That total includes 464 fatal crashes and 2,074 serious injury crashes, all drawn from TxDOT crash records for collisions inside city limits.
Most of these collisions trace back to choices a driver could have avoided. Distracted driving, speeding, and reckless driving are behind many of the crashes we see. Each one tends to leave evidence that can help establish the other driver’s fault.
59,708
Crashes in the City of Austin, 2019 to 2023
464
Fatal crashes in the same period
2,074
Serious injury crashes in the same period
Source: Travis County SS4A Safety Action Plan, TxDOT CRIS data
Car Accident Cases We Handle in Austin
No two collisions follow the same pattern, and the type of crash often shapes who is responsible and which insurance policies apply. We help clients after rear-end collisions, rollover accidents, and crashes caused by aggressive drivers. We also handle intersection, head-on, and side-impact wrecks across Austin and Central Texas.
When the driver who hit you leaves the scene, a hit-and-run crash raises its own questions about identifying that driver and using your uninsured motorist coverage. If a commercial vehicle was involved, our Austin truck accident lawyers look at the trucking company’s policies and records as well as the driver’s.
How Our Austin Car Accident Lawyers Build Your Claim
Strong car accident claims are built step by step, and our process is designed to hold up in front of an insurance adjuster or a Travis County jury.
Step 1
Investigate the Crash
We gather police reports, photographs, witness statements, and any available video while the evidence is still fresh. In disputed cases, accident reconstruction analysis can help show how the collision happened and who caused it.
Step 2
Document Your Losses
We use your medical records, bills, and employment history to show the full cost of the crash, including future care and lost earning capacity.
Step 3
Negotiate With the Insurer
Insurance companies know which firms try cases. Because we prepare each claim as if it will go to trial, we have leverage to push for a fair settlement.
Step 4
Take Your Case to Court if Needed
Obtaining fair settlements out of court is our goal, but our attorneys have the ability and experience to win in the courtroom if an insurer refuses to treat you fairly.
Texas Laws That Affect Your Car Accident Claim
Texas uses a modified comparative fault rule. You can recover damages as long as you are not more than 50% responsible for the crash, but your award is reduced by your share of fault. Insurers often try to shift blame onto injured drivers for this reason, so a careful investigation matters from the start.
You generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit under Section 16.003 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. Families have two years from the date of death to bring a wrongful death claim. Missing either deadline usually ends the right to recover, no matter how strong the case.
Why Injured Austinites Choose Our Firm
You won’t see us on a TV commercial or billboard. We are not a volume law firm, and clients hire us by reputation, word of mouth, and the experience of past clients who were genuinely happy with how we handled their cases.
Our attorneys are skilled in all areas of trial practice, from pretrial discovery and settlement negotiations through trial and appellate advocacy. U.S. News & World Report recognizes us as one of the Best Law Firms in the country, and our attorneys are listed in Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and the Bar Register of Pre-eminent Lawyers.
Robert Alden
Board Certified in Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Kevin Henrichson
Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Frequently Asked Questions About Austin Car Accident Claims
These are the questions we hear most often from people hurt in Austin crashes.
We handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, so there are no upfront costs and you pay no fees unless we win. You can schedule an initial consultation to talk through your options before deciding anything.
You generally have two years from the date of the crash under Section 16.003 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. Wrongful death claims run two years from the date of death. Narrow exceptions exist for minors, but courts enforce the deadline strictly.
Yes, as long as you are not more than 50% responsible for the crash. Your award is reduced by your share of fault, so 20% fault on a $100,000 claim would leave $80,000.
Not every fender bender needs one. Some injuries take days to show symptoms, though, and insurers may dispute claims that looked simple at first. Talking with an attorney before you give a recorded statement can protect your options.
There is no fixed number. Value depends on the severity of your injuries, your medical costs, lost income, how fault is divided, and the insurance coverage available.
Most car accident claims settle. Because we prepare every case for trial, insurers know we are ready to go to court if a fair offer never comes.
Talk to Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP About Your Austin Car Accident
A car accident claim moves faster and holds up better when the right team is involved early. For more than 65 years, Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP has helped people across Austin and Central Texas recover after crashes caused by someone else’s carelessness. Our Board Certified attorneys, including Kevin Henrichson, bring that same trial-tested preparation to every case we accept.
We handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no fees unless we win, and we are available 24 hours a day, every day. If you were hurt in a collision in Austin, do not hesitate to schedule an initial consultation with our team.