Austin Car Accident Attorney

Legally reviewed by the attorneys at Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP on July 2, 2026

A single moment of someone else’s carelessness can leave you dealing with painful injuries, rising medical costs, and uncertainty about what comes next. Car accidents in Austin and throughout Texas are alarmingly common, and the physical, financial, and emotional toll can feel impossible to manage on your own. If you or someone close to you has been hurt in a collision caused by another driver’s negligence, you have the right to pursue compensation for your losses.

Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP has been fighting for injured Austinites for over 65 years. As Austin’s oldest personal injury law firm, established in 1959, our attorneys are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and have recovered over $100 million for our clients. Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Best Law Firms in the country, we bring courtroom-tested skill and a 98% success rate to every car accident case we handle.

What Causes Car Accidents in Austin?

Austin’s rapid population growth, construction-heavy roadways, and mix of highway and urban traffic create conditions where collisions happen every day. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, hundreds of thousands of crashes occur across the state each year, and Travis County consistently ranks among the highest for total collision counts. Understanding what causes these crashes is critical to building a strong personal injury claim.

Distracted driving remains one of the leading causes of serious car accidents across Texas. Drivers who take their eyes off the road to check a phone, adjust navigation, or eat behind the wheel put everyone around them at risk. Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to react to sudden stops or lane changes and dramatically increases the severity of impact. Reckless driving behaviors such as weaving through traffic, tailgating, and running red lights are responsible for some of the most catastrophic collisions our attorneys have handled. Drunk and impaired drivers, fatigued drivers, and those who fail to follow basic traffic laws also contribute to Austin’s crash statistics. To help reduce impaired driving in our community, we offer a free Uber ride program so Austin residents have a safe way home instead of getting behind the wheel.

Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle

Our attorneys have represented clients across a wide range of car accident scenarios throughout Austin and Central Texas. Whether you were hurt in a minor fender-bender that resulted in soft-tissue injuries or a high-speed collision that caused life-altering harm, we can help evaluate your case and pursue the compensation you may be owed. Common types of car accident cases we handle include:

• Rear-end accidents
• Hit-and-run accidents
• Aggressive driving accidents
• Rollover accidents
• Accidents requiring reconstruction analysis
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims
• Crashes caused by road defects
• Intersection collisions, head-on collisions, and side-impact crashes

No matter the circumstances of your collision, our team works to identify every liable party and every available source of recovery.

How Our Attorneys Approach Your Car Accident Case

Not every law firm is built to handle the complexity that serious car accident cases demand. At Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP, our attorneys are skilled in all areas of trial practice, from pretrial discovery and settlement negotiations through trial and appellate advocacy. We understand how insurance companies operate, and we know how to counter their tactics effectively.

Our firm has handled some of Austin’s most challenging personal injury cases over more than six decades. We have built our reputation on securing meaningful results for clients in catastrophic injury cases, commercial vehicle collisions, and complex multi-party litigation. When other firms refer their toughest cases to us, it is because they know we have the courtroom experience and resources to pursue every avenue of compensation. In one notable case, our attorneys represented a young cyclist who was struck by an SUV that pulled out in front of him at an Austin intersection, securing a result that reflected the severity of his injuries and the negligence that caused them.

We also leverage advanced litigation strategies such as accident reconstruction analysis to establish fault and test case strategy. Our goal is always to obtain fair settlements out of court, but we have the ability and experience to win in the courtroom if needed. You won’t see us on a TV commercial or billboard. Clients hire us by reputation, word-of-mouth, and because our past clients are genuinely happy with their representation.

Texas Car Accident Laws You Should Know

Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule under the state’s proportionate responsibility statute. This means you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident, as long as your percentage of responsibility does not exceed 50%. If you are found to be 51% or more at fault, you are barred from recovering any compensation. Your total award is reduced by your percentage of fault, so working with experienced attorneys who can effectively minimize your attributed responsibility is critical.

Texas law also requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance, but the state minimum coverage limits are often insufficient to cover serious injuries. When the at-fault driver’s policy falls short, you may need to pursue additional coverage through your own uninsured or underinsured motorist policy. Our team handles these negotiations and can help identify additional sources of recovery when the responsible party lacks adequate coverage.

Compensation Available in a Texas Car Accident Claim

Texas law allows car accident victims to pursue three categories of damages when another party’s negligence caused the crash. Understanding what you may be entitled to recover is an important part of evaluating whether to pursue a claim.

Economic damages are the calculable financial losses you can document with bills, receipts, and records. These include medical expenses such as emergency room treatment, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and future medical care related to your injuries. Lost wages during your recovery are recoverable, as are future lost earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your prior level of work. Property damage to your vehicle and other personal property is also recoverable as an economic loss.

Non-economic damages compensate for the human cost of the accident beyond what can be itemized on a bill. Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium are all recognized categories of non-economic harm under Texas law. These damages are often the most significant component of a car accident recovery, particularly in cases involving serious or permanent injuries.

Punitive damages are available in limited circumstances where the at-fault driver’s conduct was grossly negligent or intentional, such as drunk driving crashes. Texas courts may award punitive damages to deter similar conduct, though they are subject to statutory caps.

The total value of a car accident claim depends on the severity of your injuries, the length of your recovery, the impact on your daily life and earning capacity, and the available insurance coverage. Texas requires drivers to carry minimum liability insurance, but those minimums are often insufficient to fully compensate victims of serious crashes. Our attorneys work to identify every available source of recovery, including your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, when the at-fault driver’s policy falls short.

Common Injuries in Austin Car Accidents

The injuries that result from car accidents range from minor soft-tissue strains to conditions that permanently change a person’s life. Some injuries are immediately apparent at the scene, while others, including traumatic brain injuries and internal bleeding, may not produce obvious symptoms for hours or days after a crash. Seeking prompt medical attention after any collision is critical, both for your health and for the strength of your legal claim.

Among the most commonly seen injuries in Austin car accident cases are whiplash and cervical spine injuries, which occur when the neck snaps forward and back during impact. Traumatic brain injuries range from concussions to severe closed-head injuries that affect cognition, memory, and personality. Spinal cord injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis and often require lifelong care. Broken bones, internal organ injuries, and burn injuries are also common in high-speed collisions and rollover accidents. Even injuries that initially seem minor can evolve into chronic conditions that affect your ability to work and enjoy daily life.

Statute of Limitations for Texas Car Accident Cases

Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, you have two years from the date of a car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If the accident resulted in a death, surviving family members have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim. The clock begins running on the date of the collision itself for injury claims, or the date of death for wrongful death claims.

Texas courts apply limited exceptions to this deadline, including tolling for minors and individuals with legal disabilities. However, these exceptions are narrow and strictly enforced. Evidence deteriorates quickly after a crash. Surveillance footage gets overwritten, witnesses relocate, and police reports become harder to obtain. Missing this deadline is irreversible, regardless of how strong your case may be. If you have been injured in a car accident, do not hesitate to contact an attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights.

What to Do After a Car Accident in Austin

The steps you take immediately after a car accident can significantly impact the strength of your personal injury claim. If you are physically able, move to a safe location and call 911 to report the crash. Request a police report, as this document becomes important evidence during the claims process. Exchange insurance and contact information with all other drivers involved, and take photographs of the scene, vehicle damage, road conditions, and any visible injuries.

Seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you believe your injuries are minor. Some injuries, such as whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, and internal bleeding, may not produce immediate symptoms but can become serious without prompt diagnosis. Keep all medical records, bills, and documentation related to your treatment. Avoid providing recorded statements to the other driver’s insurance company before speaking with an attorney. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts, and anything you say can be used to reduce or deny your claim.