Are You Ready to Take the First Steps Toward Compensation?

 Posted on March 22, 2026 in Personal Injury

A serious injury or a totalled vehicle can change your life in an instant, and it’s almost never cheap. Medical bills stack up, you may miss work because of injury or a lack of transportation, or you may suffer ongoing emotional distress. The list of ways your life might be affected by an accident is nearly endless.

If someone else's negligence caused your injury, Texas law may allow you to pursue compensation. Even then, knowing where to start can feel overwhelming. If you were injured and are wondering what your options are, a Carrollton personal injury attorney can help you understand your rights and what to expect from the process in 2026.

What Types of Cases Can Lead to a Personal Injury Claim in Texas?

Many different situations can result in a personal injury claim in Texas. What they all have in common is that someone else's failure to do what they were supposed to do resulted in damage to you or your property. Some of the most common types of cases include the following.

Car and Truck Accidents

Motor vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of serious personal injury claims. These include crashes caused by distracted drivers, speeding, running red lights, or failure to yield. Rear-end collisions, T-bone accidents, and head-on crashes can all cause injuries ranging from whiplash to traumatic brain injuries.

Drunk driving accidents can cause particularly serious damage. In Texas, a driver is legally intoxicated at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher under Texas Penal Code Section 49.04. However, a criminal conviction is not required before you can pursue a civil claim. Criminal penalties like fines and jail time do nothing to pay your medical bills or replace your lost income. For car accidents, a civil claim is the process you go through to get the compensation you deserve.

Product Liability

Not every injury is directly caused by another person. Sometimes a defective or dangerous product is to blame. Product liability claims are for when a product was badly designed, improperly made, or sold without adequate safety warnings.

One of the most common examples of product liability is defective vehicle parts (like faulty tires or airbags that fail to deploy). Pharmaceutical drugs with undisclosed side effects and recalled consumer products that caused injury before the recall can also qualify. In these cases, the manufacturer, distributor, or seller may be held responsible for harm caused by the product.

Workplace Injuries

Texas is one of the few states where private employers are not required to carry workers' compensation insurance. When an employer opts out of the workers' compensation system, they are known as a "non-subscriber." If you are injured on the job and your employer is a non-subscriber, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against them directly. This can allow you to recover damages that traditional workers' comp would not, including pain and suffering.

Other Personal Injury Claims

Personal injury law covers a broad range of situations beyond vehicle accidents and defective products. Dog bites, slip and fall accidents, and catastrophic injuries of all kinds can be a claim if another party's negligence contributed.

What Does the Texas Civil Claims Process Look Like?

If you decide to move forward with a personal injury claim, knowing the general shape of the legal process can help you prepare and give you peace of mind.

Filing a Complaint

The process begins when your attorney files a complaint. A complaint is a formal document that explains your claims against the at-fault party (called the defendant) and the damages you are seeking. A summons is issued, notifying the defendant that a lawsuit has been filed and that they must respond. 

The Defendant's Answer

Once served, the defendant has a set period of time to file an answer, often within 20 days of service. In the answer, they may admit to some claims, deny others, or raise defenses. If the defendant fails to respond at all, the court may enter a default judgment in your favor.

Discovery

Discovery is the phase where both sides gather and exchange information. This can include written questions (called interrogatories), requests for documents, and sworn depositions. Your attorney will use this phase to build the strongest possible case on your behalf by gathering evidence such as accident reports, witness statements, medical records, and any available surveillance footage.

Resolution

Many personal injury cases are resolved before trial when the defendant offers a settlement, and the plaintiff accepts. Others go through mediation, where discussions are supervised by an outside third party. Mediation aims for a settlement to be negotiated without the judge having to make a ruling. Your attorney will negotiate with the defendant and their insurance company on your behalf.

Trial

If a fair settlement cannot be reached, your case may go to trial, where a judge or jury will decide the outcome.

Call an Irving, TX Personal Injury Attorney Today

The Carrollton personal injury lawyer at Jerry D. Andrews, P.C. is ready to help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Attorney Andrews is board-certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in the area of personal injury trials. Each case is handled on a contingency basis: you pay no fees or costs unless you win. Our staff speaks Spanish fluently, and we are proud to offer excellent legal services to the Spanish-speaking community. Contact Jerry D. Andrews, P.C. at 214-221-5800 today to schedule your free consultation. 

Se habla español.