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The Stephens Law Firm Accident Lawyers

Houston Hit and Run Car Accident Lawyer

Joe is one of the few Texas lawyers that is double board certified.

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Content Reviewed by: Joe Stephens

Last Updated: November 12, 2025

If you’re hurting after a hit and run, a Houston hit and run car accident lawyer can help you take back control. Joe Stephens is the Houston personal injury lawyer people call when a driver flees a scene to protect your rights and fight for the fair compensation you deserve.

Joe Stephens is a double board-certified trial lawyer with over 40 years of experience. At The Stephens Law Firm, Joe fights to hold insurers accountable and guides you through every step after a hit and run injury. Contact Joe today to protect your rights.

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Joe Stephens personally handles every case from start to finish, offering clear strategies and personalized legal care based on your medical needs and recovery. With deep ties to Houston and offices in Houston and Katy, Joe pairs aggressive negotiation and courtroom advocacy with practical, localized guidance. Recognized by Super Lawyers between 2008 and 2024 and AV Preeminent rated, Joe Stephens is ready to fight for you and won’t stop until you get the justice and results you deserve.

“I was in an accident, and my insurance refused to cover my injuries, and the lawyer I had wasn’t helping at all. I reached out to Joe Stephens’ firm, and they made sure the insurance covered all my expenses. I’m beyond grateful for their support and expertise.”

Zoila Maldonado

“Choosing Joe Stephens and his team based on reviews turned out to be the best decision I made after my car accident. From day one, they kept me informed and supported. Their dedication and tenacity in facing off against insurance companies were truly impressive. The settlement they negotiated for my family and me far exceeded our expectations, thanks to their expertise and unwavering commitment. Words cannot express our gratitude to this firm.”

Enver Urena

Under the Texas Transportation Code, a hit and run happens when a driver involved in a crash or bicycle accident fails to stop, identify themselves, and offer aid, or to exchange information. For crashes that involve injury or death, a driver is required to check if anyone needs help and remain on the scene until they’ve provided their information and assistance. For crashes with vehicle damage, a driver is required to stop as close as possible without blocking traffic more than necessary to exchange information. Hitting a parked car, even if unattended, or a fixture or piece of landscaping, also follows stop-and-notify rules.

Fleeing the scene adds criminal exposure and complicates insurance, meaning these cases become convoluted quickly. Evidence can disappear, insurers dispute fault, and UM/UIM coverage requires careful navigation. An experienced Houston car accident lawyer can help coordinate with law enforcement, preserve evidence, and help you pursue recovery.

After a hit and run, you generally have two paths to recovery. If the driver is found, you can bring a claim directly against the person for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and, in some cases, punitive damages. If the driver isn’t found, you can pursue benefits through your own UM/UIM policy. Joe Stephens, a Houston personal injury lawyer, can help you choose the right path, document your losses, and move the claim forward. At The Stephens Law Firm, Joe handles complex filings, meets strict deadlines, and pushes back when insurers delay, underpay, or deny valid claims. Take all the time you need to focus on healing while Joe protects your rights.

  1. Hit and run cases can feel overwhelming, but Joe Stephens makes the process clear from the first call so you can focus on recovery. The key steps in a Houston hit and run claim include:
    1. Free consultation— A free case review where Joe explains Texas hit and run law and your options, then outlines a clear timeline with next steps. There are no legal fees until Joe wins your case.
    2. Investigation— Joe moves fast to secure proof and support the search for the fleeing driver. This includes:
      • Photos and videos from the scene
      • 911 recordings and crash reports
      • Nearby surveillance and traffic cameras
      • Scene inspections and crash reconstruction experts
    3. Medical documentation— Your health is a major contributor to the value of your case. Joe coordinates with your doctors to connect injuries to the crash and document losses.
    4. Insurance and UM/UIM Strategy— If the driver isn’t found, Joe builds and files your Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist claim and pushes back on delays or denials.
    5. Negotiation— Joe presents liability, your damages, and the law in a clear, organized demand and negotiates firmly with insurers that underpay or stall.
    6. Trial— If negotiations fail, Joe files a suit and prepares for court by collecting depositions and expert testimony, jury-ready exhibits, and timelines.
Watch: What Are the Main Factors That Influence Whether a Case Goes to Trial or Gets Settled?

From start to finish, Joe Stephens stays in direct contact, answers questions clearly and concisely, and builds a strong path to full compensation.

“The way that I handle settlement discussions with insurance companies where there’s a serious dispute over matters is I just show them that look, if we don’t get this case settled here’s the evidence I’m gonna present to a jury.

Here’s the experts that are going to come in and testify and if you don’t pay what we’re asking, I’m gonna ask a jury to come in and make you pay a heck of a lot more.

My experience shows that I have done that time after time, so it makes them be reasonable in settling cases.”

Joe Stephens, Managing Attorney

In most cases, the statute of limitations on personal injury claims in Texas is two years from the date of the crash. Hit and run status doesn’t extend the deadline, and your UM/UIM policy may have shorter deadlines. To protect your claim and meet every deadline, contact Joe Stephens at The Stephens Law Firm for a free consultation.

What if the Hit and Run Driver Is Never Found?

You can usually seek recovery through your own UM/UIM coverage. Joe Stephens helps you document injuries and losses, give proper notice, and push back on low offers so you’re not penalized because the at-fault driver fled.

You can pursue a claim against the at-fault driver if they’re identified, but you won’t have UM/UIM to fall back on. If you don’t have insurance and get into an accident caused by another driver in Texas, you are still able to pursue compensation.

Texas uses modified comparative fault. If you’re 50 percent or less at fault, your compensation is reduced by your percentage. At 51 percent or more, you recover nothing. How fault is determined in a car accident case in Texas relies on police reports, witnesses, and whether the crash was a no-fault car accident.

You can pursue medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damages, and, in some cases, punitive damages. A Houston personal injury lawyer can help you determine who pays for damages after a hit and run accident in Texas.

Contact Joe Stephens for a Free Consultation

When a driver flees, you still have options, and Joe Stephens will help you use them. Get personal, direct guidance from a double board-certified trial lawyer with over 40 years of experience. Get your free case evaluation by calling (281) 201-0035 or reaching out online.

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