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The Stephens Law Firm Accident Lawyers

Texas 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: October 5, 2026

A car accident can leave you dealing with much more than the crash itself. You’re trying to recover from your injuries, but medical bills keep arriving, and time away from work puts more pressure on your finances. Your car still needs repairs, and the insurance company wants answers before you’ve had time to process what happened.

The Stephens Law Firm helps injured Texans and their families understand what comes next. Joe Stephens can explain your legal options and take over communication with the insurance company. He’ll pursue compensation for what the crash has cost you and how it has changed your life.

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Have a Trial-Ready Texas Car Accident Lawyer on Your Side

The Stephens Law Firm is small by design, so Joe Stephens personally handles your case instead of passing it from one lawyer to another. More than 40 years in practice and over 150 jury trials shape how he investigates a crash, values the claim, and proves an injured person’s losses.

Joe is double board-certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and Civil Trial Law. Earning those credentials requires extensive trial experience and rigorous exams. It also includes a professional review. For Texas car accident victims, this offers independent proof that the lawyer handling their claim has demonstrated strong legal knowledge and courtroom skill.

A Texas jury awarded $7.01 million in damages to Diane Perez after she was injured in a two-car accident with a Yellow Cab. The jury found the cab driver negligent and acting as an employee of Yellow Cab, despite the defense’s argument that he was an independent contractor.

Client Collection Pending.

$7,011,000

VERDICT

Car Accident

A Texas jury awarded $1.275 million to Monica Jones, who was injured in a collision when Qinglai Wang ran a stop sign and struck her SUV in Katy. The jury found Wang negligent, and Jones’ injuries included herniated discs and a fractured tibia.

Amount to Client: $534,368.

$1,275,000

Verdict

Car Accident

A 26-year-old gymnastics instructor and her 14-year-old sister were rear-ended by a distracted pickup truck driver while returning home from practice in Baytown. The crash totaled their car and left both with serious neck and back injuries, chronic pain, and forced them to give up gymnastics. After the driver falsely claimed they stopped suddenly on the freeway, Attorney Joe Stephens discredited his story during depositions and secured a $500,000 policy limits settlement.

$500,000

SETTLEMENT

Car Accident

A client suffered a herniated disc in his neck after a car wreck and required surgery. Although the at-fault driver carried only a $30,000 policy, insurer Fred Loya refused to pay even the limits, initially offering just $12,000. Attorney Joe Stephens filed suit and continued increasing demands as the case progressed. On the eve of trial, Fred Loya replaced its legal team, and the new attorney convinced the carrier to offer $325,000. The client ultimately accepted the settlement, more than 10 times the original policy limit.

$325,000

SETTLEMENT

Car Accident

What Can a Texas Car Accident Lawyer Handle for You?

Handling a claim yourself means fielding insurance calls while staying on top of records and legal deadlines. You don’t have to carry all of that work while you’re recovering. A car accident lawyer can:

  • Investigate the crash and gather evidence
  • Handle insurer communication and settlement negotiations
  • Calculate the value of your injuries and other losses
  • Review any offer and explain what accepting it would mean
  • Prepare the case for trial if a fair settlement isn’t offered

At The Stephens Law Firm, dedicated staff members are assigned to every case. They keep documents and medical records organized and track deadlines. They also manage case communication, so you know what’s happening.

Before accepting an insurer’s first offer, an attorney can explain what it covers and what rights you’d give up.

What Losses Can a Texas Car Accident Claim Cover?

A car accident claim should account for more than damage to your vehicle or the bills already sitting on your kitchen table. Compensation can address both the financial costs and the personal effects of your injuries. Depending on the case, recoverable losses can include:

  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Income lost while you’re unable to work
  • Reduced ability to earn income in the future
  • Physical pain and emotional suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment of life or lasting physical limitations
  • Vehicle repairs or replacement, and other damaged property
  • Other accident-related expenses supported by evidence

Insurers sometimes make offers before doctors know how much treatment an injury will require or before the full income loss is clear. Accepting too soon can leave you responsible for costs the settlement didn’t cover.

How Do We Investigate Fault After a Texas Car Accident?

When drivers tell different stories, the case doesn’t have to come down to one person’s word against the other’s. Fault is determined by evidence showing how the collision happened and whose actions caused it. An investigation can include:

  • The police crash report and any citations
  • Photos of the scene, road conditions, and vehicle damage
  • Statements from drivers, passengers, and witnesses
  • Medical records connecting the injuries to the crash
  • Surveillance or traffic camera footage
  • Analysis from an accident reconstruction expert when the facts are complex

An attorney compares these sources and follows up when details don’t match. Together, the evidence can provide a clearer picture than either driver’s account alone.

You don’t have to wait for the police report to be finished before the investigation begins. The report is useful, but it’s only one part of the case. Other evidence can be preserved, and witnesses can be contacted in the meantime.

Car Accident Cases We Handle Across Texas

Car accident cases can look very different depending on how the crash happened and which insurance coverage applies. We handle claims across Texas involving:

  • Rear-end and T-bone collisions
  • Head-on and multi-vehicle crashes
  • Hit-and-run and drunk driving accidents
  • Distracted driving collisions
  • Rideshare accidents involving Uber or Lyft
  • Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims

Feeling fine at the scene doesn’t always mean you’re unhurt. Whiplash symptoms can take several hours to start, and concussion symptoms can take hours or days to appear. Consider getting checked by a medical professional even if you initially feel fine. An evaluation can identify concerns and guide treatment. It also creates a record of when your symptoms began.

What Can You Expect Throughout Your Texas Car Accident Claim?

Most claims move through five stages:

  1. Initial consultation: We listen to what happened and explain your options
  2. Investigation: We gather evidence and review available insurance coverage
  3. Medical documentation: We collect records showing how your injuries affect you
  4. Settlement negotiations: We present the claim and respond to the insurer’s offers
  5. Lawsuit and trial: If a fair settlement isn’t offered, we prepare to take the case to court

Most of this work happens behind the scenes. We’ll update you when the claim reaches a new stage or needs your input.

Timelines depend on the injuries and whether the claim is disputed. Some claims resolve within months, but serious or disputed cases take longer. Progress can pause while treatment continues or we wait for an insurer’s response. We’ll explain those pauses so you’re not left guessing.

What Should You Do After a Texas Car Accident?

The first few minutes after a crash can be confusing. Start with safety, then handle the details as you’re able:

  • Check for injuries: Call 911 and move out of traffic if it’s safe
  • Report the crash: Contact police and exchange contact and insurance information
  • Document what you can: Photograph the scene and get witness contact information
  • Seek medical care: Some injuries take time to appear, so get checked even if you feel fine
  • Notify the insurer carefully: Stick to the facts and consider legal advice before giving a recorded statement or accepting a settlement
  • Save your records: Keep photos, bills, repair estimates, and treatment instructions

If you couldn’t complete every step, that doesn’t mean you’ve lost your chance to seek help. An attorney can help locate missing evidence and explain what to do next.

A crash can leave you far from home or without an easy way to reach an office. We represent injured people statewide, with offices in Houston, Katy, and Marshall:

  • Houston and nearby communities such as Sugar Land, Cypress, The Woodlands, Memorial, and Spring Branch
  • Katy and the surrounding areas across Harris, Fort Bend, and Waller counties
  • Marshall and East Texas, including Longview, Tyler, Texarkana, Kilgore, Henderson, and Carthage

If traveling would add more stress, we can talk by phone or Zoom so your location doesn’t keep you from getting answers.

Talk to a Texas Car Accident Lawyer About Your Claim

If you or someone you love was hurt in a crash, you don’t need to have every record or know what your claim is worth before reaching out. A free consultation gives you a chance to explain what happened and ask questions. You’ll receive a straightforward assessment of your options without pressure to hire.

Call The Stephens Law Firm at (281) 201-0035 or contact us online to get started. There are no legal fees until Joe wins your case.

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Common Questions After a Texas Car Accident

Should I Accept the Insurance Company’s First Settlement Offer?

Not before you understand what the offer covers. Early offers can arrive before the long-term effects of an injury or the full cost of treatment are clear. Once you sign a release, you generally can’t seek more money later. A lawyer can review the offer and help determine whether settlement or litigation would best cover your losses.

Yes. The other driver’s accusation doesn’t determine fault. Under Texas comparative negligence law, you can still recover compensation when you’re 50% or less at fault, though your recovery is reduced by your share of responsibility. Recovery is barred at 51% or more.

The other driver’s insurer can use a recorded statement to challenge your account or downplay your injuries. You generally don’t have to give that company a recorded statement. Your own policy can require cooperation, so check it or speak with a lawyer before agreeing. When talking with an adjuster, stick to the facts and don’t guess.

The initial consultation is free. The firm works on a contingency fee, so you don’t pay upfront or by the hour. The standard fee is 33% when a case settles and 40% if it goes to trial. There are no legal fees until Joe wins your case.

In most cases, the statute of limitations in Texas provides two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Some cases have shorter notice periods or different deadlines, especially those involving government vehicles or agencies. The two-year period isn’t a reason to wait. Evidence can disappear, and building a strong claim takes time.