Personal Injury

In today’s digital age, social media is an integral part of daily life for many Austin residents. From sharing family moments on Facebook to posting workout selfies on Instagram, these platforms help us stay connected. However, if you’ve been involved in a car accident or personal injury claim in Austin, what seems like an innocent post could jeopardize your entire case. Insurance companies actively scour social media to find evidence that undermines your claims, often twisting harmless content to reduce or deny settlements. This practice has become increasingly common in Texas personal injury cases, where “social media car accident claim”…

Searching for an Austin personal injury attorney can feel overwhelming, especially when you are dealing with medical bills, insurance adjusters, and uncertainty about your future. Texas personal injury law is complex, and the steps you take after an accident can directly affect your ability to recover compensation. Below are seven important things every injured person should know before choosing an Austin personal injury attorney. Understanding these points can help you protect your rights and make informed decisions about your case. 1. Experience With Austin-Specific Injury Cases Matters Not all personal injury cases are the same, and local experience matters more…

Car and truck accidents in Austin can leave lasting scars—not just physical, but emotional and psychological. Many survivors struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) long after the crash scene is cleared. Studies show that up to 39% of motor vehicle accident survivors develop PTSD, according to research from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). For those involved in severe crashes, the risk is even higher, with symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and intense anxiety disrupting daily life. The good news? Texas law recognizes PTSD as a compensable injury in personal injury claims. If another driver’s negligence caused your accident, you…

Austin’s booming e-commerce scene has transformed our streets, with delivery vans from companies like Amazon and UPS becoming a constant presence. As online shopping surges, so does the number of commercial vehicles zipping through neighborhoods and highways. The Texas Tribune reports that more than 39,000 commercial motor vehicle crashes occurred statewide in 2024, according to the Texas Department of Transportation, including 546 fatal crashes. This represents a sharp increase tied to economic and population growth, bringing more delivery trucks onto Texas roads. In Austin specifically, the growth of online shopping has led to delivery vehicles operating on tight schedules, heightening the…

Construction zones are among the most hazardous areas on Texas roads, and Austin’s rapid growth has led to extensive highway projects that heighten these risks. According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), in 2024 nearly 28,000 traffic crashes occurred in work zones across Texas, resulting in 215 deaths and hundreds of serious injuries statewide. TxDOT also noted this represented an increase in fatalities from the prior year, underscoring how dangerous work zones remain for drivers, passengers, and workers alike. In Austin, major highway projects—most prominently the I-35 Capital Express program—have stretched for years and introduced complex and shifting traffic…

Getting into an Uber or Lyft in Austin feels routine, until it isn’t. In 2023, rideshare trips (Uber and Lyft) accounted for nearly 30% of inbound traffic to downtown Austin during peak hours, according to City of Austin mobility data. That’s thousands of trips every day on 6th Street, Rainey, South Congress, and along I-35. More rides mean more crashes, and when one happens, the insurance picture gets complicated fast. Both Uber and Lyft carry $1 million commercial liability policies in Texas, but that coverage only kicks in under certain conditions. If the at-fault driver was logged off, on a…

If you drive I-35 through Austin regularly, you already know how dangerous it can be. It’s one of the busiest interstate corridors in the country and consistently ranks among the deadliest roadways in Texas, according to TxDOT. Between heavy commuter traffic, weekend tourism, and the constant flow of commercial trucks hauling freight through Central Texas, I-35 creates a perfect storm of congestion, speed variation, and limited escape routes. When an 18-wheeler loses control in this environment, crashes tend to be catastrophic. Victims are often left struggling with overwhelming medical bills, lost income, and long-term injuries. But the real challenge comes…

Car accidents in Texas can upend your life, leaving you with injuries, financial strain, and uncertainty about what’s next. A car crash settlement can help you recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and the emotional toll of the accident. With over 500,000 crashes annually in Texas (per Texas Department of Transportation data), understanding the settlement process is crucial for victims seeking justice. Texas operates under an at-fault system, meaning the party responsible for the crash is liable for damages. Navigating this process can be complex, but with the right approach, you can secure the compensation you deserve. At Joe…

When someone’s life is turned upside down by an accident, the physical injuries are only part of the story. The sleepless nights, anxiety, chronic pain, and emotional trauma that follow can be just as debilitating. Those losses fall under the legal concept of pain and suffering, a category of non-economic damages recognized (though not rigidly quantified) in Texas. To give realistic expectations, it helps to see actual settlement numbers—especially ones secured by a firm like Joe Lopez Law in Texas. While many smaller claims fall into the $10,000 to $100,000 range, Joe Lopez Law’s successes include multi-million dollar results when…

Understanding Contingency Fees in Texas Personal Injury Cases Working under a contingency fee agreement can sound too good to be true: a lawyer agrees to represent you at no upfront cost, only collecting a fee if you win the case. While this core definition is true, the financial reality of an Austin personal injury settlement is more complex. In Texas, contingency fees are a vital tool that grant access to justice for individuals who cannot afford hourly legal rates. However, understanding how the final payment is calculated—including legal fees, case costs, and medical liens—is critical to knowing what you actually…