If you are searching for the best personal injury lawyer in Austin, something serious has probably already happened. A crash on I-35, a fall at a business, a drunk driver, a jobsite accident. Now you are trying to figure out who to trust with your recovery while the insurance company is already calling.
Online rankings and paid directories are a starting point, but they rarely explain what actually separates one attorney from another. Trial experience, board certification, caseload size, who handles your file day to day, and whether the lawyer can talk with your family in the language you are most comfortable with all matter. At Joe Lopez Law, we put together this guide to help injured Austinites compare Austin personal injury attorneys side by side and decide whom to call.
Key Takeaways
- No single Austin personal injury lawyer is the right fit for every case. The best choice depends on your injury, the defendants involved, and how you want to communicate with your attorney.
- Austin firms differ in meaningful ways, including board certification, trial history, caseload size, bilingual representation, and how much of your case the lead attorney personally handles.
- Most Austin personal injury lawyers work on contingency, so you pay no attorney fee unless there is a recovery. Ask how case expenses are handled before you sign.
- Texas gives most injury victims two years to file a lawsuit, and you can lose your claim entirely if you are found 51% or more at fault.
- Talking with more than one attorney before you hire is normal and encouraged.
Hurt in an Austin Accident?
Talk directly with Attorney Joe Lopez about your injury, the insurance company, and your legal options during a free, confidential consultation. Se habla español.
Call (512) 580-9962
Meet Joe Lopez
Joe Lopez has practiced law in Texas since 2003 and is the founder and lead trial attorney of Joe Lopez Law in downtown Austin. Born and raised in El Paso, he speaks English and Spanish fluently and represents people who have suffered serious injuries in car and truck crashes, drunk driving collisions, construction accidents, premises cases, and wrongful death claims.
His firm intentionally takes fewer cases so clients work directly with Joe rather than being passed to a case manager. We welcome the chance to talk with you about your case. We also understand you may want to speak with several attorneys before deciding, so this guide explains the backgrounds and focus areas of several well-established Austin personal injury lawyers to help you find the right fit.
Editor’s Note: This article is published by Joe Lopez Law. The attorneys and law firms below were selected based on publicly available information about their experience representing injured people in Austin and Central Texas. This is not a numerical ranking, and inclusion is not an endorsement of one attorney or firm over another. Information about other firms comes from their public websites and published profiles; confirm current details directly with each firm.
Compare Austin Personal Injury Lawyers
Each attorney and firm below brings a different background to personal injury litigation. This table summarizes what sets each one apart and the situations where that background may be most useful.
| Attorney or Firm | Primary Distinguishing Factor | May Be a Good Fit When… |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Lopez / Joe Lopez Law | Bilingual (English/Spanish) trial lawyer with an intentionally limited caseload and direct attorney access | You want to work directly with the lead attorney, prefer to communicate in Spanish, or have a catastrophic, workplace, or DWI-victim injury |
| Robert Alden & Kevin Henrichson / Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson | Long-established Austin plaintiffs’ firm (founded 1959) with board-certified personal injury trial lawyers | You place high value on firm longevity and Texas Board of Legal Specialization certification |
| Randy Howry / Howry, Breen & Herman | Extensive jury trial background and membership in invitation-only trial lawyer fellowships | Your case looks headed for trial or involves high-value, heavily contested liability |
| Josh Fogelman / FVF Law | Client education and transparency model, plus a Texas Supreme Court briefing attorney background | You want a firm that emphasizes explaining every step and keeping you informed throughout the claim |
| Adam Loewy / Loewy Law Firm | Founder-led practice focused on injury and wrongful death since law school, with a frequent media presence | You want a founder-led firm handling car, truck, or wrongful death claims in the Austin area |
These distinctions do not mean one firm is better than another. They help you narrow down which attorneys to call based on the facts of your case and what matters most to you.
Austin Personal Injury Lawyers to Consider
Austin has a deep bench of experienced plaintiffs’ lawyers. Their practices overlap, but each brings a somewhat different background and approach to injury cases.
Joe Lopez — Joe Lopez Law
- Location: Downtown Austin (historic William T. Caswell House, 1502 West Ave.)
- Experience: Practicing in Texas since 2003
- Primary Focus: Catastrophic injury, wrongful death, vehicle crashes, workplace and construction injuries, DWI victim claims
- Languages: English and Spanish
- Notable Background: Texas Super Lawyers (2019–present); National Trial Lawyers Top 100 (2013); lifetime member, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Joe Lopez founded Joe Lopez Law and serves as its lead trial attorney. His practice concentrates on serious injury cases, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, fatal crashes, and harm caused by corporate negligence or unsafe worksites.
He earned his J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law and completed his undergraduate degree at St. Edward’s University in Austin. His first litigated case went before Texas’s Third Court of Appeals against Exxon Mobil Corporation, where he argued on behalf of a church defending its property rights and won in 2005.
The firm deliberately keeps a smaller caseload so clients have direct access to Joe instead of a rotating team. As a native Spanish speaker raised in El Paso, he regularly represents Spanish-speaking families without an interpreter in the room. He is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association.
May be a good fit for: Injured people who want the lead attorney personally handling their case, Spanish-speaking clients and families, and cases involving catastrophic injuries, construction or workplace negligence, or drunk drivers.
Learn more about Attorney Joe Lopez and our Austin personal injury lawyers.
Robert Alden & Kevin Henrichson — Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson
- Location: Northwest Austin
- Experience: Firm established in 1959
- Primary Focus: Personal injury, truck accidents, wrongful death, and product liability
- Notable Background: Both name partners are board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson describes itself as Austin’s oldest plaintiffs’ personal injury firm. Partners Robert Alden and Kevin Henrichson are board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law, and Alden holds an additional board certification in Civil Trial Law.
The firm positions itself as a trial-focused practice that handles a limited number of cases. It was recognized in the 2026 Chambers Texas guide and serves clients across Travis, Williamson, and Hays Counties.
May be a good fit for: Clients who place weight on board certification, a long institutional history in Austin, and a firm that markets itself on trial readiness.
Randy Howry — Howry, Breen & Herman
- Location: Central Austin (Pearl Street)
- Experience: Firm representing injury victims since 1995
- Primary Focus: Personal injury, wrongful death, and complex civil litigation
- Notable Background: Board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and Civil Trial Law; Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers
Randy Howry is a founding partner of Howry, Breen & Herman and is board certified in both Personal Injury Trial Law and Civil Trial Law. He was inducted as a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers in 2018 and is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Board of Trial Advocates.
Raised in Georgetown, Howry has held leadership roles with the Austin Bar Association and the Austin chapter of ABOTA. His partner Sean Breen was inducted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers in 2026. Beyond personal injury, the firm handles business litigation and other civil matters and represents both plaintiffs and defendants.
May be a good fit for: Cases that appear likely to go to trial, involve high damages, or face aggressive, well-funded defendants.
Josh Fogelman — FVF Law
- Location: West Austin (Bee Caves Road)
- Experience: Personal injury lawyer since 2009; firm co-founded in 2014
- Primary Focus: Personal injury, car accidents, wrongful death, and catastrophic injury
- Notable Background: Former briefing attorney at the Texas Supreme Court
Josh Fogelman co-founded FVF Law with Aaron Von Flatern in 2014. An Austin native, he earned his law degree from Baylor Law School and served as a briefing attorney for Justice Harriet O’Neill at the Texas Supreme Court before entering private practice.
The firm builds its brand around client education and transparency, and its founders host a podcast covering personal injury questions and cases. Fogelman has been recognized by Texas Super Lawyers and has served as president of the Capital Area Trial Lawyers Association.
May be a good fit for: People who want a firm that prioritizes walking them through each stage of the claim and explaining their options in detail.
Adam Loewy — Loewy Law Firm
- Location: North Austin (MoPac)
- Experience: Founded his own injury firm after law school
- Primary Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death, and premises liability
- Notable Background: University of Texas School of Law graduate with honors; frequent legal commentator on television
Adam Loewy started his own firm after graduating from the University of Texas School of Law and has focused his career on representing injured Texans and families in wrongful death cases.
He has been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star and appears regularly as a legal commentator on national and Austin television outlets. His practice covers vehicle crashes, trucking cases, dog bites, construction accidents, and premises claims.
May be a good fit for: Clients looking for a founder-led Austin firm focused on vehicle crash and wrongful death claims.
How Do You Choose the Best Personal Injury Lawyer in Austin?
There is no one attorney who is the best choice for every injured person. Instead of relying on billboards, paid rankings, or star ratings alone, look at whether a lawyer’s actual experience lines up with the problems in your case.
Look at Real Trial Experience
Most injury cases settle. The ones that settle well usually do so because the insurance company believes the lawyer on the other side will try the case if pushed.
Ask how many cases the attorney has personally taken to verdict and when the most recent one was. A firm that rarely sees a courtroom may be easier for an adjuster to lowball.
Understand What Board Certification Means
The Texas Board of Legal Specialization certifies attorneys in Personal Injury Trial Law and Civil Trial Law. Certification requires substantial trial experience, peer references, and passing a written exam.
It is a meaningful credential. It is also one factor among several. Many skilled Austin trial lawyers are not board certified, and certification does not tell you who will be handling your file or how often you will hear from them.
Ask Who Will Actually Handle Your Case
Some Austin firms run a high volume of cases with layers of case managers and associates. Others keep caseloads small so the lead attorney stays personally involved.
Neither model is automatically better. What matters is knowing up front who returns your calls, who negotiates with the insurer, and who stands up in court if your case goes to trial.
Consider Language and Communication
Austin is home to a large Spanish-speaking community. If you or your family are more comfortable in Spanish, working with a bilingual attorney means fewer misunderstandings about medical treatment, settlement offers, and documents you are asked to sign.
Interpreters help, but they are not a substitute for being able to speak directly with the person making decisions on your case.
Match the Lawyer to Your Type of Case
A fender-bender with soft-tissue injuries is a very different case from an 18-wheeler crash, a construction site fall, or a wrongful death claim against a corporation. Commercial vehicle and workplace cases often involve multiple defendants, federal safety regulations, and corporate insurance carriers.
Ask whether the attorney has handled cases with injuries and defendants similar to yours.
Questions to Ask an Austin Personal Injury Lawyer
Before you sign a contingency agreement, consider asking:
- How much of your practice is personal injury?
- Have you handled cases with injuries like mine?
- When did you last try a case to a jury?
- Who will be my main point of contact?
- Will you personally negotiate with the insurance company?
- How many active cases does your firm handle right now?
- Do you work with medical experts or accident reconstructionists?
- Can I communicate with you in Spanish?
- What is your contingency fee percentage, and does it change if the case goes to trial?
- Who pays case expenses if there is no recovery?
A consultation is also your chance to judge whether you feel comfortable with the attorney and whether the firm’s approach fits what you need.
What Types of Cases Do Austin Personal Injury Lawyers Handle?
Personal injury covers any situation where someone else’s carelessness or wrongful conduct causes you harm. Austin injury lawyers commonly handle:
Car Accidents
Collisions on I-35, MoPac, US-183, and city streets are the most common source of injury claims in Austin. These cases turn on police reports, witness statements, vehicle data, and medical records. Learn more about our Austin car accident lawyer practice.
Truck and Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Crashes involving 18-wheelers, delivery vans, and company vehicles can involve the driver, the trucking company, a broker, and maintenance contractors. Federal hours-of-service rules and electronic logging data often play a central role. See our Austin truck accident lawyer page for more.
Drunk Driving Crashes
DWI victims may have claims against the impaired driver and, under the Texas Dram Shop Act, against a bar or restaurant that overserved an obviously intoxicated customer. Read more about DWI victim accident claims.
Premises Liability
Property owners and businesses can be responsible for injuries caused by dangerous conditions they knew or should have known about, such as wet floors, broken stairs, poor lighting, or inadequate security.
Construction and Workplace Injuries
Austin’s building boom has brought a steady stream of jobsite injuries. Workers may have claims against general contractors, subcontractors, and equipment manufacturers, and Texas employees of non-subscribing employers can sometimes sue their employer directly.
Wrongful Death
When negligence takes a life, Texas law allows a surviving spouse, children, and parents to bring a wrongful death claim, and the estate may bring a separate survival action. Learn more from our Austin wrongful death lawyer page.
What Should You Do After an Injury in Austin?
Your health comes first. Get medical care right away, even if you feel fine, because some injuries such as concussions and herniated discs take days to show symptoms. A gap in treatment is one of the first things an insurance adjuster will point to.
If you are able, photograph the scene, your injuries, and the vehicles or hazard involved. Get names and phone numbers from witnesses. Keep every medical bill, prescription receipt, and record of missed work.
Be careful with the other driver’s insurance company. You are not required to give a recorded statement, and anything you say can be used to argue your injuries are minor or that you were partly at fault. Talking with an attorney first costs nothing.
How Much Does an Austin Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
Most Austin personal injury lawyers work on a contingency-fee basis. The attorney fee is a percentage of the recovery, so you do not pay hourly bills, and if there is no recovery there is no attorney fee.
Percentages and expense policies vary between firms. Some charge a higher percentage if a lawsuit is filed or the case goes to trial. Some require clients to repay case expenses even when the case is lost. Get the fee agreement in writing and ask questions before you sign.
Joe Lopez Law handles personal injury cases on contingency and advances all case expenses. You pay no fee unless we win.
When Should You Contact a Personal Injury Attorney?
You do not need to have everything figured out before you call. Many people reach out because the insurance company is pressuring them, the first offer feels too low, or their injuries turned out to be worse than they first thought.
Waiting has real costs. Surveillance video gets recorded over, vehicle data gets erased, and witnesses forget details. In Texas, most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury, and wrongful death claims within two years of the date of death.
Fault matters too. Under Texas’s proportionate responsibility rule, your recovery is reduced by your share of fault, and you recover nothing if you are found more than 50% responsible. Insurers know this and often try to shift blame early. Learn more about how fault is determined in a Texas car accident.
Frequently Asked Questions About Austin Personal Injury Lawyers
Who is the best personal injury lawyer in Austin?
No single attorney is objectively the best choice for every injury case. Austin attorneys and firms with established personal injury practices include Joe Lopez of Joe Lopez Law, Robert Alden and Kevin Henrichson of Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, Randy Howry of Howry, Breen & Herman, Josh Fogelman of FVF Law, and Adam Loewy of Loewy Law Firm. The right choice depends on whether your case calls for board certification, heavy trial experience, a bilingual attorney, a client-education focus, or direct access to the lead lawyer.
Which Austin personal injury lawyers speak Spanish?
Joe Lopez of Joe Lopez Law is a native Spanish speaker who was raised in El Paso and represents Spanish-speaking clients directly, without an interpreter. If Spanish is your preferred language, ask any firm you contact whether the attorney handling your case speaks Spanish or whether communication will go through staff or interpreters.
Which Austin personal injury lawyers are board certified?
Robert Alden and Kevin Henrichson of Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson and Randy Howry of Howry, Breen & Herman are board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. You can verify any Texas attorney's certification status on the TBLS website. Certification is one useful credential, but it does not tell you who will handle your case day to day.
Which Austin injury firms take fewer cases?
Joe Lopez Law intentionally keeps a smaller caseload so clients work directly with Attorney Joe Lopez. Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson also describes itself as handling a limited number of cases. Ask any firm how many active cases it has and how many each attorney personally manages.
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Austin?
Most Austin personal injury lawyers work on contingency, meaning the attorney fee comes out of the settlement or verdict and there is no fee if there is no recovery. The percentage and the handling of case expenses vary between firms, so read the written fee agreement carefully. Joe Lopez Law advances all case expenses and charges no fee unless it wins your case.
Do I need a lawyer who handles trials?
Most injury cases settle, but insurers pay closer attention when the lawyer on the other side has a real record of trying cases. Ask any attorney how many cases they have taken to verdict and how recently. A lawyer who is ready to try your case gives you more leverage in negotiations.
Can I talk to more than one personal injury lawyer before hiring?
Yes. Consultations are free at most Austin injury firms, and meeting with two or three attorneys is a smart way to compare experience, communication style, and fee terms. You are not obligated to hire anyone you consult with.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Texas?
Most Texas personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the date of injury, and wrongful death lawsuits within two years of the date of death. Some exceptions can shorten or extend that deadline, particularly for claims against government entities. Talk to a lawyer well before the deadline so evidence can be preserved.
Can I still recover if I was partly at fault for the accident?
Yes, as long as you are not more than 50% at fault. Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule, so your compensation is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. If you are found 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover damages.
Should I talk to the other driver's insurance company before hiring a lawyer?
You are not required to give the other driver's insurer a recorded statement, and doing so can hurt your claim. Adjusters use those statements to minimize injuries or shift blame. Speak with an attorney first; a consultation is free and confidential.
Talk With an Austin Personal Injury Lawyer at Joe Lopez Law
Choosing a lawyer after a serious injury is a big decision. Take the time to ask hard questions, compare experience, and find an attorney whose background and approach fit your case.
If you were hurt in Austin because someone else was careless, contact Joe Lopez Law for a free, confidential consultation. You will speak directly with Joe about what happened, what the insurance company is likely to do next, and what your options are. Se habla español.
Call (512) 580-9962 or contact Joe Lopez Law online to discuss your case.