After a car wreck in Austin, you are probably dealing with medical bills, a damaged vehicle, and an insurance company that is already working against your interests. Our car accident lawyers at Lorenz & Lorenz PLLC help injured drivers, passengers, and pedestrians recover compensation for injuries that were not their fault.
You should not have to figure out the claims process alone, and you do not have to. Call for a free case review today. There is no obligation and no upfront cost.
How the Car Accident Claims Process Works in Austin
The single biggest question most people have after a wreck is simple: what happens next? Here is a straightforward breakdown of the process when you work with our firm.
Step One: You Call Us, and We Listen
During your free consultation, our lawyers review the details of the accident, your injuries, and any evidence you have gathered so far. We tell you whether you have a viable claim and what your options are. No pressure, no runaround.
Step Two: We Investigate and Build Your Case
Our Austin car accident attorneys gather police reports filed with the Austin Police Department or the Travis County Sheriff's Office, medical records, witness statements, and any available traffic or dashcam footage. If fault is disputed, we bring in accident reconstruction professionals when needed.
Step Three: We Handle the Insurance Companies
You should not be negotiating with adjusters on your own. Insurance companies that operate in Texas routinely use recorded statements and quick, lowball offers to minimize what they pay. Our lawyers manage every conversation so you do not accidentally undermine your own claim.
One tactic insurance adjusters use frequently is calling within the first few days after the wreck, before you have a full picture of your injuries. They may offer a settlement that sounds reasonable at the moment but falls far short of covering ongoing treatment, physical therapy, or time away from work.
Once you accept that offer and sign a release, you cannot go back for more. Our lawyers make sure you understand the full scope of your damages before any offer is considered.
How Insurance Adjusters Work Against Your Claim
Insurance adjusters are trained to protect the company's bottom line, and they use specific tactics to reduce or deny valid claims:
- Arguing that you were partially responsible for the crash to reduce your compensation
- Arguing that vehicle damage does not match your claimed injuries
- Denying claims based on technicalities or missed deadlines
- Minimizing pain and suffering damages by focusing only on economic losses
- Making partial payments while disputing the remainder of the claim
- Using software valuation systems that may undervalue injury claims
- Threatening prolonged disputes to pressure you into a lower settlement
Our lawyers recognize these tactics and know how to counter them. Having an attorney manage communications from the start protects your claim before any damage is done.
Step Four: We Pursue Full Compensation
Whether your case resolves through a negotiated settlement or requires filing a lawsuit in Travis County District Court, we push for the maximum recovery available. That includes medical bills, future healthcare costs, income losses, and pain and suffering. In the event of the loss of life, loved ones may pursue wrongful death benefits for burial costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship.
If the at-fault driver's insurance carrier refuses to negotiate in good faith, our lawyers are prepared to take your case to trial. Our team does not shy away from the courtroom when that is what it takes to get you a fair result. Speak with our Austin car accident attorneys. There is no obligation. Find out what your case may be worth.
What Realistic Expectations Look Like
No attorney can guarantee a specific outcome, and you should be cautious about any firm that does. What we can tell you is that most car accident claims in Austin take several months to resolve.
Cases that go to litigation in Travis County can take longer depending on court schedules and the other side's willingness to negotiate fairly. Our lawyers are upfront with you from day one about timelines, potential outcomes, and what factors could affect the value of your case.
Why Clients in Austin Trust Our Firm With Their Car Accident Cases
Lorenz & Lorenz, PLLC has focused solely on personal injury law since 2001, which means every resource, every attorney, and every hour of continuing legal education goes toward one thing: getting results for injured clients. Attorneys Ted Lorenz and Lesley Lorenz were selected as Rising Star Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, a distinction earned by only 2.5% of attorneys in Texas, as published in Texas Monthly magazine. Our team includes an in-house investigator and a network of medical and accident reconstruction professionals who support your claim from day one.
Our lawyers have handled car accident injury cases in the Travis County District Court, the Travis County Justice Courts, and through the Austin municipal system. We understand local procedural requirements and how judges in these courts typically handle discovery disputes, motions for summary judgment (pre-trial rulings that can resolve a case before it reaches a jury), and pre-trial settlement conferences.
When a claim involves a wreck on a state highway like US-183 or SH-130, or when a city of Austin road maintenance issue contributed to the crash, our team knows which governmental entities need to be notified and how local liability rules apply.
Claims against government entities in Texas carry shorter notice deadlines and specific procedural requirements under the Texas Tort Claims Act (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 101.101(a)), which differ significantly from those for standard car accident claims.
Missing those deadlines can bar your case entirely, regardless of how strong your evidence is.
Our firm has secured millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for clients injured in car accidents across Central Texas. While every case is unique and past results cannot guarantee a future outcome, these results reflect the level of commitment our attorneys bring to every claim:
- $2M for a rear-end collision causing paralysis and a T3/T4 fracture
- $1.2M for a T-bone accident resulting in multiple injuries
- $900K for a car accident resulting in neck, shoulder, and back injuries
Results may vary. Past outcomes do not guarantee future results.
What Our Clients Say
Our firm's reviews reflect a consistent pattern: clients value clear communication, honest assessments, and determined representation at every stage of the claim. Our client testimonials speak to our dedication to helping you achieve the best possible outcome for your case:
"Thank you so much to Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC! Steven and everyone who helped me with my personal injury case was great. I appreciate how easy and stress-free this was made for me. If you're looking for someone, I highly recommend this law firm to handle your case. Ted is really on top of it!"--Kurstyn Sundberg.
Results may vary. Past outcomes do not guarantee future results. Find out what your case may be worth. Call for your free consultation today.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Car Accident in Austin?
Texas law allows injured drivers, passengers, and pedestrians to recover both economic and non-economic damages after a crash caused by someone else's negligence. Economic damages cover measurable financial losses: medical bills, lost income, and property damage. Non-economic damages address the human cost: pain, emotional distress, and the ways the injury has changed your daily life.
Our attorneys evaluate every category of damages that applies to your situation, so every available category is accounted for in your claim:
- Medical expenses include emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, prescription medications, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and any future treatment your doctors recommend for your car accident injuries.
- Lost income covers wages you missed while recovering, including sick days and vacation time you had to use.
- Lost earning capacity covers income you may never be able to earn again. If your injuries prevent you from returning to the same type of work, our lawyers work with vocational and economic professionals to calculate those future losses.
- Property damage covers the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle and any personal belongings damaged in the crash.
- Pain and suffering account for the physical discomfort and emotional toll the accident has caused. Chronic pain, anxiety about driving, sleep disruption, and the inability to participate in activities you enjoyed before the wreck all factor into this category.
Texas does not cap non-economic damages in most car accident cases, which means the amount depends on the strength of your evidence and how effectively your attorney presents it.
In cases involving Austin drunk driving accident claims, distracted drivers, or extreme recklessness, Texas law may allow for exemplary (punitive) damages under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 41.003. These damages are not meant to compensate you for a specific loss. They are designed to punish the at-fault party and discourage similar behavior.
Speak with our Austin car accident attorneys to find out which categories of damages apply to your case. Schedule your free consultation now.
Frequently Asked Questions About Austin Car Accident Claims
How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Car Accident Attorney?
Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing upfront and owe no legal fees unless we recover compensation for you. The fee is a percentage of your settlement or verdict. During your free consultation, our lawyers explain exactly how fees work before you sign anything.
What Should I Do Immediately After A Car Accident In Austin?
Seek medical attention immediately after the crash, even if you believe you are unharmed, because adrenaline can delay the appearance of symptoms for hours or even days. Call 911, photograph the accident scene, collect contact information from witnesses, and make sure the collision is reported to law enforcement. Avoid providing a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company until you have spoken with an attorney.
How Long Does It Take To Settle A Car Accident Claim In Texas?
Every case is different. Straightforward claims with clear liability and documented injuries may settle within a few months. Cases involving disputed fault, serious injuries, or multiple parties can take a year or longer, especially if filed in the Travis County District Court. Our lawyers give you realistic timeframes during your initial consultation.
What If The Other Driver Does Not Have Insurance?
Texas requires drivers to carry minimum liability coverage, but not everyone complies. If an uninsured or underinsured driver hit you, your own policy may include uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage that applies. Our attorneys review your insurance policy as part of the case evaluation.
Can I Still Recover Compensation If I Was Partially At Fault?
Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001. You can recover damages as long as you are not more than 50 percent at fault. Your percentage of responsibility reduces your compensation. If you were 20 percent at fault, for example, your recovery is reduced by 20 percent.
Do I Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident in Austin?
You are not legally required to hire an attorney, but handling the claim alone puts you at a real disadvantage. Insurance adjusters negotiate claims every day with one goal: minimizing what the company pays out. Their first offer rarely reflects the full value of your case.
Legal representation matters most when you have suffered injuries, when fault is disputed, or when the insurance company is pressuring you to settle quickly. Even in cases where liability seems straightforward, insurers routinely undervalue future medical treatment, long-term physical therapy, and soft tissue injuries that worsen over time. Our Austin car accident attorneys make sure the process is not tilted against you.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Texas?
The statute of limitations for car accident claims in Texas is two years from the date of the accident, under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003. Miss that deadline, and you lose the right to file a lawsuit entirely.
Two years may sound like a long time. Still, evidence disappears, witnesses forget details, and medical documentation becomes harder to connect to the accident the longer you wait. The strongest cases are built early.
Do not wait until the deadline is approaching. If your accident happened recently, now is the time to act.
What Happens If I Cannot Afford a Personal Injury Attorney?
You do not need money to hire our firm. Our Austin, TX car accident lawyers work on a contingency basis. That means we only get paid when you get paid. There are no hourly rates, retainers, or hidden costs. If we do not win your case, you owe us nothing.
Schedule Your Consultation with Our Austin Car Accident Lawyers
Our free consultation is exactly that. Free. No strings, no sales pitch. Our attorneys at Lorenz & Lorenz, PLLC review your situation, answer your questions, and help you understand your options. Call now or fill out our contact form to speak with our Austin personal injury team about your case.