Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
Jeffrey Johnson, J.D.
Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida.
After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Court judge. He researched and wrote legal precedent in published opinions on behalf of the Court.
He has been an editor, columnist and journalist at the Miami Herald, The Dallas Morning News, The Oregonian, Golf Digest, FindLaw.com and other media outlets.
He lived in Colombia and Argentina teaching legal English to attorneys and law students. He is also a Spanish-language subject matter expert.
An avid waterman, he surfs and scuba dives frequently.
Reviewed
Adam Ramirez, J.D.
Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida.
After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Court judge. He researched and wrote legal precedent in published opinions on behalf of the Court.
He has been an editor, columnist and journalist at the Miami Herald, The Dallas Morning News, The Oregonian, Golf Digest, FindLaw.com and other media outlets.
He lived in Colombia and Argentina teaching legal English to attorneys and law students. He is also a Spanish-language subject matter expert.
An avid waterman, he surfs and scuba dives frequently.
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
San Antonio is known for a lot of things: the Alamo, the Riverwalk, NBA Basketball…but it’s also home to some great personal injury lawyers. In a city of over two million, though, it can be tough to find the best personal injury attorneys.
Not to worry, though. The best San Antonio personal injury lawyers can all be found right here.
At Forbes Advisor, we’ve looked at dozens of factors and carefully weighed them to make sure only the best personal injury lawyers in the San Antonio area make the list.
Read more
Show Summary
- Best San Antonio, TX Personal Injury Attorneys
- Compare Our Top San Antonio Personal Injury Attorneys
- Texas Personal Injury Laws
- How to Find the Best San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyer
- How Texas Statutes Affect Personal Injury Claims
- What Is Covered by Personal Injury Law In San Antonio?
- Do You Pay Taxes On Personal Injury Settlements In San Antonio?
- How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in San Antonio?
- How Long Does It Take to Settle a Personal Injury Case in San Antonio?
- Methodology For Finding The Best San Antonio Personal Injury Attorney
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Best San Antonio, TX Personal Injury Attorneys
Compare Our Top San Antonio Personal Injury Attorneys
| Lawyer Name | TX Bar Association Status | Year Admitted to TX Bar | Law School Attended | LEARN MORE | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert C. Alden | Active | 1987 | University of Texas at Austin School of Law | Get Matched | Get matched with legal services near you | |
| Eugene W. (Chip) Brees, II | Active | 1976 | University of Texas at Austin School of Law | Get Matched | Get matched with legal services near you | |
| Jeffrey S. Edwards | Active | 1999 | University of Texas at Austin School of Law | Get Matched | Get matched with legal services near you | |
| Carl H. Green | Active | 1976 | University of Texas at Austin School of Law | Get Matched | Get matched with legal services near you | |
| Marc E. Gravely | Active | 1993 | St. Mary’s University School of Law | Get Matched | Get matched with legal services near you | |
| Randy Howry | Active | 1985 | South Texas College of Law | Get Matched | Get matched with legal services near you | |
| Fidel Rodriguez, Jr. | Active | 1980 | University of Texas at Austin School of Law | Get Matched | Get matched with legal services near you | |
| Daniel J.T. Sciano | Active | 1981 | St. Mary’s University School of Law | Get Matched | Get matched with legal services near you | |
| Lee H. Shidlofsky | Active | 1997 | Southern Methodist University School of Law | Get Matched | Get matched with legal services near you | |
| Michael L. Slack | Active | 1983 | University of Texas at Austin School of Law | Get Matched | Get matched with legal services near you |
Texas Personal Injury Laws
All states have their own laws concerning personal injury, and Texas is no different. Because these laws can be confusing, you should contact a great personal injury lawyer—like those listed in this article—as soon as you can if you have been injured.
Waiting to talk to an attorney can mean missing out on any chance of recovery at all. An experienced personal injury attorney will be able to guide you through all the specifics of Texas law, but here’s just a few ways that Texas laws are unique.
Statute of Limitations in San Antonio, Texas
Most states have a statute of limitations of between one and three years. Texas falls in the middle of the spectrum with a two year statute of limitations on most personal injuries.
This means you have to file a personal injury case within two years of the initial injury or you may be barred from recovery entirely.
If you were injured by someone who worked for the government, you may have even less time. The city of Austin, for example, may bar you from recovering if you don’t notify them of your injury within 45 days.
If you’re injured, it’s best to reach out to a skilled personal injury attorney without delay so you don’t jeopardize your chance at getting compensated for your injuries.
Determining Fault in San Antonio, Texas
There are a few different rules used to decide fault. One of the most common is used in Texas, called “modified comparative negligence.” Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001 states that claimants may not recover damages if they are more than 50% at fault.
Texas state laws also deal with how courts will award damages when both parties are partially to blame for the injury. Imagine a car accident with $10,000 of damages to your vehicle. At trial, you were found to be 10% at fault and the other driver 90% at fault. In Texas, you will be awarded only $9,000 (after reducing your award by the percent you were at fault).
Importantly, though, if the other driver countersued for $20,000 in damages to their car and the jury finds them more than 50% responsible for the accident, this bars them from recovering anything.
This is different from states that use the regular comparative negligence rule, where the other driver would be allowed to recover 10% of their damages, getting back $2,000 of the $9,000 they had to pay you.
Some states use a rule called contributory negligence that is even more strict. In these states, you are not allowed to sue for anything at all if you were even 1% responsible for the accident.
Caps on Medical Malpractice Awards in Texas
Texas has put caps on how much juries can award plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases. These caps only apply to non-economic damages, however. Any treatment costs or lost wages are capped, but non-economic damages like pain and suffering are capped at $250,000 per defendant.
There is also a cap on medical malpractice wrongful death. It was initially set at $500,000 and is indexed for inflation, making it currently around $2 million.
How to Find the Best San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyer
There are many types of personal injury lawyers. Some specialize in car accidents, while others specialize in workers’ compensation or class action lawsuit injuries. As you shop to find a personal injury lawyer in San Antonio, you want to make sure that you choose a lawyer who has the experience for your accident type. You’ll also want a lawyer who’s professional, affordable and well-respected.
Most personal injury lawyers offer a free consultation. Here’s a list of what you should be asking.
What Type of Experience Do They Have?
Before you go any further in a consultation, ask the attorney about their experience with your type of injury. If you were in a car accident, you want a lawyer specializing in car accidents. If you were injured at work, get a lawyer with experience in workers’ compensation claims and labor laws. If you were hurt when a product malfunctioned, you want a lawyer with experience in product liability cases. Finding someone who has the experience means they will understand what needs to happen with your case. They’ll be able to navigate legal hurdles, medical access and insurance coverage on your behalf.
How Do They Communicate With Clients?
When you are injured in an accident, you can feel left out on an island alone with a lot of frustration and confusion. Good communication helps you feel like the process is working and that you have a team on your side. Talk to the lawyer about their communication process. Because personal injury cases can take a long time, look for an attorney with a regular schedule of communication with you when progress is slow. Of course, you want a lawyer to communicate with you quickly when there are timely notices that you need to review and address.
How Expensive Are They?
Personal injury attorneys usually work on contingency rather than charging an hourly fee. This means they get a percentage of your settlement and don’t get anything if you don’t get a dime. When it comes to their fee, look for someone who falls within the normal range of contingency fees. San Antonio personal injury lawyers usually charge between 33% and 40%. For a lawyer with a lot of experience, the higher contingency fee may be worth it since they typically negotiate a higher settlement.
What Percentage of Their Business Comes From Attorney Referrals?
This is not an obvious question, but it’s an important one. You want a lawyer who is respected by their peers. Being referred to by other lawyers who are willing to stake their own reputation on how good a personal injury attorney performs is a good indication of skill. Good attorneys will also give you references to talk to that will help you set better expectations about the process and success rate of the lawyer.
How Professional Is Their Office?
This isn’t a question you’ll ask the lawyer but is, instead, a sense that you get at your first consultation. You want someone who comes across as organized and on top of all the details of their clients’ cases. A tidy, well-run office is a good sign that the lawyer is not only competent and capable, but has the bandwidth to take on another client.
How Texas Statutes Affect Personal Injury Claims
Here are just some ways the Texas statutes impact personal injury claims:
- Time limits for filing personal injury lawsuits. The Texas statute of limitations generally gives plaintiffs (those bringing the lawsuit) two years to file a suit and pursue damages.
- Filing claims against government agencies. In Texas, lawsuits against the government entail additional hurdles, such as providing written notice to the agency you intend to sue within six months of your injury.
Texas personal injury laws can be complex, and missing a deadline or filing requirement could cost you the right to seek compensation. Consult with a San Antonio personal injury lawyer who can explain your options and protect your rights.
What Is Covered by Personal Injury Law In San Antonio?
In Texas, personal injury law covers various accidents and incidents where individuals suffer damages, such as injuries and financial losses, due to the negligence or deliberate actions of others. Common claims include:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents. Personal injury claims can arise in car, truck, motorcycle and pedestrian accidents.
- Premises Liability. Property owners must maintain safe conditions. If your injuries are caused by property hazards or negligent security, you could have a personal injury claim.
- Medical Malpractice. Patients impacted by medical errors in San Antonio can seek compensation under personal injury law.
- Product Liability. If your injury was caused by a defective product, such as a car, electric appliance or medication, you could hold manufacturers and other parties accountable.
- Defamation. Personal injury law not only deals with physical injuries but also addresses harm to your reputation. If someone spreads a false and damaging statement about you, you could sue them for slander or libel.
Do You Pay Taxes On Personal Injury Settlements In San Antonio?
You might be relieved to learn that your personal injury settlement is typically not taxable in Texas. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) explicitly states that taxpayers can exclude personal injury damages from their gross income. The idea is that these damages are not income. Instead, they are intended to reimburse you for your losses and damages and “make you whole” again.
That said, any amounts that don’t compensate you for losses, such as punitive damages or interest on your personal injury settlement, are generally taxable. In addition, if you deduct medical expenses and later receive reimbursement for those costs, you must report this on your tax return.
Since tax laws change occasionally, and there may be other taxable damages, consider speaking to a tax professional to understand your tax reporting obligations.
How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in San Antonio?
If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence in San Antonio, remember to file your lawsuit within two years of your injury. Waiting longer could mean having your case dismissed, no matter how strong it may be. However, depending on the nature of your case and your situation, your deadline may be shorter or longer than two years.
For example, if you’re filing a lawsuit against the government in Texas, you must first file a notice to sue within six months. On the other hand, you may have up to two additional years to file a lawsuit if your injury was not discovered immediately, as the time typically begins ticking on the day of diagnosis or discovery.
Quick action can be essential to protect your rights and give you the best chance of recovering the compensation you deserve. A personal injury in San Antonio can determine the best timing for your personal injury lawsuit.
How Long Does It Take to Settle a Personal Injury Case in San Antonio?
Every personal injury case is different. Some can be resolved in a few short months, while others drag on for years and make their way slowly through the courts. Here are some factors that influence the length of a personal injury case:
- Complexity. If your case is highly complex or involves several defendants, you could be looking at a long dispute.
- Insurance company cooperation. Insurers know that you need a settlement to pay your bills and that time is on their side. In claims with high stakes, they may try to delay, deny or reduce your claim, hoping you will give up and accept less than what you deserve.
- Fault and evidence. If fault for the incident is clear-cut and evidence compelling, a personal injury case may be resolved relatively quickly. On the other hand, if you have some responsibility and the fault is highly contested, a case might go to trial, which could add a year or more.
- Settlement or trial. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), trials make up only around 3% of civil cases, meaning that most claims are resolved with an out-of-court settlement. Settlements are generally quicker than going to trial.
A San Antonio personal injury lawyer can help you navigate the legal process efficiently and monitor potential delays.
Methodology For Finding The Best San Antonio Personal Injury Attorney
To come up with the Best Personal Injury Lawyers in San Antonio in 2024, Forbes Advisor considered many factors. Forbes Advisor’s mathematical module considers and weighs the information collected to calculate a specific rating and reviews these results to find the best attorneys in a given practice area.
Within the model, we take into account factors that legal professionals and consumers value in an attorney’s qualifications. After assigning weighted scores to hundreds of data points, we narrowed the field down to our top choices based on:
- Legal experience
- Special licenses & certifications
- Ethics and bar disciplinary measures
- Legal thought leadership
- Education & employment background
- Scholarly lectures & writings
- Awards & honors
Forbes Advisor collects public data from a variety of sources, including state bar associations, court records and other published sources on the internet. This information should not be considered comprehensive, however. It might not include additional relevant information on an attorney’s legal skills and experience.
Each lawyer listed here has their own merits. Bear in mind that our list relates to these lawyers’ legal backgrounds, but does not evaluate their personalities or their knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
One thing that can’t be quantified, though, is the rapport you establish with your attorney. Personality goes a long way when teaming up with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially difficult legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and potential starting point in your search for the right lawyer for you and your legal concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What if you can’t afford a personal injury lawyer?
If you’ve been injured, you shouldn’t let worry about cost stop you from finding a lawyer. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingent fee basis. This means that—if they think your case is worth taking—they will represent you with no up-front costs.
If they get you any compensation, they will keep a percentage to cover their costs. If they don’t get you anything, however, the lawyer working on contingency doesn’t get paid and you owe nothing.
What percentage do most personal injury lawyers take?
Generally, personal injury lawyers who work on contingency get about one-third of whatever payment they get for you. This amount can vary depending on how far in the process the case is resolved and is usually between 20% and 40%.
Here’s an example of how a lawyer might structure their fee:
- • 20% of settlement if reached before filing
- • 25% of settlement if reached after filing but before trial begins
- • 33% of settlement if reached after trial begins
- • 40% of amount awarded by jury
Make sure you understand the fee structure before agreeing to representation.
When should you hire a personal injury attorney after an accident?
In Texas, the statute of limitations is two years.
That doesn’t mean you should wait anywhere close to that long to hire an attorney, however. There may be some special circumstances that limit your time to file a claim that a lawyer can help you avoid. It’s also important to allow your attorney to investigate when all the evidence is fresh. It could be much harder to prove that you weren’t at fault when all the witnesses have forgotten what happened, for example.
What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in San Antonio?
If you need assistance that doesn’t require immediate attention, call the non-emergency police assistance in San Antonio at (210) 207-727312. If you’re experiencing an emergency, such as a car accident with injuries, remember to dial 911.
How Much Does An Average San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a personal injury lawyer in San Antonio can be a concern when you’re injured and looking for justice. Fortunately, most injury attorneys charge contingency fees, meaning they only recover payment when they win your case or secure a settlement. If they don’t win, you usually don’t owe any fees.
The typical contingency fee ranges from 33% to 40% of the recovered amount. However, as the percentage can vary from one law firm to another, discuss fees with a San Antonio personal injury lawyer before hiring them.
What Happens If I Miss the Deadline for Filing My San Antonio Personal Injury Lawsuit?
If you miss the deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit, which is generally two years in Texas, your options for recovering compensation may be limited. However, there are some rare exceptions. For example, if your injury wasn’t immediately apparent or you were a minor at the time of the incident, you may have longer to file a lawsuit.
Contact a personal injury lawyer in San Antonio as soon as possible. They can analyze your case and determine whether you still have legal options to pursue compensation.
Are There Extensions for the San Antonio Personal Injury Statute of Limitations?
If you missed the deadline for filing your personal injury lawsuit, you could take advantage of some of the exceptions to the statute and may still be able to file a suit. Exceptions include:
- • Legal disability. Legal disability can include mental or physical incapacitation or being a minor during the statute of limitations timeline. The statute of limitations is paused during the length of a disability.
- • Defendant’s absence. If the defendant left the state and you couldn’t sue them, the time will only begin to run when the defendant returns to Texas.
- • Asbestos and silica exposure. In cases of asbestos and silica exposure, the two-year statute of limitations only begins running on the date the victim died or when the plaintiff serves the defendant with a medical report about the injury.
It’s essential to note that an extension to the statute of limitations is not granted automatically. Consult with a lawyer to understand the necessary legal process to follow.
What is the average personal injury settlement in San Antonio?
Settlement amounts can vary significantly based on the circumstances of your case. Factors that influence your settlement can include the severity and permanence of your injuries and their impact on your life. Your damages, such as medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering, also determine your final settlement amount.
While successful plaintiffs often receive a five-figure amount in personal injury damages, those whose lives are severely disrupted due to catastrophic injuries could recover six figures or more. Consulting an experienced San Antonio personal injury attorney is crucial for determining the worth of your case.
Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my personal injury case in San Antonio?
You can request copies of police accident and incident reports related to your personal injury by contacting the San Antonio Police Department Headquarters records office. You must provide details of the incident, such as the date, location and parties involved, and pay the relevant fee.
