San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyers

Bexar County reported 205 fatal crashes and 215 traffic deaths in 2024, along with another 773 wrecks that left people seriously injured, according to the Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Records Information System (CRIS). The county logged 48,522 reportable crashes overall, the second-highest county total in Texas behind Harris County. Drunk driving played a role in 58 of those fatal wrecks, killing 64 people.

San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States and the second-largest in Texas. It is the county seat of Bexar County, the home of the Alamo and the River Walk, and the host of Joint Base San Antonio, the largest single military installation complex in the world by personnel and acreage. JBSA brings Fort Sam Houston, Lackland Air Force Base, and Randolph Air Force Base under a single command with more than 67,000 direct employees, including over 32,000 active-duty service members. Add the I-35 corridor running straight through the heart of the city, the Loop 410 inner loop, and the Loop 1604 outer loop, and the result is one of the busiest, most complicated road networks in Texas.

You shouldn’t have to take an insurance company’s first offer just because medical bills are piling up. You deserve an attorney who knows Bexar County, knows the Paul Elizondo Tower courthouses on Nueva Street, and isn’t afraid to push back when an insurer won’t pay what your case is worth.

At DJC Law, our San Antonio personal injury lawyers help accident victims and their families recover after serious injuries. If you were hurt in a wreck on I-35 or Loop 1604, hit by a commercial truck on I-10, struck while crossing Culebra Road or Fredericksburg Road, injured at work or at a tourist site downtown, or harmed in any other accident caused by someone else’s negligence, we can help.

We work on contingency. You pay nothing unless we win. Call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Hablamos español.

What Is Personal Injury Law?

Personal injury law lets people who’ve been hurt by someone else’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct seek financial compensation for their losses. These are civil claims, separate from any criminal charges. They hold the responsible party accountable and help injured victims recover the money they need for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Most personal injury cases come down to negligence. To win a negligence claim, you have to prove four things: that the defendant owed you a duty of care, that they breached that duty, that the breach caused your injuries, and that you suffered actual damages.

That sounds simple enough on paper. In practice, insurance companies spend a lot of time and money working to deny, delay, and minimize claims. In San Antonio, you may also be dealing with a corporate defendant, a federal contractor connected to Joint Base San Antonio, a major hotel or restaurant operator near the River Walk, or a national trucking company moving freight up I-35 from the Mexican border. Each comes with its own defense team. An experienced personal injury attorney can level the conversation and improve your chances of a fair recovery.

Why Choose DJC Law

Not every personal injury firm is the same. Here’s what sets DJC Law apart.

You Pay Nothing Unless We Win

We take personal injury cases on contingency. There are no upfront fees, and you owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Our payment comes out of your settlement or verdict, so we only get paid when you do.

Personal Attention From Your Attorney

You won’t get handed off to a paralegal or left wondering what’s going on with your case. Our attorneys stay involved at every stage. We return calls. When you have a question, you’ll get an answer from the lawyer actually handling your case.

Bilingual Representation

San Antonio is a majority-Hispanic city, and Spanish is the language people speak at home, with their families, and often with their doctors. Your attorney should never be a barrier to understanding your own case. Our team works in English and Spanish, so you can ask questions and make decisions in the language you’re most comfortable with.

Experience With Military and Federal Cases

Joint Base San Antonio brings tens of thousands of active-duty service members, military families, civilian Department of Defense employees, and contractors into the city’s daily traffic and life. When a wreck or other incident involves a military vehicle, a federal employee acting in the scope of employment, a base entry or exit road, or care provided at a federal facility like Brooke Army Medical Center, the case may need to be brought under the Federal Tort Claims Act rather than ordinary Texas tort law. The deadlines, the procedural rules, and the immunity questions are all different. We help San Antonio military families and federal workers figure out which framework applies and pursue every available avenue of recovery.

Trial-Ready Representation

Insurance companies and corporate defendants pay attention to which firms actually take cases to court. When they know we’re prepared to try a case, they’re a lot more willing to settle for a fair number. If they aren’t willing, we’re ready to put your case in front of a Bexar County jury.

Local Knowledge, Local Commitment

We know the Bexar County District Courts at the Paul Elizondo Tower, the federal court at the Hipolito F. Garcia Federal Building, the judges who hear these cases, and the roads where these crashes keep happening. From the inside of Loop 410 out to Loop 1604, from the South Side to the Medical Center to the JBSA gates, we work cases here regularly.

Personal Injury in San Antonio: By the Numbers

San Antonio has more than 1.5 million residents inside city limits and over 2.1 million in Bexar County, with a metro population of about 2.76 million spread across the eight-county San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA. The city is the third-largest in the southern United States and one of the fastest-growing major cities in the country. Population growth and military operations bring constant pressure on the road network. According to the Texas Department of Transportation and other public sources:

Bexar County reported 205 fatal crashes and 215 traffic fatalities in 2024, along with 773 suspected serious injury crashes that left 897 people seriously hurt.
The county logged 48,522 reportable crashes overall in 2024, the second-highest total in Texas behind Harris County. That includes 7,023 minor injury wrecks and 6,100 possible-injury crashes.
Drunk driving played a role in 58 of those Bexar fatal crashes, killing 64 people, with another 68 alcohol-involved wrecks producing serious injuries countywide. Bexar County recorded 1,654 DUI-involved crashes in 2024, the highest county total in Texas.
The City of San Antonio adopted its first Vision Zero Action Plan in 2024, the first of its kind in Texas. The plan identifies a “High Injury Network” of corridors where serious and fatal crashes are most concentrated, including Zarzamora Street, Fredericksburg Road, and W.W. White Road.
Pedestrian fatalities have stayed elevated for several years running. The city saw 916 pedestrian-involved crashes in 2024, resulting in 66 deaths, with similar numbers in 2022 and 2023. A recent national study ranked San Antonio the seventh-deadliest city in the country for pedestrians.
Joint Base San Antonio occupies more than 45,000 acres across three locations and supports about 67,350 direct employees, with an estimated $55 billion economic contribution to the Texas economy in 2023, according to the Texas Comptroller. Service members, military spouses, civilian Department of Defense employees, and contractors travel JBSA-area roads every day, and many wrecks involving military families implicate federal law.

Dangerous Roads and Locations in San Antonio

If your wreck happened on one of these corridors, you’re not alone. They show up in TxDOT crash data, San Antonio Police Department reports, and the city’s High Injury Network year after year:

Interstate 35: The single deadliest corridor running through San Antonio. I-35 is one of the most heavily traveled freight routes in the United States, connecting the Laredo border crossing to Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and points north. The stretch through downtown San Antonio combines high traffic volumes with complex interchange geometry and significant commercial truck presence. The I-35 / U.S. 281 split downtown, the Northeast Loop 410 and I-35 interchange, and the I-35 / Loop 1604 interchange all show up regularly in fatal crash reporting.
Loop 1604 (“The Death Loop”): The outer loop around San Antonio has earned its grim local nickname through years of fatal wrecks, with local press analyses identifying nearly 200 fatal crashes on the corridor in the past decade. The I-10 / Loop 1604 interchange on the Northwest Side recorded 90 reported crashes in a single year recently, and the U.S. 281 / Loop 1604 interchange near Stone Oak is another recurring trouble spot. TxDOT’s ongoing Loop 1604 expansion program has added flyover ramps and reconfigured exits, and the construction phases produce additional crashes during transitions.
Interstate 10: The east-west corridor running through San Antonio from El Paso to Houston, carrying heavy commercial truck traffic. The I-10 / Loop 1604 interchange and the Northwest Loop 410 / I-10 interchange are two of the highest-volume crash points in the metro, and the Camp Bullis Road and Boerne Stage Road area on the western edge of the city has produced multiple recent multi-vehicle wrecks.
Loop 410: The inner loop around San Antonio. The Loop 410 / I-35 interchange on the Northeast Side, the Loop 410 / Highway 151 interchange, and the Loop 410 / Rigsby Avenue intersection on the South Side are all repeated crash hotspots. Loop 410 also serves as the primary access route to the South Texas Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, and the airport, which means heavy mixed traffic at all hours.
U.S. 281: The major north-south corridor running into the Hill Country and connecting the Stone Oak and Bulverde areas to downtown. The U.S. 281 / I-35 split downtown and the U.S. 281 / Loop 1604 interchange are both repeated trouble spots.
U.S. 90: Runs east-west on the South Side, connecting San Antonio to Castroville, Hondo, and the Mexican border. Heavy industrial truck traffic and rural-to-urban speed transitions produce serious crashes regularly. The U.S. 90 / Loop 1604 interchange on the Southwest Side, where high-speed highway traffic meets local commercial activity, is one of the more dangerous junctions in the city.
Culebra Road: Often cited as the most dangerous surface street in San Antonio. The seven-lane east-west corridor runs from inside Loop 410 out past Loop 1604, with consistently high crash rates and pedestrian fatalities. The 2022-2027 Bond Project includes roadway reconstruction and safety improvements, but the corridor remains one of the city’s most reliable producers of serious wrecks.
Fredericksburg Road, Zarzamora Street, and W.W. White Road: The three corridors specifically named in the city’s Vision Zero High Injury Network and currently the focus of the bilingual “Keep Crossings SAfe” / “Cruza SAno y SAlvo” pedestrian safety campaign. All three see regular pedestrian fatalities.
Bandera Road, Military Drive, Babcock Road, and General McMullen Drive: Major surface arterials that consistently rank among the city’s highest-volume crash corridors. Wide multilane geometry, gaps in pedestrian infrastructure, and mixed traffic at all hours keep the numbers up.
Downtown and the River Walk area: Pedestrian and rideshare crashes in the downtown core, around the Alamo, the River Walk, the Pearl District, and the Henry B. González Convention Center are a regular pattern, particularly during major conventions, Spurs games, Fiesta, and other big tourist events.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle

Our San Antonio personal injury attorneys take on a wide range of cases. If you’ve been hurt because of someone else’s negligence, we can help.

Car accidents are the single most common cause of serious injury in San Antonio. Distracted driving, speeding, drunk driving, and fatigue cause tens of thousands of crashes in Bexar County every year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) identifies all four as leading contributors to fatal crashes nationwide. [internal-link: car-accidents]

Truck accidents involving 18-wheelers, tanker trucks, and other commercial vehicles are a major part of our practice in Bexar County. The I-35 corridor through San Antonio is one of the busiest commercial freight routes in North America, carrying cargo from the Laredo border crossing north to Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and beyond. These cases are governed in part by federal regulations enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), including hours-of-service rules, drug and alcohol testing, hazmat handling rules, and maintenance standards. There are usually multiple parties who can be held liable, including the driver, the motor carrier, brokers, shippers, and maintenance providers. [internal-link: truck-accidents]

Motorcycle accidents tend to leave riders with severe injuries because they don’t have the protection of an enclosed vehicle. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has long reported that motorcyclists are killed at far higher rates than passenger-vehicle occupants per mile traveled. Insurance companies often try to use that risk against riders, and we push back hard. [internal-link: motorcycle-accidents]

Pedestrian accidents are a serious and growing problem in San Antonio. The city has been ranked among the deadliest in the nation for pedestrians, and Vision Zero data identifies specific high-injury corridors where wrecks repeat. Drivers have a duty to watch for pedestrians, and we hold them responsible when they don’t. [internal-link: pedestrian-accidents]

Bicycle accidents can cause serious harm to cyclists who share the road with much larger vehicles. We represent injured cyclists and pursue full compensation under Texas law. [internal-link: bicycle-accidents]

Bus accidents, including crashes involving VIA Metropolitan Transit, school buses, charter buses, and tour operators, come with their own complications. Public transit cases can run into governmental immunity issues and shorter notice deadlines, and bus operators are held to a higher common-carrier duty of care. [internal-link: bus-accidents]

Rideshare accidents involving Uber, Lyft, and other transportation network companies are common around the River Walk, the Pearl District, the Frost Bank Center, and downtown nightlife. These cases can involve overlapping insurance coverage that depends on whether the driver was logged into the app, en route to a passenger, or actively transporting one. We help injured riders, drivers, and third parties figure out which policy applies and pursue full recovery. [internal-link: rideshare-accidents]

Premises liability cases come up when a dangerous condition on someone else’s property causes an injury. That includes slip and falls at retail stores, restaurants, hotels, apartment complexes, and gas stations, plus inadequate security at bars, clubs, and parking garages, and swimming pool incidents at apartment complexes. The downtown tourist corridor, with millions of out-of-town visitors each year, generates a steady volume of hotel, restaurant, and convention venue cases. Texas premises liability law is governed in part by Chapter 95 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code for certain property owners, along with case law that draws distinctions between invitees, licensees, and trespassers. [internal-link: premises-liability]

Construction and workplace accidents happen across San Antonio’s construction sites, manufacturing plants (including Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas on the South Side), warehousing operations, and the steady stream of TxDOT highway projects on Loop 1604, I-35, and elsewhere. Many of these cases involve violations of OSHA workplace safety standards, third-party contractor liability under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 95, and equipment manufacturer claims. [internal-link: construction-accidents]

Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) cases are a real and recurring category in San Antonio because of Joint Base San Antonio. Wrecks involving military vehicles operating off base, civilian wrecks on federal roads or installation entry points, injuries on federal property, and certain medical care claims involving Brooke Army Medical Center or other federal facilities can fall under the FTCA. These claims have their own administrative procedures, deadlines, and limits on damages, and they have to be filed with the appropriate federal agency before any lawsuit can begin. We help injured clients identify when an FTCA claim is required and walk through the procedures correctly.

Dog bites can cause serious physical injuries and lasting emotional trauma. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the United States, with hundreds of thousands needing emergency care. We help victims pursue full compensation under Texas dog bite law. [internal-link: dog-bites]

Product liability cases involve injuries caused by defective or dangerous products. That includes vehicle defects (which can sometimes be tracked through NHTSA’s recall database), defective industrial equipment, and dangerous consumer goods regulated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. [internal-link: product-liability]

Wrongful death claims allow surviving family members to seek compensation when a loved one is killed because of another party’s negligence or misconduct. These claims are governed by Chapter 71 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, with federal law applying when the death occurred on federal property or involved federal employees acting in the scope of employment. [internal-link: wrongful-death]

If your situation isn’t on this list, call us anyway. Personal injury law covers a lot of ground, and we’d rather hear about your case and tell you straight whether we can help.

Common Injuries in Personal Injury Cases

Accidents can cause anything from temporary pain to permanent disability. We represent clients who have suffered:

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and concussions
Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
Broken bones and fractures
Back, neck, and whiplash injuries
Herniated discs and soft tissue damage
Internal organ damage
Burns and scarring
Amputation and loss of limbs
Knee, shoulder, and joint injuries
Cuts, lacerations, and disfigurement
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological injuries

Some injuries are obvious right away. Others, like concussions, internal bleeding, and soft tissue damage, can take days or even weeks to fully show up. That’s why getting medical attention as soon as possible after an accident matters. It protects your health, and it documents your injuries early. San Antonio is one of only two Texas cities with two verified Level I trauma centers. University Hospital at 4502 Medical Drive in the South Texas Medical Center is the only American College of Surgeons verified Level I trauma center for both adults and pediatric patients in South Texas, operated by University Health (the Bexar County hospital district) and staffed by UT Health San Antonio physicians. Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston is the Department of Defense’s only Level I trauma center and houses the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center, the only verified burn center available to military and civilian patients in Texas. Together, the two facilities care for over 10,000 trauma patients each year drawn from a 22-county region. Other major hospitals serving San Antonio include Methodist Hospital, Baptist Medical Center, Christus Santa Rosa, and Northeast Methodist Hospital.

Compensation Available in a Texas Personal Injury Case

Texas law lets injured victims recover both economic and non-economic damages. Depending on the case, punitive damages may also be available. Federal Tort Claims Act cases follow their own damages rules, which are generally narrower than Texas state law allows.

Economic Damages

These are the financial losses you can document with bills, pay stubs, and receipts:

Medical expenses: Past and future treatment, hospital stays, surgeries, medication, rehab, and home care
Lost wages: Income you couldn’t earn while recovering
Loss of earning capacity: Reduced ability to earn in the future because of permanent impairments
Property damage: Repair or replacement of your vehicle and other damaged belongings
Out-of-pocket expenses: Transportation to medical appointments, home modifications, and other accident-related costs

Non-Economic Damages

These are losses that don’t come with a receipt but are just as real:

Pain and suffering: Physical pain caused by your injuries and their treatment
Mental anguish: Emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and psychological trauma
Disfigurement: Permanent scarring or physical changes to your appearance
Loss of enjoyment of life: Inability to take part in activities and hobbies you used to enjoy
Loss of consortium: The impact your injuries have had on your relationship with your spouse
Physical impairment: Limitations on your physical abilities and daily activities

In cases that involve gross negligence or intentional misconduct, you may also be entitled to exemplary (punitive) damages under Chapter 41 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. These are meant to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct. Texas caps them in most cases at the greater of (1) two times economic damages plus non-economic damages up to $750,000, or (2) $200,000. Punitive damages are not available against the federal government in FTCA cases.

How Texas Negligence Law Works

Understanding the basics of Texas negligence law helps you understand your case. Here are the key ideas.

Proving Negligence

To win a personal injury case, you have to prove four things:

Duty of care. The defendant had a legal obligation to act reasonably to avoid causing harm. Drivers have to operate their vehicles safely. Property owners have to keep their property in safe condition. Manufacturers have to produce safe products.

Breach of duty. The defendant didn’t live up to that duty. Running a red light, texting while driving (which is prohibited statewide under Texas Transportation Code § 545.4251), or ignoring a known hazard are all examples of a breach.

Causation. The breach actually caused your injuries. There has to be a clear connection between what the defendant did wrong and the harm you suffered.

Damages. You suffered real losses as a result. That can mean medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other categories of harm.

Modified Comparative Negligence (the 51% Bar Rule)

Texas follows what’s called “modified comparative negligence,” set out in Chapter 33 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. In plain terms, you can still recover compensation if you were partially at fault for the accident, as long as your share of responsibility is 50% or less.

If you’re found partly at fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. For example, if you’re 20% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you’d recover $80,000.

If you’re found more than 50% responsible, you don’t recover anything. That’s why insurance companies work so hard to push fault onto victims. Even a few percentage points can knock you across that 51% line. Our attorneys fight to keep that from happening.

The Personal Injury Claims Process

Every case is a little different, but most personal injury claims follow a similar path.

Investigation and evidence gathering. We dig into how the accident happened. That includes police reports (San Antonio Police Department crash reports can be requested in person at SAPD Headquarters at 315 South Santa Rosa, by phone at the Records office at (210) 207-7598, or directly from the TxDOT C.R.I.S. portal), medical records, witness statements, photographs, and any other evidence that supports your claim. Downtown crashes near the River Walk and the convention center often involve hotel and restaurant security camera footage, which can be lost in days if no one preserves it.

Medical treatment documentation. We work to make sure your injuries are fully documented by medical professionals. Solid documentation is what proves the value of your damages later.

Demand and negotiation. Once we know the full extent of your damages, we send a demand to the insurance company and negotiate for fair compensation.

Filing a lawsuit. If the insurer won’t make a fair offer, we file suit. Most personal injury cases involving Bexar County residents are filed in the Bexar County District Courts at the Paul Elizondo Tower, 101 W. Nueva Street in downtown San Antonio. The Bexar County District Clerk’s Office (Gloria A. Martinez) administers 27 District Courts, 10 auxiliary courts, and 1 Magistrate court (14 civil, 10 criminal, and 3 juvenile). Civil filings go through the District Clerk’s Office using the statewide eFileTexas system. Federal cases involving Bexar County are filed in the San Antonio Division of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, which sits at the Hipolito F. Garcia Federal Building downtown.

Discovery. Both sides exchange information, take depositions, and gather more evidence under the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure or the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, depending on the court.

Mediation or settlement. A lot of cases settle during litigation, often through mediation. Mediation is a structured negotiation with a neutral third party who helps both sides find common ground.

Trial. If the case doesn’t settle, we present it to a jury and ask for the verdict your case deserves.

Through all of this, we keep you in the loop. You’ll always know what’s happening and what your options are.

Dealing with Insurance Companies

After an accident, you’ll probably hear from an insurance adjuster who sounds friendly and concerned. Don’t read too much into the tone. The adjuster’s job is to keep their company from paying any more than it has to. The Texas Department of Insurance publishes consumer guides and complaint procedures if you ever feel an insurer is treating you unfairly.

Common insurance company tactics include:

Asking for a recorded statement they can later use against you
Requesting broad medical authorizations so they can dig for pre-existing conditions
Pushing a quick settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries
Disputing how serious your injuries are or claiming they aren’t related to the accident
Dragging things out, hoping you’ll accept less out of financial pressure
Trying to shift fault onto you to push you over the 51% comparative fault bar

Before you talk to any insurance company, talk to an attorney first. Once we’re involved, we handle communications with insurers for you. Trucking companies, rideshare carriers, hotel chains, and other large defendants all have dedicated claims handlers and rapid-response teams that show up at the scene of major incidents to start collecting statements and lining up favorable witnesses. The same advice applies.

Statute of Limitations: How Long You Have to File

Texas sets strict deadlines for filing personal injury claims. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. Miss that deadline and you usually lose your right to recover, period.

Some situations have different deadlines, and San Antonio cases hit several of them more often than other Texas cases.

Federal Tort Claims Act claims against the United States, including claims involving Joint Base San Antonio personnel, federal vehicles, federal employees acting in the scope of employment, or care at a federal medical facility, generally require a written administrative claim filed with the appropriate federal agency within two years of the incident. The agency then has six months to respond before suit can be filed. The procedural rules are unforgiving and getting the claim form wrong can be fatal to the case.

Claims against government entities, like the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, VIA Metropolitan Transit, the Texas Department of Transportation, the University of Texas at San Antonio, or any school district, typically require formal written notice within six months or less under the Texas Tort Claims Act. The City of San Antonio charter requires notice even sooner in some cases.

Medical malpractice claims have additional procedural rules under Chapter 74 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, including a 60-day pre-suit notice requirement and an expert report requirement.

Claims involving minors may have extended deadlines under Texas tolling rules.

Don’t sit on your case waiting to see if your injuries get better. Even if you’re not ready to file a lawsuit, talking to a lawyer early makes sure you understand your deadlines.

Steps to Take After an Accident in San Antonio

If you’ve been hurt in any kind of accident, the steps you take afterward can protect both your health and your legal rights.

Get medical attention right away. Call 911 if anyone is seriously hurt. The two Level I trauma centers in San Antonio are University Hospital at 4502 Medical Drive in the South Texas Medical Center (the only ACS-verified adult and pediatric Level I trauma center in South Texas) and Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, the Department of Defense’s only Level I trauma center, which also houses the regional burn center. Other major hospitals serving San Antonio include Methodist Hospital, Baptist Medical Center, Christus Santa Rosa Hospital, and Northeast Methodist Hospital.
Report the accident. If the crash happened inside San Antonio city limits, call 911 to get an officer to the scene. The San Antonio Police Department non-emergency line is (210) 207-7273. Crashes in unincorporated parts of Bexar County are handled by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office at 200 N. Comal Street, (210) 335-6010. Crashes on I-35, I-10, Loop 410, and Loop 1604 are sometimes worked by the Texas Department of Public Safety. If the crash happened on Joint Base San Antonio property or involved a military vehicle, military police and federal investigators may also respond, which makes Federal Tort Claims Act notice deadlines especially important.
Document everything. Take photos of the accident scene, your injuries, property damage, road conditions, and traffic signs. Note the time of day, the weather, and the direction you were traveling.
Get witness information. Collect names, phone numbers, and email addresses from anyone who saw what happened. For downtown and River Walk wrecks, that often means tourists who will be back in another state in a few days, so get the contact information before they leave.
Request your crash report. Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Reports (Form CR-3) are usually available 7 to 14 days after the wreck through the TxDOT C.R.I.S. public portal for $6 (or $8 certified). SAPD reports can also be requested in person at 315 S. Santa Rosa, San Antonio, TX 78207, or by phone at the Records office at (210) 207-7598. The Records office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Keep records. Save all medical bills, prescription receipts, mileage logs to and from appointments, and pay stubs that show the work you missed.
For trucking and commercial cases, act fast. These defendants typically have rapid-response teams that arrive at the scene within hours. Evidence like driver logs, ECM (engine control module) data, surveillance footage, and maintenance records can be lost or overwritten in days. A spoliation letter from your lawyer puts the company on notice to preserve that evidence.
Don’t give a recorded statement. If the other driver’s insurance company asks for one, politely say no until you’ve spoken with an attorney.
Don’t sign anything. Insurance companies sometimes hand over releases or settlements that look routine but quietly waive your rights. Have a lawyer look at it first.
Call a personal injury attorney. The sooner you have legal representation, the better protected your case is.

How Our San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyers Help

Trying to handle a personal injury claim while you’re still recovering from a serious injury is exhausting. Our team takes the legal work off your plate so you can focus on getting better.

We investigate the accident, gather the evidence we need to prove liability and damages, and handle every conversation with the insurance companies. When a case calls for it, we bring in medical experts, accident reconstructionists, biomechanical engineers, vocational economists, and life-care planners to help build it.

We also calculate the full value of your losses, including future expenses and the kinds of non-economic damages that are easy to undercount. Then we negotiate hard for fair compensation. We also prepare every case as if it’s going to trial, because the cases that look ready for trial almost always settle for more.

If the insurance company won’t pay what your case is worth, we go to court.

Frequently Asked Questions About San Antonio Personal Injury Cases

How much does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer in San Antonio?

Nothing upfront. We work on contingency, which means we only get paid if we recover compensation for you. Our fee comes as a percentage of your settlement or verdict. If we don’t win, you don’t pay. The consultation is free.

How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Texas?

Generally two years from the date of injury under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003. Federal Tort Claims Act cases involving JBSA or other federal defendants have a two-year administrative filing deadline. Claims against the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, or other government entities have notice deadlines as short as six months under the Texas Tort Claims Act, sometimes shorter under city charter. Don’t assume your deadline based on the general rule. Have an attorney confirm it.

My wreck involved a military vehicle or happened on a Joint Base San Antonio road. What’s different?

A lot. When the at-fault driver was a federal employee acting within the scope of employment, the wreck happened on federal property, or the case involves federal medical care, your claim probably falls under the Federal Tort Claims Act rather than ordinary Texas tort law. The FTCA requires you to file an administrative claim with the appropriate federal agency before you can file a lawsuit. Damages are capped, jury trials are not available against the United States, and certain claims (like those by active-duty service members for in-service injuries) are barred entirely under the Feres doctrine. The procedural rules are strict and a missed step can end the case before it starts. We help San Antonio military families and civilian employees walk through the process.

I was hit by an 18-wheeler on I-35 or Loop 1604. What’s different about a truck case?

A lot. Commercial trucks are governed by federal regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that don’t apply to passenger vehicles, including hours-of-service rules, driver qualification files, drug and alcohol testing, and equipment inspection requirements. There are also typically multiple potentially responsible parties, including the driver, the trucking company, the freight broker, the shipper, and any maintenance contractor. Liability and insurance coverage in a truck case are usually much larger than in a typical car wreck, and the trucking company will have a defense team on the scene fast. We move just as fast to preserve evidence like ECM downloads, driver logs, dispatch records, and dashcam footage.

I was hurt as a tourist on the River Walk or downtown. Can I still sue if I don’t live in Texas?

Yes. You don’t have to be a Texas resident to bring a personal injury claim for an injury that happened in Texas. Texas courts have jurisdiction over wrecks, falls, hotel incidents, and other injuries that occur inside the state. We work with out-of-state clients regularly. Most of the case can be handled remotely, and we coordinate medical records, deposition scheduling, and other case events around your travel schedule.

I was hit by an Uber or Lyft driver downtown. Whose insurance covers me?

It depends on what the driver was doing at the time of the wreck. If the rideshare app was off, the driver’s personal auto policy applies (and rideshare drivers often have policies that exclude coverage when driving for hire, which can leave a gap). If the app was on but the driver hadn’t accepted a ride, Uber and Lyft typically provide limited contingent coverage. If the driver had accepted a ride or had a passenger in the car, the rideshare company’s $1 million liability policy usually applies. We work through the layers and identify all available coverage.

Is Texas a no-fault state for car accidents?

No. Texas is an at-fault (or “tort”) state. The driver who caused the wreck, and that driver’s insurance company, is responsible for the damages. That’s different from no-fault states, where each driver typically files with their own insurer regardless of who caused the wreck. In Texas, fault investigation and the police crash report often shape the outcome of your case.

What is the minimum auto insurance required in Texas?

According to the Texas Department of Insurance, drivers have to carry at least 30/60/25 liability coverage. That’s $30,000 per injured person, up to $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. These minimums often aren’t enough to cover serious injuries, especially in a multi-vehicle freeway crash, which is why uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage matters so much.

How long will my case take?

It depends. Some cases settle within months. Others take a year or more, especially if litigation is needed. Cases with disputed liability, severe injuries, federal defendants, or commercial trucking can take longer. We work to resolve your case as quickly as we reasonably can without rushing it past a fair result.

What if I was partially at fault for my accident?

You can still recover compensation as long as your share of fault is 50% or less. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.

Should I accept the insurance company’s settlement offer?

Not without talking to an attorney first. Initial offers are almost always far below what your case is worth. Once you sign a release, you can’t reopen the claim, even if your injuries turn out to be more serious than you thought. Have a lawyer review any offer before you sign anything.

How much is my case worth?

Every case is different. Value depends on the severity of your injuries, your past and future medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, the strength of the evidence, and the available insurance coverage. We can give you a more accurate range after we review the specifics of your case in a free consultation.

Are personal injury settlements taxable in Texas?

According to IRS Publication 4345, the part of a personal injury settlement that compensates you for physical injuries or physical sickness is generally not taxable. Portions allocated to lost wages, interest, or punitive damages can be taxable. Texas itself has no state income tax, but you should always confirm tax treatment with a CPA.

What if the other driver doesn’t have insurance?

You may still have options. Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may apply. Other parties, like an employer if the at-fault driver was on the job, may share liability. We look at every angle for compensation, including stacking applicable policies where Texas law allows.

Where do I get my San Antonio accident report?

You can request your crash report online through the TxDOT Crash Report Online Purchase System or in person at SAPD Headquarters at 315 S. Santa Rosa, San Antonio, TX 78207. The Records office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and can be reached at (210) 207-7598. Standard reports cost $6, with $8 for certified copies. If we represent you, we’ll handle getting the report as part of our investigation.

Helpful San Antonio and Texas Resources

If you’ve been hurt in an accident in San Antonio, these public resources may be useful:

San Antonio Police Department. Emergencies 911, non-emergency (210) 207-7273, Records office (210) 207-7598. 315 S. Santa Rosa Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78207.
Bexar County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Javier Salazar. Main line (210) 335-6010. 200 N. Comal Street, San Antonio, TX 78207.
Bexar County District Clerk’s Office. District Clerk Gloria A. Martinez. Civil Records (210) 335-2661, Criminal Felony Filing (210) 335-2591, Main line (210) 335-2113. Paul Elizondo Tower, 101 W. Nueva Street, San Antonio, TX 78205.
TxDOT Crash Reports and Records. Statewide crash data and report requests.
San Antonio Vision Zero. The city’s traffic safety plan, including the High Injury Network and the bilingual “Keep Crossings SAfe / Cruza SAno y SAlvo” pedestrian safety campaign.
Texas Department of Insurance. Insurance complaints and consumer guides.
University Hospital Trauma Center. The only Level I adult and pediatric trauma center in South Texas. 4502 Medical Drive, San Antonio.
Brooke Army Medical Center. The Department of Defense’s only Level I trauma center, with the regional burn center. Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.
U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division. The federal court with jurisdiction over Bexar County.

Contact Our San Antonio Personal Injury Attorneys Today

If you’ve been hurt because of someone else’s negligence, you don’t have to take on the insurance companies on your own. The San Antonio personal injury lawyers at DJC Law have the experience and the resources to go to bat for you.

Reach out for a free consultation. We’ll listen to your story, walk you through your options, and help you figure out what to do next. There’s no obligation, and you don’t pay us anything unless we win. Hablamos español.