San Antonio Car Accident Lawyer

A car crash can turn an ordinary day into a chain of problems that does not stop when the vehicles do. Medical care starts fast, work gets interrupted, and the insurance process often feels tilted against you from the start. People in that position are not looking for slogans. They want clear answers, a realistic path forward, and someone who can tell the difference between a quick payout and a fair result. That is why injured drivers and passengers hire our San Antonio car accident lawyers early, before the insurance company has a chance to lock the case into a value smaller than it deserves.

Our team at Trujillo Gonzalez is ready to move quickly on your behalf. Call (972) 550-6818 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

Why Trujillo Gonzalez is a Different Kind of Car Accident Firm

Results in car accident cases are built on judgment. This includes knowing when an offer is fair, when negotiation has run its course, and when litigation is the only thing that will make the other side take a claim seriously. Trujillo Gonzalez fights for maximum recovery, does not accept lowball settlements, has handled thousands of settlements, and has tried hundreds of personal injury cases before juries. 

That experience matters because insurance companies evaluate risk. A file handled as if it will never see a courtroom is often valued differently from a file built for trial from the start. Our philosophy is simple. We do not chase easy money when a case deserves more work. We put time into examining the record, developing damages carefully, and taking the actions necessary to maximize the client’s recovery. Our San Antonio car accident attorneys will sometimes recommend patience over speed because a rushed settlement can leave the injured person carrying the unpaid part of the loss long after the file closes.

Car Accidents in San Antonio: What the Numbers Show

San Antonio’s roads are among the most active and most dangerous in Texas. Bexar County recorded 48,522 car accidents in 2024, ranking second among all 254 Texas counties, trailing only Harris County. That works out to around 133 crashes every single day.

Of those crashes, 205 were fatal, claiming the lives of 215 people on Bexar County roads in 2024 alone. Thousands more were involved in suspected serious injuries requiring immediate medical attention.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in San Antonio

Most crashes in Bexar County do not happen by accident in the pure sense. They happen because someone made a choice that put others at risk. The most frequently cited causes include:

• Distracted driving: Texting, phone use, and other distractions were a factor in a significant share of San Antonio crashes.
• Drunk and impaired driving: Despite clear laws against driving while intoxicated in Texas, too many people cause serious crashes while impaired. 
• Speeding: Speeding drivers are everywhere, and excessive speed reduces reaction time and increases crash severity.
• Unsafe lane changes and tailgating: Common on high-speed highways like I-35 and Loop 410, where traffic volume and driver frustration create constant merge conflicts.
• Running red lights and stop signs: Intersection violations are a leading cause of T-bone and broadside collisions across the city.
• Driver fatigue: A persistent factor in commercial trucking crashes and early-morning commuter incidents on San Antonio’s major interstates.
• Poor road conditions and construction zones: Aging infrastructure and active construction on heavily traveled routes create hazards that can shift liability to a government entity or contractor.

Common Car Accident Injuries

The injuries that follow a serious crash can range from manageable to life-altering, and their full extent is not always visible in the first hours after the event. Some of the most common injuries seen in San Antonio car accident claims include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Spinal cord injuries and disc damage
• Broken bones
• Soft tissue injuries
• Internal injuries
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Emotional and psychological harm

Getting evaluated promptly after a crash creates the medical record that connects your injuries to the collision. Gaps in treatment are among the first factors an insurance company will use to reduce a claim’s value.

Possible Damages After a San Antonio Car Accident

Texas injury law allows recovery for a wide range of damages. The value of a claim is determined by the evidence, not just the severity of the impact. Recoverable damages typically fall into three categories:

• Medical losses: Emergency room care, surgery, hospitalization, imaging, therapy, prescriptions, medical devices, and the projected cost of future treatment.
• Income losses: Missed work, reduced hours, lost earning capacity, and lost business income tied to the injury.
• Human losses: Physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, physical impairment, and permanent disfigurement.

When a crash causes a death, surviving family members may bring a wrongful death claim, which provides compensation for losses including loss of companionship, financial support, and household services.

Early case value is often influenced by what can be documented, not just what was experienced. Insurance companies look for gaps in treatment, inconsistent statements, and vehicle damage that appears minor relative to the claimed injuries. Bills, records, imaging, and proof that daily life changed after the crash all matter.

Texas Is an At-Fault State — Here Is What That Means for Your Claim

Texas operates under an at-fault insurance system, which means the driver responsible for a crash is also responsible for the resulting damages. Unlike no-fault states, where each driver turns to their own insurance, regardless of who caused the wreck, Texas requires the at-fault party’s insurer to cover medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses.

Texas also uses a proportionate responsibility rule under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001. This means that:

• A claimant can recover damages as long as their share of fault is not more than 50%
• Any percentage of fault assigned to the claimant reduces their total recovery by that share, so a claimant found 20% at fault recovers 80% of their damages
• A claimant found more than 50% at fault receives nothing

This rule makes fault investigation one of the most important parts of any San Antonio car accident claim. Evidence that shifts blame directly affects how much you can recover.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Your Crash in San Antonio?

The driver who caused the crash is often the first target of a car accident claim, but they are not always the only party with legal responsibility. Texas law allows injured people to pursue every party whose negligence contributed to the collision. Depending on the facts, that may include:

• Employers: When a driver was performing job duties at the time of the crash, their employer may share liability under respondeat superior, and commercial policies often carry much higher limits than personal auto coverage.
• Vehicle owners: If the at-fault driver was operating someone else’s car with permission, the vehicle owner may face a claim.
• Bars and alcohol vendors: When a drunk driver was overserved at a restaurant, bar, or event venue, Texas’s dram shop law allows a claim directly against the establishment that overserved them.
• Trucking companies: Motor carriers may be independently liable for negligent hiring, inadequate maintenance, or hours-of-service violations that contributed to a commercial vehicle crash.
• Vehicle or parts manufacturers: If a defect like a failed braking system, a defective tire, or a malfunctioning airbag contributed to the crash or worsened the injuries, the manufacturer may face a products liability claim.
• Road contractors and government entities: Dangerous road conditions, missing signage, or design defects can sometimes implicate a contractor or a government agency responsible for the roadway.

Identifying every party with potential liability takes investigation, and it is one of the most important steps our team takes at the outset of a case.

Evidence That Proves a Car Accident Claim

A strong claim needs evidence on two fronts:

Liability:

• Police report and crash scene photos
• Witness statements and contact information
• Surveillance or dashcam footage
• Phone records showing distraction

Damages:

• Medical records and billing statements
• Imaging results and physician notes
• Wage records and employer verification
• Documentation of how daily life changed after the crash

Building a successful claim takes investigation, time, and effort. It is always best to put this process in our capable team’s hands.

What to Do in the First Days After the Crash

The first week matters because evidence disappears fast. Vehicles get repaired. Surveillance footage is overwritten. Witnesses become harder to find. Steps taken early protect both your health and your legal claim:

• Get medical attention: Prompt care creates a clear record of injury and connects your symptoms to the crash, even when pain seems minor at first.
• Report the collision: A crash report from law enforcement becomes an important starting point for identifying parties, witnesses, and initial facts.
• Save the evidence: Photos, vehicle damage images, witness contact information, receipts, and appointment records all matter, as strong documentation gives your claim support that goes beyond memory alone.
• Be careful with insurers: Quick statements and broad medical authorizations can create avoidable problems; do not give a recorded statement to an insurance company before speaking with an attorney.
• Stay off social media: Posts, photos, and check-ins that look harmless can be taken out of context to minimize an injury claim.

Why Early Legal Help Matters

Getting an attorney involved early also changes how insurance companies approach your file. A claim handled by a legal team with real trial experience signals that the case will not settle cheaply, and that pressure alone can shift how the other side values what you are owed.

FAQ: Answers for San Antonio Car Accident Victims

How Much Does a San Antonio Car Accident Lawyer Cost?

Car accident cases at Trujillo Gonzalez are handled on contingency, with no upfront cost and no fee unless we recover. If we do recover, legal fees come out of the settlement or verdict, and litigation costs may also be deducted at that time.

What If the Liable Driver Was Uninsured?

Texas has many uninsured drivers, so this situation comes up often. Your own policy may include uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage that fills the gap. A careful review of every available policy, including household policies, can uncover recovery options that are not immediately obvious after the crash.

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim in Texas?

The Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 generally gives injured people two years from the date of the crash to file suit. Special notice rules of six months apply when a government entity is involved. Waiting too long also shifts leverage to the insurance company, while prompt action protects your options.

Speak With Our San Antonio Car Accident Lawyers Today

A collision claim is rarely just about a dented car. It is about whether the financial and physical fallout lands on the injured person or on the party who caused it. Texas law gives you the right to seek compensation, but that right has to be exercised with proof, timing, and a strategy built around the actual facts of what happened.

If you are dealing with a serious injury, our San Antonio car accident lawyers at Trujillo Gonzalez can review the case, explain where the pressure points are, and help you decide whether to settle, push harder, or prepare for court. When a crash has disrupted your health, your work, and your daily life, we are prepared to pursue the full value of the claim rather than the fastest exit.

Call (972) 550-6818 or use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation with our team today. We handle all car accident cases on contingency, which means no upfront cost and no fee unless we recover for you.