San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyer

If you were hurt in a car, truck, or rideshare crash in San Antonio or anywhere in Bexar County, you may be able to recover compensation from the person or company responsible. Attorney Elena Vlady represents injured people in San Antonio and throughout Texas from her Austin-based office, about 80 miles up the I-35 corridor.

Personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis: you owe no attorney’s fee or case expenses unless we recover for you.

Injury Cases We Handle in San Antonio

• Car accidents, including rear-end, intersection, and highway collisions
• 18-wheeler and commercial truck accidents
• Uber and Lyft accidents, for passengers, drivers, and other motorists
• Slip and fall injuries at stores, restaurants, hotels, and apartment complexes
• Premises liability claims when a property owner failed to keep the property reasonably safe
• Vehicle property damage claims after a crash

San Antonio Roads and Crash Risks

San Antonio’s major routes, including I-35, I-10, I-37, Loop 410, Loop 1604, and US-281, carry heavy commuter traffic along with long-haul trucks moving between Mexico, Austin, and Houston. Ongoing construction, fast-growing suburbs, and large numbers of visitors and out-of-state drivers all add to the risk of serious collisions.

Crashes involving rental cars, out-of-state drivers, or commercial trucks can involve several insurance policies, so it is important to identify every source of coverage early.

Do I Need a Lawyer Located in San Antonio?

Not necessarily. Texas personal injury law is the same statewide, and much of a claim, from gathering medical records to negotiating with insurance companies, can be handled remotely.

Clients communicate with our office through a secure online client portal, where you can upload photos and documents and receive updates on your case. If a lawsuit becomes necessary, it is typically filed in the county where the accident happened, such as the Bexar County district courts, and we appear there as needed.

Key Texas Rules That Affect Your Claim

The two-year deadline

In most Texas personal injury cases, a lawsuit must be filed within two years of the date of injury (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003). Claims involving a government vehicle, such as a city truck or a VIA bus, can have much shorter notice deadlines, sometimes six months or less.

Shared fault and the 51% rule

Texas follows modified comparative responsibility. If you were partly at fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you were more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover damages (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001).

Texas is an at-fault state

The driver who caused the crash, and that driver’s insurance company, are generally responsible for the resulting losses. Texas minimum liability coverage is $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage, which often falls short when injuries are serious.

Your own auto policy may include personal injury protection (PIP) or uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. Texas insurers must offer these coverages unless you rejected them in writing.

Rideshare insurance

From the time an Uber or Lyft driver accepts a ride request until the passenger is dropped off, Texas law requires at least $1 million in liability coverage. Lower limits apply when the driver is logged into the app but has not yet accepted a ride.

What Compensation May Be Available

• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
• Physical pain and mental anguish
• Physical impairment and disfigurement
• Repair or replacement of your vehicle

Every case is different. The value of a claim depends on the facts, the injuries, and the insurance coverage available.

What to Do After a San Antonio Car Accident

• Call 911 and get medical attention, even if your injuries seem minor.
• Report the crash to the San Antonio Police Department, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, or the responding agency, and write down the report number.
• Photograph the vehicles, the scene, and your injuries, and get contact information from any witnesses.
• Exchange insurance information with the other driver. If the other car is a rental, note the rental company as well.
• Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company before getting legal advice.
• Request your crash report through TxDOT’s Crash Records Information System (CRIS) once it becomes available.
• Keep copies of all medical bills, records, and receipts.

How Our Contingency Fee Works

For personal injury clients, we charge no upfront fees. We handle your case on a contingency fee basis, which means you owe no attorney’s fee or case expenses unless we recover for you. The fee percentage and terms are explained in a written fee agreement before any work begins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I accept the insurance company’s first offer?

Not before you understand your full losses. Early offers are often made before the extent of your injuries and future medical needs is known. Once you accept a settlement and sign a release, you generally cannot reopen the claim.

What if I was hit by an out-of-state driver or a rental car?

You can still bring a claim in Texas. The other driver’s own policy, the rental company’s coverage, and your own policy may all play a role.

What if a city vehicle or bus was involved?

Claims against government entities have special rules and short notice deadlines, so it is important to act quickly.

Can I bring a claim if I am not a U.S. citizen?

In general, the right to recover for an injury in Texas does not depend on immigration status. Attorney Elena Vlady also practices immigration law and can address questions about how a claim may relate to your status.

Do you speak languages other than English?

Attorney Elena Vlady speaks Russian, and our office assists clients in Spanish, Ukrainian, and other languages depending on staff availability.

Request a Free Case Evaluation

If you were injured in San Antonio or elsewhere in Texas, request a consultation through our website. We will review your situation and explain your options.

Attorney responsible for the content of this page: Elena Vlady, Law Office of Elena Vlady, PLLC, Austin, Texas. This page provides general information and is not legal advice.