Most people wait too long to call a lawyer after an accident. Not because they don’t need one. Because they don’t realize what the other side is already doing.
Here’s what nobody tells you upfront: the moment you report that accident, the insurance adjuster assigned to your case starts building a file. While you’re figuring out how serious the damage is, they’re figuring out how little they can pay you.
This guide is going to give you a straight answer on how to find the right personal injury attorney in Texas. And there’s something in here — one specific thing — that most firms operating in this state are counting on you never thinking to ask.
Ready to take the next step? Speak with our trusted Texas Personal Injury Lawyer who understands how to win serious injury cases across West Texas.
Do You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Let me cut to it, if someone else’s negligence put you in the hospital, you probably need a lawyer. I know that sounds self-serving coming from an attorney. But hear me out.
The day you were hurt, the at-fault party’s insurance company started working against you. They don’t advertise that. But it’s how the process works. And there are two things in Texas law you need to understand before you say a word to any adjuster:
Number one: Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001. That’s the comparative fault rule. If an adjuster can push your share of fault above 50%, you recover nothing. Not a reduction — nothing at all.
Number two: that percentage doesn’t get decided in a courtroom. It gets built. Every call you take from an adjuster without representation. Every recorded statement. Every casual ‘I’m doing okay’ — that’s evidence going into a file designed to make your fault percentage go up.
Every call you take from an adjuster without representation. Every recorded statement. Every casual "I'm doing okay" — that's evidence going into a file designed to make your fault percentage go up.
Call us if any of these apply to you:
- Your injuries are serious or may be long-term
- Medical bills are piling up and you’ve missed work
- The insurance company is disputing your claim or offering far less than you expected
- Multiple parties were involved — other drivers, employers, contractors
- Fault is being disputed or you’ve been told you share some of it
- A government vehicle or entity was involved
You don’t have to be confrontational. You don’t have to be angry. You just need someone who knows exactly what’s happening on the other side of that phone call.
Hypothetical scenario:
A driver is rear-ended at a red light on Loop 289 in Lubbock. Friendly adjuster calls within 24 hours — says their client was 80% at fault. Then, almost as a footnote: the injured driver ‘appeared to change lanes’ just before impact. Without an attorney, that footnote becomes a 20% fault assignment. On a $100,000 case, that’s $20,000 gone before negotiations even start. With representation, that note gets challenged with evidence. Insurance companies don’t assign those percentages randomly.
Where to Start Your Search in Texas
Ask for Referrals from People You Trust
Word of mouth is a decent starting point. If someone you trust has been through this, their experience is worth something. Just don’t stop there.
Their case was not your case. Different injuries, different liability, different insurer on the other side. An attorney who handled a minor fender-bender well may be the wrong person entirely for a serious injury claim. Get the referral. Then do your own research.
Use Online Directories and Review Platforms
These are legitimate tools:
- State Bar of Texas Find a Lawyer service
- Texas Board of Legal Specialization
- Avvo, Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell
When you’re looking at profiles, go past the awards. Read actual client reviews. Look at what cases they handle, not just whether personal injury is on the list, but whether it’s what they actually spend their time doing.
Quick tip — and this is the one most firms operating in West Texas are hoping you skip: before you hire anyone, go to their website. Actually type it in. Look up where the main office is located. Look up where the attorneys live and work.
I say this because I’ve competed against these firms for years. There are personal injury operations spending millions on ads in Lubbock, Midland, Abilene, and San Angelo. Local-sounding phone numbers. Billboards on the interstate. ‘Serving West Texas’ plastered on every page. And their main office is in Houston. Or Dallas. Or and I’ll just say it Austin.
Juries in Midland think differently from juries in Lubbock. That knowledge doesn't come from an advertising budget. It comes from years of showing up.
I was a federal prosecutor in Lubbock before I was a litigator. I know these judges. I know how juries in Midland think differently from juries in Lubbock. I know the local rules, the local culture, the way things actually work out here. That knowledge doesn’t come from an advertising budget. It comes from years of showing up.
Before you sign anything: go to the website. Find the main office. Find out where the attorneys are actually based. If that answer surprises you, it should.
Check Board Certification and Legal Associations
Board Certification in Personal Injury Trial Law, issued by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, is not a paid membership or a badge you buy. An attorney has to prove substantial case experience, pass a written exam, get evaluated by judges and peers, and keep up with ongoing requirements. It means something.
Membership in the Texas Trial Lawyers Association or the American Association for Justice is also meaningful — these organizations exist to represent injured people, not insurance companies.
Not sure if you need an attorney for your specific situation? Contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case.
Questions to Ask When Interviewing Lawyers
You’re not there to be impressed. You’re there to figure out if this person deserves your trust. Ask questions that can’t be answered with a brochure.
Experience and Case Type Focus
Not every attorney who handles personal injury cases actually tries them. Some settle everything — every single case, every single time and never see the inside of a courtroom. That matters, because insurance companies know exactly who those attorneys are. They adjust their offers based on whether they think you’ll actually fight.
Ask the attorney in front of you:
- How long have you been doing this in Texas?
- What percentage of your actual caseload is personal injury and are you personally handling those files?
- Have you handled cases like mine? What happened?
- Do you represent injured people, or do you also work for insurance companies?
- How many cases have you taken to a jury verdict in the last five years and how many of those were in West Texas courts?
That last one is the question people always skip. There is a significant difference between an attorney who’s settled 500 cases and one who’s tried 50 of them in front of a jury. Translation: insurance companies know which attorneys are bluffing and which ones aren’t. That reputation is already priced into your settlement offer before you’ve said a word.
Who Will Handle Your Case?
Here’s a move you see from large out-of-town firms constantly: the senior partner takes the meeting, shakes the hand, and signs the client. Then the file goes to an associate you’ve never met. Someone who wasn’t in the room when you told your story.
I’ve watched this play out from the other side of a case. It is not good for the client. Ask directly:
- Will you personally handle my case — not will an attorney handle it, will you?
- Who do I actually call when I have a question?
- How often will I hear from you?
- How fast do you return calls?
At Keith & Lorfing: the attorney you meet works your case. You call, a lawyer picks up. That’s not a policy, it’s a promise.
Not every attorney who handles personal injury cases actually tries them.
- How long have you been doing this in Texas?
- What percentage of your caseload is personal injury — and are you personally handling those files?
- Have you handled cases like mine? What happened?
- Do you represent injured people, or do you also work for insurance companies?
- How many cases have you taken to a jury verdict in the last five years — and how many were in West Texas courts?
The partner signs the client. Then the file goes to an associate you've never met.
- Will you personally handle my case — not "will an attorney"?
- Who do I actually call when I have a question?
- How often will I hear from you?
- How fast do you return calls?
Contingency means you pay nothing unless you win. The structure still matters.
- What is the percentage — and does it change if the case goes to trial?
- Who fronts the costs — filing fees, expert witnesses, records — if we don't recover?
- Is there any situation where I owe money with no recovery?
The jury-verdict question. There is a significant difference between an attorney who's settled 500 cases and one who's tried 50 of them in front of a jury. Insurance companies know which attorneys are bluffing — and that reputation is already priced into your settlement offer before you've said a word.
Fee Structure and Case Costs
Contingency means you pay nothing unless you win. But the structure matters — ask before you sign:
- What is the percentage, and does it change if the case goes to trial?
- Who fronts the costs — filing fees, expert witnesses, records if we don’t recover?
- Is there any situation where I owe money with no recovery?
Fee type | Typical range | When due | Notes |
Consultation | Free | N/A | Most reputable PI lawyers offer free initial consultations |
Contingency fee | 33–40% | After recovery | May increase if the case proceeds to trial |
Case expenses | Varies | After recovery | Filing fees, expert witnesses, medical records, etc. |
Hourly rate | $200–500/hr | Monthly | Rare for personal injury cases in Texas |
Red Flags to Watch Out For
A few that matter:
- Any attorney who promises a specific dollar amount is either naive or not being straight with you. Outcomes in litigation are never guaranteed.
- Pressure to sign on the spot is a sign. Full stop. A good attorney wants you to make an informed decision.
- Hard to reach during the consultation? They’ll be harder to reach when your case is in motion.
- Disciplinary history is public record — State Bar of Texas, two minutes, look it up.
Millions in ad spend in Lubbock, Midland, Abilene, San Angelo.
- Local-sounding phone number, billboards on the interstate
- "Serving West Texas" on every page — main office in Houston, Dallas, or Austin
- Partner signs you; an associate you've never met works the file
- Has never appeared in your county courthouse
- Pushes for a fast settlement — because trial means travel
Offices, homes, and history in the counties they try cases in.
- Knows the judges, the local rules, the local culture
- Knows how juries in Midland think differently from juries in Lubbock
- The attorney you meet is the attorney who works your case
- You call, a lawyer picks up
- Willing to try the case — which changes every offer received
A family in San Angelo hires a firm based on a TV ad — local-sounding name, local-sounding number. Six months in, they've never spoken to the attorney. Three different paralegals. The case settles quickly for less than it was worth. Not because the case was weak — because the firm didn't want to fly to Tom Green County for trial.
Type in their website. Find the main office address. Find where the attorneys live and work. If that answer surprises you, it should.
Hypothetical scenario:
A family in San Angelo hires a firm based on a TV ad — local-sounding name, local-sounding number. Six months in, they’ve never spoken to the attorney. Three different paralegals. Case settles quickly for less than it was worth. Not because the case was weak — because the firm didn’t want to fly to Tom Green County for trial.
What Makes a Lawyer a Good Fit for You
Here’s what I’ve learned from years of sitting across from people at the worst moments of their lives: credentials matter far less than character.
You’re going to tell this person things you won’t tell most people. How scared you are. Whether you can cover your bills next month. Whether the injury is affecting more than just your body — your work, your family, your sense of what the future looks like. That is a lot to hand to someone you just met.
The right attorney earns that. Look for someone who:
- Communicates in a way you understand – Talks to you like a human being, not a case number. If you leave the first meeting more confused than when you walked in, that’s your answer.
- Respects your goals – Whether you prioritize a quick resolution or maximum compensation
- Has trial experience – Even if you hope to settle, having our lawyer with courtroom experience gives you leverage A firm that settles everything tells you something about what they will and won’t do when things get hard.
- Is accessible – Provides clear expectations about communication frequency and responsiveness
- Listen first – The best attorneys ask more questions than they answer at that first meeting. If someone is already telling you what your case is worth before they’ve heard the whole story, slow down.
Russell Lorfing and our team pride ourselves on treating clients like family. We understand that behind every case is a person whose life has been disrupted, and we take that responsibility seriously.
Special Considerations for Texas Injury Claims
Three things in Texas law the other side is counting on you not knowing. Each one can end your case before it ever gets started.
Statute of Limitations
In most Texas personal injury cases, you have two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003). However, exceptions exist:
- Claims against government entities require notice within six months (or less in some municipalities)
- Cases involving minors may have extended deadlines
- Medical malpractice claims have specific requirements and potentially shorter deadlines
Missing these deadlines can permanently bar your right to compensation.
Comparative Fault
Insurance companies love Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001. Under that rule, if they can push your share of fault to 51% or above, you recover nothing. Not a reduced amount — nothing.
Here’s how it works in practice: fault percentages get assigned early. Sometimes within hours of the accident, before any real investigation has happened. The adjuster builds that number using whatever information they can get their hands on. Their goal is to push your percentage up, because every point of fault they pin on you is money they don’t owe you.
Our job is to tear that number apart — with accident reports, witness accounts, physical evidence, and expert reconstruction when the case warrants it.
Insurance Requirements and Bad Faith
Texas has minimum auto insurance requirements of 30/60/25:
- $30,000 for bodily injury per person
- $60,000 for total bodily injury per accident
- $25,000 for property damage
However, these minimums are often insufficient for serious accidents. Our experienced attorney will help identify all possible sources of compensation, including:
- Umbrella policies
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
- Third-party liability
- Homeowner’s insurance in some cases
Additionally, Texas law provides protections against insurance bad faith practices, but managing these claims requires specialized knowledge and experience.
Final Tips for Hiring the Best Personal Injury Lawyer
Before you sign with anyone:
- Talk to more than one attorney. Consultations are free. The gap between the right attorney and the wrong one can mean tens of thousands of dollars and months of your life.
- Take notes during every consultation. Write down what they said your case is worth, what the process looks like, and how they made you feel in that room. It blurs fast.
- Look them up on the State Bar yourself. Texasbar.com. Two minutes. Licensure, disciplinary history, all of it. Don’t take anyone’s word for it.
- Ask about their trial record — not their caseload. How many cases went to a jury? In what courts? An attorney’s willingness to go to trial changes every settlement offer they receive on your behalf.
- Check where the attorneys actually practice. We’ve said it before and we’ll keep saying it, because it matters more than anything else on this list when you’re in West Texas.
- Trust how you feel walking out of that first meeting. You’re going to share a lot with this person. If you felt like a file number instead of a person — that’s your answer.
Get Help from a Top-Rated Texas Personal Injury Lawyer
We started Keith & Lorfing because West Texas was getting something less than it deserved.
The big personal injury firms in this state are in Dallas and Houston. They have the advertising budgets, the billboards on I-20, the TV spots. And when a working family in Abilene or Midland gets seriously hurt, those firms will take the case — settle it fast from a conference room three hundred miles away, without ever setting foot in a local courthouse.
That bothered us enough to do something about it.
Every attorney at Keith & Lorfing comes from working roots. Our fathers were mechanics, laborers, firefighters, enlisted men. We know what it means to be outgunned. And we know how to fight back.
Russell Lorfing spent years as a federal prosecutor in Lubbock — building cases, working with investigators, learning how the government builds a file — before deciding the most important work he could do was use that knowledge to fight for people in his own community. Trey Keith has lived in Sweetwater for over 25 years. Joel Wilks is the fourth generation of his family on West Texas land. Christopher Solis grew up in far west Texas.
This is not a market we moved into. This is home.
When a billion-dollar insurance company decides it can shortchange someone who’s hurt, who’s scared, who’s just trying to get back on their feet — we take that personally. And we fight like it.
Your consultation is free. We don’t get paid unless you win. Call us at 325-225-0143 or fill out our form and tell us what happened.
Contact us for a free consultation, or call us at (325)-246-9410 or fill out our online form to schedule a time to discuss your case. There’s no fee unless we win.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average contingency fee for personal injury lawyers in Texas?
Most Texas personal injury attorneys charge between 33% and 40% of the recovery amount as their contingency fee. This percentage may increase if the case proceeds to trial. At Keith & Lorfing, we provide clear, written fee agreements so you’ll never face surprising costs.
How long do I have to file an injury claim in Texas?
For most personal injury cases in Texas, you have two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. However, certain circumstances may shorten or extend this deadline. Claims against government entities require notice within six months or less.
What should I bring to my consultation with a lawyer?
To make the most of your initial consultation, bring:
- Accident reports or police records
- Photographs of injuries and the accident scene
- Medical records and bills related to your injury
- Insurance policies and any correspondence with insurers
- Employment information if you’ve missed work
- A written timeline of events and medical treatment
- List of questions you want to ask the attorney
Can I switch lawyers during my personal injury case?
Yes, you have the right to change attorneys if you’re unsatisfied with your current representation. However, timing and contractual obligations may complicate the transition. The original attorney may still be entitled to a portion of the fee for work already completed. If you’re considering switching, consult with your potential new attorney about the process.
Do all personal injury lawyers in Texas offer free consultations?
Most reputable personal injury attorneys in Texas offer free initial consultations, but it’s always best to confirm this before scheduling. At Keith & Lorfing, we believe everyone deserves access to legal information without upfront costs, which is why we offer free, no-obligation consultations for all potential personal injury clients.
