San Antonio Car Accident Lawyer
Attorney Minesh Patel and our car-accident team guide crash victims toward full, fair compensation. San Antonio saw almost 40,000 reportable crashes in 2023, with more than 160 lives lost. Because we live and work here, we understand the traffic patterns, dangerous interchanges, and Texas laws that shape every claim.
After a collision, victims face mounting medical bills, lost wages, and insurance tactics designed to pay as little as possible. We step in immediately to collect time-sensitive evidence, handle adjusters, and keep every deadline on track, letting clients focus on healing while we fight for results.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident in San Antonio?
Every choice you make in the minutes after a crash can protect your health and your future claim. Follow these steps quickly and carefully to keep evidence intact and meet Texas legal requirements.
- Ensure Safety
Move to a safe location if possible and check everyone for injuries. Call 911 right away if anyone is hurt. Quick action limits further harm and creates an official event record. - Call the Police
Texas law requires a police report when a crash causes injury or property damage estimated above one thousand dollars. Officers document the scene, gather statements, and prepare a report that will be critical evidence in any claim. - Gather Information
Exchange names, contact details, driver license numbers, and insurance information with the other driver. Ask witnesses for their phone numbers. Note the make, model, and plate of every involved vehicle to avoid confusion later. - Document Evidence
Use your phone to photograph vehicle damage, road conditions, skid marks, weather, and any visible injuries. Take wide shots that place the cars in context as well as close ups of impact points. If possible, sketch a quick diagram that shows lanes and traffic signals. - Seek Medical Attention
Visit a doctor or emergency room even if pain seems mild. Some injuries such as whiplash or internal bleeding appear hours later. Early treatment proves the link between the crash and your injuries and prevents insurers from arguing the harm came from somewhere else. - Contact Our San Antonio Car Accident Attorneys
Before speaking at length with any insurance company, call The Patel Firm. We immediately preserve time sensitive proof like traffic camera footage and black box data, handle all adjuster calls, and guide you through each deadline while you focus on recovery.
When Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Hiring a lawyer right away protects your rights and strengthens your claim. The hours and days after a crash are when vital evidence is easiest to capture and when insurance adjusters begin shaping the narrative to limit what they pay.
We encourage clients to call us as soon as they have received initial medical care. Early involvement lets our attorneys secure traffic camera footage, photograph vehicle damage before it is repaired, download black box data, and interview witnesses while memories are fresh. Quick action also puts an experienced advocate between you and the insurance company before an adjuster takes a recorded statement designed to weaken your case.
Texas law sets a strict filing deadline. Section 16.003 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code gives most accident victims only two years from the date of the collision to file a lawsuit. Missing that window almost always ends the right to compensation. Special notice rules for crashes involving a city bus or other government vehicle can shorten the timeline to a few months, and evidence often disappears far sooner than any statute requires.
Even if weeks or months have passed, it may still be possible to recover damages as long as the statutory period has not expired. Our San Antonio car accident lawyers routinely step in mid-stream, order police reports, and rebuild claims that victims tried to handle alone. The key point is that sooner is better. Call us for a free consultation so we can start protecting your interests today.
Should I Talk to the Insurance Company After My Accident?
Speaking with an insurance adjuster before you have legal counsel can seriously damage your claim. Adjusters contact victims within days and often request recorded statements that can later be used to downplay injuries or shift blame.
We advise that you provide only the basic facts required by your policy and then direct further questions to our office. Our attorneys handle all communications, protect you from leading questions, and prevent insurers from twisting your words into an excuse for a low offer.
Contact the Patel Firm as soon as possible after a crash so we can shield you from these tactics, gather accurate evidence, and preserve the full value of your case.
What Are the Common Causes of Car Accidents in San Antonio?
Most car crashes in San Antonio happen because someone fails to follow basic safety rules. We study every collision we handle, and the patterns are clear.
Distracted Driving
About eighteen percent of local crashes in twenty twenty three involved a driver who was texting, eating, or otherwise not watching the road. Looking away for three seconds at highway speed can carry a car the length of a football field, leaving no time to react.
Speeding
Speeding accounts for roughly twenty percent of citywide accidents. Higher speed shortens reaction distance and multiplies impact force, which is why we often see the worst injuries on the wide stretches of Interstate Ten and Loop Four Ten where drivers exceed the posted limit.
Driving Under the Influence
Nearly one in ten San Antonio crashes involve alcohol impaired drivers. Intoxication slows reflexes and clouds judgment, which is why the law allows punitive damages when drunk driving causes serious harm.
Reckless or Aggressive Driving such as tailgating and running red lights turns busy intersections like Loop Sixteen O Four at Braun Road into danger zones. We frequently use traffic camera footage to prove these violations in court.
Driver Fatigue especially affects commuters on long nighttime routes along Interstate Thirty Five. Drowsy drivers may drift from lanes or brake too late, causing rear end or head on impacts.
Poor Weather or Road Conditions contribute to crashes when drivers fail to adjust speed during rain or when standing water causes hydroplaning on Culebra Road and similar surface streets.
Knowing the precise cause of a collision lets us target the correct defendant and explain to a jury why the crash was preventable. By gathering phone records, speed data, toxicology results, and maintenance logs, we turn these causes into solid proof of negligence.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for My Car Accident?
Several parties may share legal responsibility for a collision in Texas. Liability depends on who acted carelessly or failed to meet a legal duty of care.
- Other driver: Most crashes stem from one motorist’s negligence such as speeding or running a red light. Their insurance policy is the primary source of compensation.
- You the victim: Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule that bars recovery only when a person is fifty one percent or more at fault. A claimant who is fifty percent or less at fault can still collect damages reduced by that percentage.
- Employers: When a driver is on the job in a company car or delivery truck, the employer may share liability under the doctrine of respondeat superior or for negligent hiring and training.
- Vehicle or parts manufacturer: A defect like brake failure or exploding air bags can place responsibility on the company that designed or sold the unsafe component.
- Government or road authority: Poor road design, missing signage, or unaddressed potholes on Culebra Road can lead to claims against a city or state agency for failing to keep roadways safe.
We examine police reports, black box data, maintenance records, and employer logs to uncover every responsible party. By widening the pool of defendants we open additional insurance policies and increase the chance of full financial recovery for our clients.
How Can I Speak with a San Antonio Car Accident Attorney Today?
Victims need timely legal guidance. Our attorneys listen, explain options, and take immediate steps to protect every claim. A free consultation lets us review police reports, medical records, and insurance correspondence without cost or obligation.
We make the process simple. Contact the Patel Firm at (210) 325 9990, use the chat feature on our site, or visit our office at 100 NE Interstate 410 Loop Suite 1425 San Antonio TX 78216. We answer calls twenty four hours a day because crashes do not follow business hours.
Our firm works on a no win no fee basis, so legal help costs nothing upfront. We cover investigation expenses and collect our fee only when compensation is secured. With Minesh Patel leading the case, clients can focus on healing while we build the strongest argument for full financial recovery.
Take the first step now. Speak with a caring advocate who knows San Antonio roads and Texas law, and start moving toward the relief you deserve.
