1. The Gorilla Law Firm
Focus Area: Personal Injury and Wrongful Death
Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Truck Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Oilfield Accidents, Wrongful Death, Premises Liability
Background: Founded by Davis W. Smith, a former Marine and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner who brings close to 30 years of legal experience to personal injury cases. The firm has recovered over $500 million for injured clients in North Texas and New Mexico. The firm serves clients throughout Northwest Texas and Hobbs, New Mexico.
Location: Lubbock, Texas (serving Northwest Texas and Eastern New Mexico)
Contact: (806) 375-3855 | https://www.gorillalawfirm.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation. Contingency fee basis with no upfront costs.
2. Glasheen, Valles & Inderman Injury Lawyers (GVILAW)
Focus Area: Catastrophic Injury and Wrongful Death
Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Truck Accidents, Oilfield Accidents, Farm Equipment Accidents, Pipeline Explosions, Construction Accidents, Cotton Gin Injuries, Grain Elevator Injuries
Background: The firm has more than 35 years of experience handling serious personal injury cases across Texas and New Mexico. Senior partner Chad Inderman manages the litigation practice and grew up in rural Central Texas before graduating from Texas A&M University. The firm has won millions for clients throughout the region and specializes in industrial and agricultural accident cases common to West Texas.
Location: 1302 Avenue Q, Lubbock, TX 79401
Contact: (806) 741-0284 | https://gvilaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation available. No fee unless compensation is recovered.
3. Liggett Law Group, P.C.
Focus Area: Personal Injury Litigation
Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Truck Accidents, Dog Bites, Product Liability, Wrongful Death, Government Liability Claims
Background: The firm brings over 70 years of combined jury trial experience to personal injury cases. Lead attorney Ted Liggett has built his career fighting against insurance companies and government entities on behalf of injury victims. The attorneys are actively involved in the Lubbock community and handle cases ranging from straightforward car accidents to complex wrongful death claims.
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Contact: (806) 744-4878 | https://liggettlawgroup.com
Consultation: Free case evaluation. Contingency fee arrangement with no payment unless the case succeeds.
4. Killion Law Firm PC (Killion Estrello Law PC)
Focus Area: Personal Injury and Business Law
Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Truck Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Slip and Fall Injuries, Premises Liability, Wrongful Death
Background: The firm is led by attorneys James L. Killion and Samantha Peabody Estrello, both licensed in Texas and New Mexico, with more than 45 years of combined experience. The dual-state licensing allows the firm to serve clients across the Texas-New Mexico border region. Attorneys are available for in-person meetings or virtual consultations.
Location: 2521 74th Street, Lubbock, TX 79423
Contact: (806) 748-5500 | Toll Free: (800) 658-9595 | https://killionlaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation with no obligation. Home or hospital visits available.
5. Keith & Lorfing
Focus Area: Personal Injury for Working Families
Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Truck Accidents, Commercial Vehicle Accidents, Premises Liability, Wrongful Death, Medical Malpractice
Background: The firm has over 75 years of combined experience in personal injury law and focuses on representing working families in West Texas. The attorneys have roots in farming communities, oil fields, and small towns throughout the region. With offices in Lubbock, Midland, Abilene, and San Angelo, the firm serves communities across West Texas. Lead attorney Russell Lorfing emphasizes leveling the playing field against insurance companies.
Location: Lubbock, Texas (with offices in Midland, Abilene, and San Angelo)
Contact: Available through website | https://lorfinglaw.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation. Payment plans and various representation options available.
Personal Injury Laws in Texas
Statute of Limitations
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 establishes a two-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims, starting from the date of injury. This deadline applies to car accidents, slip and fall injuries, product liability cases, and workplace accidents not covered by workers’ compensation. Wrongful death claims must be filed within two years from the date of death, not the date of the original injury. Medical malpractice cases also have a two-year deadline from the date of injury or the date the malpractice was discovered or should have been discovered. Defamation claims have a shorter one-year deadline under § 16.002(a). Sexual assault cases have a five-year statute of limitations, and childhood sexual abuse survivors have 30 years after turning 18 to file civil claims.
Negligence Rules
Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001. An injured party can recover damages only if their percentage of fault does not exceed 50%. If the injured person is 51% or more at fault, they are completely barred from recovery. When fault is 50% or less, the damages award is reduced by the injured party’s percentage of responsibility. For example, if damages total $100,000 and the injured person is found 30% at fault, the recovery would be $70,000.
Damage Caps
Texas limits damages in several categories. Medical malpractice non-economic damages are capped under Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 74.301: $250,000 against a single physician, $250,000 against a single health care institution, and $500,000 total against multiple health care institutions. Claims against the State of Texas are capped at $250,000 per person and $500,000 per incident under § 101.023. Punitive damages are limited to the greater of $200,000 or two times the economic damages plus an amount equal to non-economic damages up to $750,000, under § 41.008. Texas does not cap non-economic damages in standard personal injury cases outside of medical malpractice.
Auto Insurance Requirements
Texas is an at-fault state, meaning the driver who causes an accident is responsible for paying damages. All drivers must carry minimum liability insurance of 30/60/25, which includes $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. Insurance companies must offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and $2,500 in personal injury protection (PIP), though drivers can decline these coverages in writing. First-offense penalties for driving without insurance include fines of $175 to $350 plus a $250 annual surcharge for three years. Subsequent offenses carry fines of $350 to $1,000, possible vehicle impoundment, and license suspension.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do after a car accident on Loop 289 or Interstate 27 in Lubbock?
After ensuring safety and contacting emergency services, document the accident scene thoroughly with photographs and obtain contact information from witnesses. Lubbock sees significant traffic on Loop 289, I-27, and US-84, where serious accidents frequently occur. As of January 2024, the Lubbock Police Department only responds to crashes involving injuries, death, hit-and-runs, or specific circumstances. For minor accidents, drivers must exchange information and file a CR-2 form (Blue Form). Seek medical attention promptly, as Texas uses an at-fault system where documentation of injuries directly affects compensation. Do not provide recorded statements to insurance adjusters before consulting an attorney, as these statements can be used to minimize your claim or shift fault.
How do oilfield and agricultural accidents differ from typical personal injury cases in West Texas?
West Texas has a high concentration of oilfield operations, cotton gins, grain elevators, and agricultural equipment that create unique hazards. These cases often involve industrial equipment failures, unsafe working conditions, employer negligence, and multiple potentially liable parties including contractors and equipment manufacturers. Workers’ compensation may cover some workplace injuries, but third-party liability claims against equipment makers or contractors can provide additional recovery. Agricultural accidents involving farm machinery often fall outside traditional workers’ compensation, and equipment defect cases require specialized knowledge. The Lubbock legal community includes attorneys with specific experience in these industries who understand OSHA regulations and industry-specific safety standards.
Can I recover damages if I was partially at fault for a car accident near Texas Tech campus?
Under Texas’s 51% rule, you can recover damages as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50%. If you are found 51% or more responsible, you receive no compensation regardless of injury severity. Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, so someone found 20% at fault with $50,000 in damages would receive $40,000. Insurance companies aggressively investigate fault allocation, particularly in accidents near the Texas Tech campus where student drivers and congested areas create complex scenarios. Factors like speeding, failure to yield, distracted driving, and traffic signal violations all affect fault determination. An attorney can help preserve evidence, interview witnesses, and work with accident reconstruction specialists to establish accurate liability.
What compensation can I recover for a serious injury in a Lubbock personal injury case?
Texas personal injury law allows recovery of economic damages including medical expenses (past and future), lost wages, loss of earning capacity, property damage, and other out-of-pocket costs. Non-economic damages cover physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement, physical impairment, and loss of consortium. Texas does not cap non-economic damages in standard personal injury cases, though medical malpractice claims are subject to specific caps. According to the Texas Department of Insurance, severe injury costs can exceed $100,000 in the first year alone. Punitive damages may be available in cases involving gross negligence, fraud, or malice. Keeping detailed records of all medical treatment, expenses, and impacts on daily activities strengthens the claim for full compensation.
How do I handle insurance claims after an accident with an uninsured driver in Lubbock?
Texas requires insurers to offer uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage when you purchase liability insurance, though you may have declined this coverage in writing. If you carry UM coverage and are hit by an uninsured driver, your own policy covers your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages up to your policy limits. If you do not have UM coverage, options include pursuing a personal injury lawsuit directly against the uninsured driver, though collecting a judgment may be difficult if they lack assets. PIP coverage, if you carry it, provides first-party coverage for medical expenses regardless of fault. Approximately 8% of Texas drivers are uninsured despite legal requirements. Review your policy carefully and consider adding UM/UIM coverage at limits matching your liability coverage for comprehensive protection.