1. Tormey & McConnell

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, product liability, oilfield accidents, pedestrian accidents, dog bites, insurance claims

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, trucking accidents, multi-vehicle accidents, distracted driving accidents, drunk driving accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, firearm accidents, workplace injuries

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims

Background: The firm has been in practice since 1998 with over 70 years of combined experience. Jeff Tormey earned his J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law in 1995 and is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Texas Bar Number: 00794746. Ed McConnell received his J.D. from Texas Tech School of Law in 1979 and is Board Certified in both Personal Injury Trial Law and Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas and the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Both attorneys have no public disciplinary history with the State Bar of Texas.

Location: 310 SW 6th Ave, Amarillo, TX 79101

Contact: (806) 414-4087 | https://tmcattorneys.com/

Consultation: Free initial consultation available, contingency fee arrangement


2. Wood Law Firm, LLP

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, rideshare accidents, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, defective products, dangerous drugs, oilfield accidents

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, distracted driving accidents, drunk driving accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, burn injuries, amputation cases, construction accidents

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims

Background: Channy F. Wood founded the firm and has over 30 years of experience. He is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1999 and Board Certified as a Civil Law Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy since 2004. Graduate of Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College (2012). Texas Bar Number: 00791954. Licensed in 1994. Admitted to U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas, U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 5th and 10th Circuits, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Selected for Texas Super Lawyers continuously since 2006. Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating. Avvo rating 10.0 Superb.

Location: 610 SW 11th Ave, Amarillo, TX 79101

Contact: (806) 304-0447 | https://www.woodlawfirm-tx.com/

Consultation: Free initial consultation, same-day appointments available, weekend and evening availability, contingency fee basis


3. Attorney Dean Boyd, PLLC

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, workplace injuries, wrongful death, drunk driving victim representation

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, T-bone accidents, hit-and-run cases, 18-wheeler accidents, commercial truck accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, catastrophic injury cases

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims

Background: Dean Boyd has over 34 years of experience practicing personal injury law since 1990. He earned his J.D. from SMU Dedman School of Law. Texas Bar Number: 02766300. Former insurance adjuster, providing insight into insurance company tactics. Admitted to U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Serves on the board of directors and is a Fellowship member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association. Has won an $8.9 million trial verdict and secured a $9.89 million arbitration award. Licensed in Texas and Oklahoma.

Location: 4423 SW 45th Ave, Amarillo, TX 79109

Contact: (806) 242-3333 | https://deanboyd.com/

Consultation: Free consultation available 24/7, contingency fee basis (no fee unless recovery is made)


4. Hernandez Law Group, P.C.

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, drunk driving victim representation, 18-wheeler accidents, rideshare accidents, wrongful death

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, multi-vehicle collisions, hit-and-run accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, distracted driving accidents, catastrophic injuries, traumatic brain injuries

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims

Background: Juan Hernandez is the founding attorney with over 25 years of legal experience. He is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, placing him among only 2% of Texas attorneys with this certification. Texas Bar Number: 24002270. Licensed in 1997. J.D. from Baylor Law School. Admitted to U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Former U.S. Army Nuclear, Biological Chemical Warfare Operations Specialist (1986-1994). The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars with over 98% success rate.

Location: 413 SE 3rd Ave, Amarillo, TX 79101

Contact: (806) 680-0000 | https://www.juanlaw.com/injury-lawyers/amarillo/

Consultation: Free consultation available 24 hours, contingency fee basis (no fee unless recovery is made)


5. McCraw Law Group

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, commercial vehicle accidents, intersection accidents

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, accident reconstruction, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims, punitive damage claims

Background: McCraw Law Group has over two decades of experience serving the North Texas community in serious injury cases. The firm handles complex car accident cases and has resources for professional accident reconstruction experts when needed. The legal team provides both virtual and in-person consultations. The firm focuses on achieving case resolution as quickly as possible while providing personalized support.

Location: Serves Amarillo and North Texas region

Contact: (866) 243-8253 | https://mccrawlawgroup.com/amarillo-injury/car-accident-lawyer/

Consultation: Free virtual consultation available


Car Accident Laws and Regulations in Texas

Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims: Two years from the date of the accident (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003). If filing a claim against a government entity, the deadline may be shortened to six months in some cases.

Statute of Limitations for Property Damage Claims: Two years from the date of the accident.

Fault vs. No-Fault Status: Texas is an at-fault (tort) state. The driver found responsible for causing the accident is liable for paying damages to the injured party, typically through their liability insurance.

Comparative Negligence Rules: Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule (proportionate responsibility). An injured party can recover damages only if they are less than 51% at fault for the accident. If found 51% or more at fault, the injured party is barred from any recovery. Compensation is reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to the injured party. For example, if damages are $100,000 and the injured party is found 30% at fault, recovery would be reduced to $70,000.

Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements: Texas requires 30/60/25 liability coverage, which includes $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Requirements: PIP coverage is offered by default on Texas auto policies but can be waived in writing. PIP pays for medical bills and lost wages regardless of fault.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Texas law requires insurers to offer UM/UIM coverage, but drivers can reject it in writing. This coverage protects against drivers with no insurance or insufficient coverage.

Damage Caps: Texas does not cap economic damages in personal injury cases. Non-economic damages are capped in medical malpractice cases. Punitive damages are generally capped at the greater of $200,000 or two times economic damages plus an equal amount of non-economic damages up to $750,000.

Dram Shop Liability: Texas has dram shop laws (Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code) that allow victims to pursue claims against establishments that served alcohol to visibly intoxicated individuals or minors who subsequently caused accidents.

Accident Reporting Requirements: Drivers must report accidents immediately to local police if the accident resulted in injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,000. A Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-3) must be filed within 10 days with the Texas Department of Transportation if the accident resulted in injury, death, or property damage over $1,000.

Vicarious Liability: Vehicle owners may be held liable for accidents caused by others driving their vehicle with permission under certain circumstances.


Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Texas?

A: Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, you have two years from the date of your car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline applies to claims for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. If you are filing against a government entity, you may have a shorter deadline, potentially as little as six months. Missing these deadlines typically results in permanent forfeiture of your right to seek compensation through the courts. Property damage claims also have a two-year statute of limitations.

Q: How does Texas’s modified comparative negligence rule affect my compensation?

A: Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule, meaning you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault for the accident, but only if your percentage of fault is 50% or less. Your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For instance, if you are awarded $100,000 but found 25% at fault, you would receive $75,000. However, if you are found 51% or more at fault, you are completely barred from recovering any damages from other parties.

Q: What are the minimum insurance requirements for drivers in Texas?

A: Texas law requires all drivers to carry liability insurance with minimum coverage of 30/60/25. This means $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for total bodily injury per accident involving multiple people, and $25,000 for property damage. These minimums may not provide adequate protection in serious accidents where medical bills and repair costs can quickly exceed these limits. Drivers who cause accidents without insurance face fines ranging from $175 to $350 for first offenses and up to $1,000 for repeat violations, plus potential license suspension and vehicle impoundment.

Q: Can I recover damages if I was hit by an uninsured driver in Texas?

A: Yes, you have several options. If you purchased uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your own policy, you can file a claim with your insurance company for your damages. Texas insurers are required to offer this coverage, though drivers can reject it in writing. If you have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, it can help pay for medical bills regardless of fault. You may also pursue a personal injury lawsuit directly against the uninsured driver to recover damages from their personal assets, though this option may be impractical if the driver lacks financial resources.

Q: What should I do immediately after a car accident in Amarillo?

A: First, check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt. Move to a safe location if possible. Exchange insurance and contact information with other drivers involved. Document the scene by taking photographs of vehicle damage, road conditions, and any visible injuries. Obtain contact information from any witnesses. Report the accident to local police, as Texas law requires reporting if there is injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,000. Seek medical attention promptly, even if injuries seem minor, as some symptoms may appear later. Notify your insurance company of the accident. Consider consulting with a personal injury attorney before providing recorded statements to any insurance company.