Texas Injury Lawyers: Cities and Service Areas

No one reads lawyer websites for fun. Something happened, and now you're trying to figure out what to do next. This page covers where Morris & Dewett practices in Texas, what Texas injury law requires, and what to look for in any attorney you consider. Read it. Compare us to others. Make the decision that's right for your situation.

Morris & Dewett is licensed to practice in Texas. Our firm started by representing East Texas clients in workplace negligence cases. Our Shreveport office sits on the Texas-Louisiana border, which means we understand the people and industries on both sides of the state line. We handle serious injury cases statewide, from East Texas to Fort Worth.

What Texas Law Requires for a Personal Injury Claim

Texas personal injury law is governed by the CPRC, not Louisiana civil code. Texas is a common law state. That distinction matters if you've read content written for Louisiana. The rules and terminology are different.

The statute of limitations in Texas is two years from the date of injury under CPRC Section 16.003. Minors have until two years after turning 18. After that deadline, you cannot file.

Texas follows proportionate responsibility under CPRC Chapter 33. If you are 51% or more responsible for your own injury, you recover nothing. At exactly 50%, you can still recover, reduced by half. Insurance adjusters know this rule. They build their defense around pushing your fault percentage above 50%.

Ask any Texas attorney you interview how they handle proportionate responsibility disputes. The answer tells you a lot. Ask whether they work with accident reconstructionists or investigate fault percentages independently before the insurance company builds their narrative. Morris & Dewett starts that process before any demand is made.

You should also know that Texas does not allow direct action against insurers. You sue the person who caused your injury, not their insurance company. Coverage limits and insurer identity are generally not admissible at trial. After a judgment or settlement, the insurer pays. This is different from Louisiana, and attorneys who practice only in Louisiana will not always navigate Texas court procedure correctly.

Texas Auto Insurance Minimums and Your Claim

Texas requires minimum auto liability coverage of 30/60/25 under Tex. Transp. Code Section 601.072. That means $30,000 per person for bodily injury, $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage.

Those minimums are often not enough. A serious injury can generate medical bills that exceed those limits quickly. A broken femur, a disc herniation requiring surgery, a traumatic brain injury. When that happens, your own UM/UIM coverage under Tex. Ins. Code Chapter 1952 becomes important.

Texas insurers must offer UM/UIM coverage with every auto policy. If you did not reject it in writing, you likely have it. If you did reject it, that decision may now be costly. Ask an attorney to review your own policy before assuming the at-fault driver's limits are your ceiling.

When you talk to an attorney about an auto or truck accident case, ask specifically whether they review the claimant's own UM/UIM policy as part of their intake process. Some attorneys focus only on the at-fault driver's coverage and miss the underinsured motorist claim entirely. That mistake costs clients real money.

Texas Service Areas: Cities Morris & Dewett Serves

Morris & Dewett serves clients across Texas with a concentration in East Texas. The cities below each have a dedicated page covering local courts, injury statistics, and practice area details specific to that community.

Our geographic focus is East Texas, where our firm's roots are. Cases involving 18-wheelers on I-20, refinery accidents in the Panola County corridor, and workplace injuries in the Piney Woods region are exactly the kind of work we have handled since the firm's founding.

For serious injuries, catastrophic harm, wrongful death, and offshore accidents, we handle cases statewide. Jurisdiction and venue determine where a case is filed. We evaluate those questions as part of our initial case assessment.

Texas Workers' Compensation: The Opt-Out Distinction

Texas is the only state where private employers can legally opt out of the workers' compensation system under Tex. Labor Code Section 406.002. This creates two categories of employers: subscribers and non-subscribers.

Subscribers carry workers' comp coverage. Their employees file workers' comp claims. Those claims are handled through the administrative system, and the employee's right to sue the employer directly is limited.

Non-subscribers opted out entirely. They lose three defenses in any injury lawsuit: contributory negligence, assumption of risk, and the fellow servant doctrine. That means an injured employee of a non-subscriber needs only to prove that the employer was negligent. The employer cannot argue that you were partly responsible, that you assumed the risk of the job, or that a coworker caused your injury.

Non-subscriber cases are among the most plaintiff-favorable injury cases in Texas. Many East Texas employers in oil and gas, timber, and manufacturing are non-subscribers. Before assuming you have a workers' comp claim, ask whether your employer subscribes.

Ask any Texas attorney whether they handle non-subscriber lawsuits. If they only handle workers' comp claims through the administrative system, they are not the right choice for a non-subscriber case. Morris & Dewett handles both subscriber workers' comp claims and non-subscriber personal injury lawsuits.

What Types of Injury Cases Does Morris & Dewett Handle in Texas?

Morris & Dewett handles complex personal injury cases in Texas involving severe injury, corporate defendants, and federal regulatory overlap. These are not fender-benders. Most cases involve commercial trucking, offshore or industrial work, wrongful death, or catastrophic harm.

18-wheeler and commercial truck accidents fall under FMCSA regulations in addition to Texas law. Federal hours-of-service rules, electronic logging device requirements, and carrier insurance minimums all apply. When a loaded commercial truck causes an accident, multiple parties may be liable: the driver, the carrier, the cargo loader, and potentially the truck manufacturer. These cases require preservation demands within days of the accident. Black box data and driver logs disappear fast.

Offshore and refinery accidents along the Texas Gulf Coast and in the East Texas region often involve federal maritime law alongside Texas state claims. The Jones Act, the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, and general maritime law can all apply depending on where the worker was when the injury occurred. This is exactly the legal territory where our cross-border practice is an advantage. Morris & Dewett has handled maritime and offshore cases on both sides of the state line for over 20 years.

Wrongful death claims in Texas are governed by CPRC Chapter 71. Only the surviving spouse, children, or parents of the deceased can file a wrongful death action. Siblings, grandchildren, and other family members cannot. The statute of limitations is two years from the date of death. If no beneficiary files within three months, the executor or administrator of the estate must bring the action.

Workplace injuries and catastrophic harm cases require expert witnesses, long-term care projections, and vocational assessment. Spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, severe burns, and amputations fall into this category. We work with medical and economic experts who calculate the full lifetime cost of an injury, not just the bills that have arrived so far.

Ask any attorney you consider for catastrophic injury cases whether they retain life care planners and economists. A spinal cord injury case valued only by current medical bills leaves years of future care costs on the table. That is the kind of gap that follows an injured person for the rest of their life.

What to Look for in a Texas Injury Attorney

Most Texas personal injury cases settle. Around 95% resolve before trial. But the cases that do not settle go to a jury or a bench, and how an attorney performs in court shapes how insurance companies evaluate all their other cases.

When you talk to any attorney, including Morris & Dewett, ask whether they have tried cases to verdict in Texas courts. Ask specifically about cases involving corporate defendants, not just individuals. Ask whether the defense attorneys they have faced were lawyers employed by major insurance carriers.

Texas recognizes the Stowers doctrine. It creates real financial pressure on insurers to resolve cases within policy limits. If an insurer refuses a reasonable demand and loses at trial for more, the insurer pays the entire judgment. An attorney who understands this leverage and uses it strategically gets different outcomes than one who does not.

Ask about peer recognition. Morris & Dewett attorneys hold AV Preeminent ratings and Super Lawyers recognition. Other attorneys refer cases to us because they trust us to maximize value. Defense attorneys on the opposing side have sent their own family members to us. Those referrals speak for themselves. View our attorneys and view our case results.

The firm is available to evaluate your case. Intake is available around the clock. You tell us what happened. We assess the legal path. There is no fee unless we recover for you.

How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Texas?

Texas gives you two years from the date of injury under CPRC Section 16.003. If you were injured in a car accident, workplace incident, or slip-and-fall on a specific date, the clock starts that day. Minors have until two years after turning 18. Do not wait until the deadline approaches to consult an attorney. Evidence deteriorates and witnesses become harder to locate.

Does Texas have a comparative fault rule?

Yes. Texas uses proportionate responsibility under CPRC Chapter 33. If you are 51% or more responsible for your injury, you recover nothing. At 50% or less, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurance companies routinely attempt to shift fault onto the claimant to reduce or eliminate the payout. If an adjuster is telling you that you were partly at fault, get an independent assessment before accepting any offer.

What are Texas auto insurance minimums?

Texas requires minimum auto liability coverage of $30,000 per person for bodily injury, $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage under Tex. Transp. Code Section 601.072. These limits are often inadequate in serious injury cases. Your own UM/UIM coverage may be available to fill the gap when the at-fault driver's limits are not enough.

Can I sue if my employer does not carry workers' compensation in Texas?

Yes. Texas allows private employers to opt out of workers' comp under Tex. Labor Code Section 406.002. If your employer is a non-subscriber, you can file a personal injury lawsuit directly against them. Non-subscribers lose the defenses of contributory negligence, assumption of risk, and the fellow servant doctrine, which makes these cases more favorable for injured workers. Ask an attorney to confirm your employer's subscription status before assuming your only path is a workers' comp administrative claim.

Does Morris & Dewett handle cases across all of Texas or only East Texas?

The firm's geographic concentration is East Texas, where its practice originated. For serious and complex cases, including catastrophic injury, wrongful death, offshore accidents, and 18-wheeler accidents, Morris & Dewett handles cases statewide. Venue and jurisdiction are evaluated as part of every case intake. If your case is in Fort Worth, Tyler, Nacogdoches, or another Texas market, contact us and we will assess whether and how we can help.

What is the Stowers doctrine and how does it affect my settlement?

The Stowers doctrine requires a Texas insurer to accept a reasonable settlement demand within policy limits when three conditions are met. The claim must be within the scope of coverage. The demand must be within the policy limits. An ordinarily prudent insurer would accept the offer. If the insurer refuses and a jury awards more than the policy limits, the insurer is liable for the full judgment. This creates real financial pressure to settle cases fairly before trial. An attorney who understands Stowers and times demands strategically uses this leverage to move cases toward resolution.

What types of injury cases does Morris & Dewett handle in Texas?

Morris & Dewett handles serious personal injury cases in Texas. That includes 18-wheeler and commercial truck accidents, offshore and refinery accidents, workplace injuries including non-subscriber cases, wrongful death, and catastrophic injuries. Catastrophic cases cover spinal cord damage, brain trauma, severe burns, and amputations. The firm's focus is on high-value claims against corporate defendants and commercial carriers.

Does it matter whether my injury happened in East Texas or another part of the state?

Texas statewide law applies regardless of location. The statute of limitations, proportionate responsibility rules, and insurance requirements are the same in El Paso as in Longview. What changes is venue: the court where the case is filed depends on where the injury occurred and where the defendant does business. Morris & Dewett is familiar with East Texas courts and maintains statewide capacity for the right cases. If your case is outside our primary service area, we will tell you honestly whether we are the right fit or whether a different firm serves you better.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Texas?: Texas gives you two years from the date of injury under CPRC Section 16.003. If you were injured in a car accident, workplace incident, or slip-and-fall on a specific date, the clock starts that day. Minors have until two years after turning 18. Do not wait until the deadline approaches to consult an attorney. Evidence deteriorates and witnesses become harder to locate.
Does Texas have a comparative fault rule?: Yes. Texas uses proportionate responsibility under CPRC Chapter 33. If you are 51% or more responsible for your injury, you recover nothing. At 50% or less, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurance companies routinely attempt to shift fault onto the claimant to reduce or eliminate the payout. If an adjuster is telling you that you were partly at fault, get an independent assessment before accepting any offer.
What are Texas auto insurance minimums?: Texas requires minimum auto liability coverage of $30,000 per person for bodily injury, $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage under Tex. Transp. Code Section 601.072. These limits are often inadequate in serious injury cases. Your own UM/UIM coverage may be available to fill the gap when the at-fault driver's limits are not enough.
Can I sue if my employer does not carry workers' compensation in Texas?: Yes. Texas allows private employers to opt out of workers' comp under Tex. Labor Code Section 406.002. If your employer is a non-subscriber, you can file a personal injury lawsuit directly against them. Non-subscribers lose the defenses of contributory negligence, assumption of risk, and the fellow servant doctrine, which makes these cases more favorable for injured workers. Ask an attorney to confirm your employer's subscription status before assuming your only path is a workers' comp administrative claim.
Does Morris & Dewett handle cases across all of Texas or only East Texas?: The firm's geographic concentration is East Texas, where its practice originated. For serious and complex cases, including catastrophic injury, wrongful death, offshore accidents, and 18-wheeler accidents, Morris & Dewett handles cases statewide. Venue and jurisdiction are evaluated as part of every case intake. If your case is in Fort Worth, Tyler, Nacogdoches, or another Texas market, contact us and we will assess whether and how we can help.
What is the Stowers doctrine and how does it affect my settlement?: The Stowers doctrine requires a Texas insurer to accept a reasonable settlement demand within policy limits when three conditions are met. The claim must be within the scope of coverage. The demand must be within the policy limits. An ordinarily prudent insurer would accept the offer. If the insurer refuses and a jury awards more than the policy limits, the insurer is liable for the full judgment. This creates real financial pressure to settle cases fairly before trial. An attorney who understands Stowers and times demands strategically uses this leverage to move cases toward resolution.
What types of injury cases does Morris & Dewett handle in Texas?: Morris & Dewett handles serious personal injury cases in Texas. That includes 18-wheeler and commercial truck accidents, offshore and refinery accidents, workplace injuries including non-subscriber cases, wrongful death, and catastrophic injuries. Catastrophic cases cover spinal cord damage, brain trauma, severe burns, and amputations. The firm's focus is on high-value claims against corporate defendants and commercial carriers.
Does it matter whether my injury happened in East Texas or another part of the state?: Texas statewide law applies regardless of location. The statute of limitations, proportionate responsibility rules, and insurance requirements are the same in El Paso as in Longview. What changes is venue: the court where the case is filed depends on where the injury occurred and where the defendant does business. Morris & Dewett is familiar with East Texas courts and maintains statewide capacity for the right cases. If your case is outside our primary service area, we will tell you honestly whether we are the right fit or whether a different firm serves you better.

These answers reflect Louisiana law as of January 2026. For case specific advice, consult with a Louisiana personal injury attorney who can evaluate your particular circumstances.