FAQs

What should I do after a car accident in East Texas?

Check on everyone and call 911. Get medical attention even if you think you’re fine, because injuries like whiplash and concussions can take time to show. If you can, photograph the vehicles, the scene, the insurance cards and license plates belonging to everyone involved, and get witness names and contact info. Report the wreck to your own insurer, but don’t give a recorded statement to any other driver’s insurance company before talking to a lawyer. Call the Roach Law Firm at (903) 645-7333 for a free consultation.

Is Texas an at-fault or no-fault state for car accidents?

Texas is an “at-fault” state. That means the driver who caused the wreck and his or her insurance company is responsible for the resulting damages. You can usually file a claim against the driver who is at fault. If his or her insurer won’t pay fairly, you can pursue a lawsuit. Who’s at fault matters a great deal, and other insurance companies may work hard to shift blame onto you.

How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Texas?

In most cases, you can file a Texas car accident claim within two years of the date of the accident. If you miss that deadline, you usually lose the right to a recovery. The exceptions are narrow—and if a government vehicle or employee happened to be involved, you may have to give formal notice far sooner. Acting early also helps preserve evidence like video footage and witness memories before they’re gone.

How much is a car accident case worth in Texas?

The recoveries in Texas car accident cases varies widely. Minor cases may settle for a few thousand dollars, while cases involving serious injuries can be worth far more. (Wrecks involving 18-wheelers and other commercial trucks are handled differently from ordinary car accidents, with different legal rules and larger possible recoveries.) The amount you can win after a car accident is driven by the severity of your injuries, your medical bills and lost wages, the insurance policies of other drivers, and how clear it is that another driver is at blame. Insurance companies usually start by making a low offer, so the first number you hear is rarely what the case is worth.

Do I need a lawyer for a car accident, or can I settle with the insurance company myself?

Make sure to find an experienced car accident lawyer if you’ve been involved in a serious accident. Insurance companies will try to settle your claim cheaply, and many people accept a lowball offer simply because they don’t know what their case is worth. Having a lawyer often leads to a larger recovery, and it costs nothing to find out where you stand.

Can I still get compensation if the accident was partly my fault?

Yes, drivers who are partly at fault can often be compensated after car accidents. Texas uses a “modified comparative fault” rule, so you can recover so long as you were not more than 50% responsible for the accident, with your recovery reduced by your share of fault. Insurance adjusters frequently try to assign you more blame than you deserve to reduce what they have to pay. If you have questions about your level of responsibility after an accident, call us at (903) 645-7333 for a free review.

Where does the Roach Law Firm handle car accident cases?

The Roach Law Firm is based in East Texas and focuses primarily on cases in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. In Texas, the firm has deep roots in the communities of Tyler, Longview, Texarkana, Lufkin, Nacogdoches, Paris, Marshall, Sulphur Springs, Henderson, Carthage, Jefferson, Mount Pleasant, Clarksville, Gilmer, Pittsburg, Mount Vernon, Quitman, New Boston, Linden, Hemphill, and Daingerfield, as well as the surrounding areas. Call us at (903) 645-7333 to find out how we can help.

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Case Results

$17 Billion

PART OF THE LARGEST LEGAL SETTLEMENT IN U.S. HISTORY

In 1995, Nelson J. Roach and his former firm, along with four other law firms, was selected by the State of Texas to prosecute the state’s claims against the tobacco industry, seeking to recoup state monies paid to treat smoking-related illnesses.

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$730 Million

FOURTH-LARGEST JURY VERDICT IN THE NATION

In 2021, Nelson J. Roach won $730 million in a case arising from a Texas truck accident, the fourth-largest jury verdict in the U.S. that year. The case was filed by the family of an East Texas woman who was killed in a collision with a truck hauling a propeller for a Navy submarine.

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$554 Million

DEFENDING AN INVENTOR FROM CORPORATE COPYCATS

For over a decade, Nelson J. Roach and his former firm represented DataTreasury Corporation in its efforts to hold the largest banks in the United States accountable for their infringement of the tiny company’s intellectual property. Roach and his associates won $554 million in jury awards and royalties.

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$119 Million

FORCING A MINING COMPANY TO PAY UP

Nelson J. Roach represented roughly 7,000 residents of the town of Blackwell, Oklahoma, in a class action lawsuit accusing defendants Phelps Dodge Corporation and its parent company, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc., of failing to properly address lead, arsenic, and cadmium contamination.

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$90 Million

STANDING UP FOR INJURED STEELWORKERS

Nelson J. Roach represented thousands of steel workers at the Lone Star Steel Mill when they began to suffer from breathing problems and cancer.

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$51.2 Million

FIGHTING ANTICOMPETITIVE PRACTICES IN POULTRY INDUSTRY

Nelson J. Roach and Michael L. Silverman fought for small farms hurt by the corporations that dominate the U.S. chicken-processing industry.

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$47 Million

JUSTICE FOR WORKERS EXPOSED TO INDUSTRIAL TOXINS

Several years after the Lone Star Steel Toxic Tort Litigation began, workers at the Red River Army Depot in the Northeast Texas area began to suffer from diseases caused by exposure to rubber products in the workplace.

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$1.1 Million

WALMART SLIP-AND-FALL CASE

In 2021, Nelson J. Roach won $1.1 million in a slip-and-fall case against retail giant Walmart. It was one of the largest verdicts in a personal injury case in Texarkana history.

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Awards and Recognitions

Awards and Recognitions

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