The lawyer listens to what happened, reviews the documents you have, and explains whether you have a claim, what it may include, the deadlines, and how the fee works. There is no charge and no obligation, and what you share is confidential.
A consultation is a conversation, not a commitment. You describe the crash, your injuries, your treatment so far, and any contact you have had with insurers. The lawyer asks questions to understand fault, the injury, and the insurance that may be available.
Bring what you have: the crash report number or a copy, photos and videos, the other driver’s information, your insurance card and policy, medical records or bills, any letters from insurers, and the names of witnesses. If you do not have everything, that is fine; the firm can request most of it.
The lawyer should explain the law that applies to your situation: the two-year deadline under Civil Practice and Remedies Code section 16.003, any shorter notice deadline if a government vehicle was involved, how proportionate responsibility works, and what damages Texas law allows.
You should also leave knowing the business terms. Texas requires a contingent fee agreement to be in writing and to explain the percentage and how expenses are handled. Ask any question you have about it before signing.
You can also ask about the practical side: how the firm will communicate with you, who handles your case day to day, how medical bills are handled while the claim is pending, and what you should do if an insurer calls. Good answers to those questions tell you a lot about how the representation will work.
If you were hurt badly, the consultation can happen at the hospital or at home. You do not need to travel to an office to get advice, and family members can join the conversation if you want them there.
Bring a list of your medical providers and the dates you saw them, even if it is incomplete. A lawyer can then request the records and bills, and the treatment timeline helps show how the injury has progressed since the crash.
Owsley Law Firm offers free consultations by phone, by video, or at either Houston office, and the attorney can meet you at home or in the hospital. There is no fee unless the firm wins.
What to do, step by step
- Gather the crash report number, photos, insurance cards, and medical paperwork.
- Write down the timeline while you remember it.
- List your questions about deadlines, fees, and the process.
- Schedule by phone, video, or in person.
If you have already spoken to an insurer, signed anything, or received a check, tell the lawyer. Those events do not always end a claim, but they change the strategy, and the sooner the lawyer knows, the more options you keep.
The lawyer may also give you immediate guidance: whether to talk to the other driver’s insurer, how to handle a property damage claim, which records to keep, and whether you should see a particular kind of doctor. Even if you do not hire the firm, you should leave knowing your next steps.
If the firm takes the case, the work starts right away: letters to the insurers, requests for the crash report and records, and preservation letters for video, vehicle data, and other evidence that can disappear. Those first steps are part of why an early consultation matters.
Consultations are confidential. What you tell a lawyer while seeking legal advice is protected, even if you do not hire the firm, so you can be candid about what happened.
You do not have to decide on the spot. A good firm will answer your questions and give you time to read the fee agreement, while being clear about any urgent deadlines or evidence that needs to be preserved.
Related questions
Is the consultation really free?
Yes. There is no charge and no obligation.
Can the lawyer come to me?
Yes. The attorney can meet at your home or the hospital, and consultations are available by phone or video.
What if the firm does not take my case?
You will be told plainly, and you can consult another lawyer. Deadlines still apply, so do not wait.
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