Personal Injury Guide for Cedar Park, Texas Victims

Introduction: Why Cedar Park Residents Need a Local Personal Injury Guide

Located just north-west of Austin, Cedar Park, Texas sees the same fast-moving traffic on U.S. 183 and RM-1431, the same sudden weather swings that make roadways slick, and the same boom in construction that the entire Williamson–Travis County corridor experiences. When a crash on the 183A Toll Road, a slip on a wet H-E-B grocery floor, or a dog bite at Brushy Creek Lake Park leaves you injured, the resulting medical bills and time off work can derail your life. Understanding Texas personal injury law is the first step toward regaining control. This guide explains your legal rights, the deadlines that apply under Texas statutes, and the practical steps every Cedar Park injury victim should take.

All information below is drawn from authoritative, publicly available Texas sources—primarily the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, State Bar of Texas resources, and published appellate opinions. When you finish reading, you will know how the law protects you, why proportionate responsibility matters, and when to call a personal injury lawyer Cedar Park Texas residents trust.

Understanding Your Personal Injury Rights in Texas

The Legal Definition of “Personal Injury” in Texas

Texas law treats a personal injury as any harm—physical, emotional, or reputational—caused by another party’s negligence, intentional act, or strict liability (e.g., a defective product). Medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage can all be recoverable if you prove liability and damages.

Statute of Limitations—Two Years in Most Cases

Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code (TCPRC) §16.003(a), you generally have two years from the date of injury to file suit. Missing this deadline usually ends your claim, so diary it carefully. Limited exceptions (e.g., legal disability, minority status) exist, but courts apply them narrowly.

Comparative Fault: Texas’s Proportionate Responsibility Rule

Texas follows a modified comparative fault system codified in TCPRC Chapter 33. If you are 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing. If you are 50% or less at fault, your damages are reduced in proportion to your responsibility. Example: A jury awards $100,000 in damages; you are 20% at fault; you receive $80,000.

Damage Caps (When They Apply)

• Medical Malpractice: Non-economic damages for individual physicians are capped at $250,000 (TCPRC §74.301).

• Punitive (Exemplary) Damages: Capped at the greater of (a) $200,000 or (b) two times economic damages plus non-economic damages up to $750,000 (TCPRC §41.008).

• Standard negligence cases—auto crashes, premises liability—have no cap on compensatory damages.

Common Types of Personal Injury Cases in Texas

1. Motor Vehicle Collisions

Data from the Texas Department of Transportation show Williamson County recorded over 4,500 crashes in 2023, many along the 183A corridor near Cedar Park. Rear-end collisions, T-bone impacts at signalized intersections such as Lakeline Boulevard, and motorcycle accidents on FM-1431 are frequent.

2. Commercial Truck Accidents

Semis transporting construction materials to new housing developments on Parmer Lane pose heightened risks. When an 18-wheeler is involved, federal regulations (FMCSA) intertwine with Texas tort law, and injuries often exceed minimum insurance limits.

3. Premises Liability (Slip, Trip, and Fall)

Store owners owe invitees a duty to make premises reasonably safe and warn of hidden dangers. A wet floor at the Cedar Park Center or an uneven sidewalk at a local apartment complex can serve as grounds for a claim.

4. Dog Bites and Animal Attacks

Texas follows a “one-bite” common-law rule plus negligence standards. Evidence of a dog’s prior aggression or violation of local leash ordinances strengthens liability arguments.

5. Workplace Injuries (Non-Subscriber Claims)

Texas is unique in allowing most employers to opt out of the workers’ compensation system. If your Cedar Park employer is a “non-subscriber,” you may file a negligence action with no cap on damages, but you must prove fault.

6. Catastrophic Injuries From Dangerous Products

Strict liability applies to defective product cases under TCPRC §82.005. Real-world examples include malfunctioning lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes on Cedar Park trails.

Texas Legal Protections & Injury Laws

Pleading and Service Rules

Lawsuits are initiated by filing an Original Petition in the proper district or county court (Tex. R. Civ. P. 22). Williamson County’s 277th, 368th, and 395th District Courts frequently hear Cedar Park–origin personal injury matters. After filing, you must serve each defendant under Tex. R. Civ. P. 99 within the statute of limitations.

Insurance Claim Requirements

Texas is a “fault” state. You may file a third-party claim against the at-fault driver’s insurer. Under Texas Insurance Code §§542.051-.060 (Prompt Payment of Claims Act), insurers must acknowledge, investigate, and accept or reject claims within statutory deadlines or face interest and attorney’s-fee penalties.

Evidence and Discovery

• Interrogatories & Requests for Production—governed by Tex. R. Civ. P. 190–194.

• Medical Authorization—defendants may request one, but you can limit scope to relevant treatment under HIPAA and Tex. R. Civ. P. 192.3.

• Depositions—standard notice period is reasonable; video depositions require 14-day notice (Tex. R. Civ. P. 199.1).

Trial and Appeal

Personal injury cases may be tried before a jury of 12 in district court or six in county court. Appeals from Williamson County district courts go to the Third Court of Appeals in Austin. Texas appellate courts review legal sufficiency issues de novo and factual sufficiency under a “clearly wrong and unjust” standard.

Steps to Take After a Personal Injury in Texas

1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Whether at St. David’s Emergency Center on Ronald Reagan Boulevard or Baylor Scott & White Medical Center–Round Rock, prompt diagnosis documents causation and preserves your health.

2. Preserve Evidence

• Photograph vehicles, hazard signs, or defective equipment.

• Obtain surveillance footage from retailers within days (many overwrite files quickly).

• Identify witnesses and secure their contact information.

3. Notify Relevant Parties

For auto accidents, Texas Transportation Code §550.062 requires drivers to submit a crash report if law enforcement does not. Timely notification to insurers preserves policy benefits.

4. Track Expenses

Maintain a folder with bills, pharmacy receipts, mileage to medical appointments, and pay stubs that show lost wages. These are admissible under the business-records exception (Tex. R. Evid. 803(6)).

5. Avoid Social Media Pitfalls

Defense counsel routinely subpoena Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok posts. Even “private” accounts are discoverable if relevant. Limit online activity or set strict privacy controls.

6. Consult Legal Counsel Promptly

Early consultation ensures compliance with the two-year limitations period, spoliation letters, and accident reconstruction while evidence is fresh. Most Cedar Park accident attorneys offer free initial consultations.

When to Seek Legal Help in Texas

Complex Liability or Severe Injuries

If you suffered traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, or multiple fractures, insurers often dispute causation or future medical costs. Skilled counsel can retain life-care planners and economists to quantify lifelong damages.

Disputed Fault

Where multiple vehicles are involved—common at the intersection of North Vista Ridge Boulevard and Whitestone Boulevard—each insurer may blame the other. Accident reconstruction experts and subpoenas for traffic-light sequencing data help establish liability.

Bad-Faith Insurance Practices

Delayed claim processing or lowball offers may violate Texas Insurance Code §541.060 (Unfair Settlement Practices). An attorney can file a first-party bad-faith claim, potentially recovering treble damages.

Non-Subscriber Workplace Injuries

Employers outside the workers’ comp system often require arbitration agreements. A lawyer can analyze enforceability and preserve your right to a jury trial.

Local Resources & Next Steps

Emergency & Medical Facilities

• St. David’s Emergency Center – Cedar Park (Minor & major trauma stabilization)

• Cedar Park Regional Medical Center – Level IV Trauma Center

• Baylor Scott & White – Round Rock (Orthopedics & neurology)

Courts Serving Cedar Park

• Williamson County District Courts – 405 Martin Luther King St., Georgetown, TX

• Travis County Civil Courts – 1700 Guadalupe St., Austin, TX (for cases arising in Travis County portions of Cedar Park)

Finding a Licensed Texas Attorney

Confirm any lawyer’s standing using the State Bar of Texas Attorney Lookup. Texas attorneys must satisfy annual CLE requirements and follow the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct.

Self-Help & Consumer Publications

Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Chapter 16 – Statute of limitations text. Texas Department of Insurance Consumer Bill of Rights Texas Rules of Civil Procedure

Legal Disclaimer

These materials are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. They may be considered advertising under Texas law. Always consult a licensed Texas attorney regarding your specific situation.

If you were injured due to someone else's negligence, call Louis Law Group at 833-657-4812 for a free case evaluation and legal consultation.