Personal Injury Blog - Bill T. Wells, Of Counsel to The Payne Law Group

Can GPS Distraction Make a Driver Liable for an Accident?

Posted on October 5, 2026

A driver glances down to enter an address, misses a red light, and causes a collision. In Texas, that moment of GPS distraction may make the driver liable if it contributed to the accident. The same principle applies whether the directions appeared on a phone, a dashboard screen, or a built-in...

Can You Sue a Trucking Company for an Accident?

Posted on September 23, 2026

In Texas, you can hold a trucking company liable both for its driver's mistakes and for its own failures in hiring, training, and maintenance. Acting before the two-year deadline protects your right to recover. Yes. If a truck driver's or a trucking company's negligence caused...

What to Do After a Boating Accident in Texas

Posted on August 19, 2026

After a boating accident in Texas, the operator must always stop and render aid. If the accident causes death, an injury beyond first aid, or property damage over $2,000, the operator must also report it to a game warden, local law enforcement, or Texas Parks and Wildlife Department...

What Is a Car Accident Settlement Worth in Texas?

Posted on July 20, 2026

No two Texas car accident settlements are alike. Your claim’s value rests on your medical bills, lost income, scarring, disability, pain and suffering, property damage, who was at fault, and how much insurance is available, not on a fixed formula or an “average” payout. There...

Catastrophic Injuries from 18-Wheeler Accidents: What to Expect

Posted on June 22, 2026

A fully loaded 18-wheeler can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, roughly eighteen times as much as the average passenger car. The injuries that follow are rarely minor, and the lawsuits that follow are rarely simple. You wake up in a hospital bed in League City,...

Texas Car Accident Statute of Limitations

Posted on June 8, 2026

Texas gives most car accident victims two years to file a lawsuit. Insurance adjusters know that deadline as well as you do, and they will often slow-walk negotiations until your leverage runs out. How long do you have to file a lawsuit after a Texas...

Drunk Driver Hit Me — Can I Get Punitive Damages?

Posted on May 20, 2026

Texas law allows punitive damages in drunk driving accident cases when the injured person can prove by clear and convincing evidence that the impaired driver acted with gross negligence, but these awards are subject to statutory caps and require careful legal strategy. A drunk driver...

What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident

Posted on May 5, 2026

The steps you take in the minutes and hours after a car accident in Galveston County can shape your entire recovery, both physically and financially. You are shaken up, your car is damaged, and you have no idea what comes next. That feeling of uncertainty...

Truck Accident Settlement Values: What Actually Drives the Numbers

Posted on April 14, 2026

Truck accident settlements depend on injury severity, available insurance coverage, how clearly fault can be established, and other factors. Most commercial trucks carry at least $750,000 in required coverage, far more than a standard car, but recovering fair compensation still requires building a strong case.

What If You Were Partially at Fault? How Comparative Fault Works

Posted on April 6, 2026

In Texas, being partially at fault for an accident does not automatically bar you from recovering compensation. Under the state’s modified comparative fault rule, you can still pursue a claim as long as your share of responsibility is 50 percent or less. After an accident,...

Common Driving Behaviors That Can Lead to Accidents

Posted on February 4, 2026

Negligent driving behaviors like speeding, tailgating, and improper lane changes cause thousands of accidents each year. Understanding these behaviors helps victims prove liability. Negligent driving behaviors cause the majority of car accidents in Texas and across the country. When drivers speed, follow too closely, change...