Austin · Car Accident Guide
Texas gives an injured driver two years to file and wipes out the claim entirely if a jury finds you 51% at fault, so the clock and the fault fight both matter before you pick a firm. We compared three car accident lawyers in Austin on their State Bar of Texas licensee record, the case types they actually list, published fee terms and verified client reviews, and set out who each one suits and where each falls short.
DJA Editorial · Legal Directory Research
Checked against state bar licensee records, court sources and public review platforms · Last updated September 2026
The short answer
Three firms, each built for a different kind of Austin crash. This is a shortlist rather than a ranking, and the firm in the top slot does not carry the largest review base of the three.
1
Glen Larson Law Injury Attorneys Featured
Best for a catastrophic crash headed toward trial rather than a quick settlement
2
Joe Lopez Law
Best for a Spanish-speaking client who wants the case handled in Spanish, not just translated
3
Shrum Law Office
Best for wanting one attorney, not a rotating case team, from intake to resolution
At a glance: Car Accident Lawyers in Austin, compared
| Firm |
Best for |
Focus |
Bar record |
Fees |
Rating |
Glen Larson Law Injury Attorneys
|
Best for a catastrophic crash headed toward trial rather than a quick settlement |
Catastrophic and trial-track injury cases |
Glenson Floyd Larson, Texas 2006 |
Contingency, no fee unless they win |
5.0 · 95 Google, via a third-party review aggregator |
| Joe Lopez Law |
Best for a Spanish-speaking client who wants the case handled in Spanish, not just translated |
Spanish-speaking clients, car and truck accidents |
Jose Luis Lopez, Texas 2003 |
Contingency, 33% to 40% published |
5.0 · 65 Google, with counts varying by aggregator between 65 and 311 (see caveat below) |
| Shrum Law Office |
Best for wanting one attorney, not a rotating case team, from intake to resolution |
Solo practice, personal injury and criminal defense |
Matthew Wayne Shrum, Texas 2006 |
Contingency, no fee unless he wins |
4.7 · 52 Google, via a review aggregator; Avvo separately shows 4.9 from 20 reviews |
Car Accident in Austin: the local picture
33% to 40%
What representation actually costs
Texas sets no statutory cap on a personal injury contingency fee. Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 1.04 requires only that the fee not be unconscionable and that the agreement be in writing. In practice, Austin injury firms commonly disclose about a third of the recovery if the case settles before suit is filed, rising toward 40% once litigation starts, with case costs deducted separately. Only one firm below publishes its own percentage; ask the other two for both numbers in writing.
2 years, zero after 51%
The deadline, and the fault line that erases your claim
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 16.003(a) gives you two years from the crash to file a personal injury suit. Separately, Chapter 33’s proportionate responsibility rule means that if a jury assigns you 51% or more of the fault, you recover nothing at all; at 50% or below your award is simply reduced by your own percentage. Insurers know this and will argue for a fault percentage rather than for total blame, so how the crash gets documented in the first weeks matters more than most people expect.
$20,000
Where you may not need any of these three firms
Travis County justice courts hear small claims up to $20,000 with no attorney required, under Texas Government Code 27.031 and Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 500.3(a). If you cannot afford filing costs at all, Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145 lets you file a sworn Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs to waive them. The State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral Service (800-252-9690) connects callers to a 30-minute consultation for no more than $20, though it runs no free panel of its own; Travis County legal aid groups such as Texas RioGrande Legal Aid and Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas do not list personal injury among the case types they take, which most competing pages do not tell you.
What clients in Austin say: Reading the visible reviews across these three, the praise clusters around one thing: whether the person answering the phone treats the case as a file number or as someone’s actual crash. Clients single out after-hours check-ins, staff who explain what an adjuster is doing, and, for the two smaller practices, direct access to the attorney rather than a case manager. The one clear gap is independent verification: two of the three firms’ ratings reach us only through secondary aggregators rather than a direct Google pull, and Shrum Law Office’s visible review base leans toward its criminal defense work rather than car accidents specifically. Read the reviews for the practice area you actually need, not the firm’s overall average.
How we chose these Car Accident Lawyers in Austin
We looked at firms handling car accident claims for Austin drivers, then compared them on things you can check yourself: the State Bar of Texas licensee record for the named attorney, the case types the firm actually lists rather than the ones it advertises, whether it publishes fee terms, the office it staffs in Austin, and visible client reviews.
The three are a shortlist, not a ranking, and each leads for a different situation. Firm details come from each firm’s own site, cross checked against the State Bar of Texas licensee search, Avvo and other directory records, and Texas statute and court sources. A bar record we could confirm only through a secondary source rather than a direct State Bar of Texas page load this run is flagged on the page rather than filled in silently, and no case result or recovery figure appears here unless the firm publishes it itself, in which case it is labelled as the firm’s own figure.
1. Glen Larson Law Injury AttorneysFeatured
Best for a catastrophic crash headed toward trial rather than a quick settlement
★★★★★ 5.0 / 5 · Google, via a third-party review aggregator · 95 reviews
The pick when the injury is severe enough that a fast settlement offer is the wrong answer. Founder Glen Larson, licensed in Texas since 2006, built the firm around a stated willingness to litigate rather than settle for less, with a litigation attorney, Esteban Contreras, working case files alongside him. If you are looking for a car accident lawyer in Austin because the crash caused a catastrophic or long-term injury rather than a routine fender bender, that trial posture and a bench of two offices outside Austin for added resources is the reason this firm leads the list.
Identity and footprint
Austin office7710 Rialto Blvd, #210, Austin, TX 78735
Phone(512) 883-0277, plus a (512) 399-8195 text line
Lead attorneyGlenson Floyd Larson, practicing as Glen F. Larson
Other attorneysEsteban Contreras, litigation attorney, bilingual Spanish. A second name, Bobby Leahey, appears on the homepage but not on the firm’s own attorney-profiles page
Other officesDallas and El Paso
Service areaTexas statewide, plus Colorado and New Mexico; Travis County named specifically
LanguagesEnglish, Spanish, German and American Sign Language
Practice and scope
Core workCar, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian and rideshare accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injury
Also listsWorkplace injury, product liability, slip and fall, nursing home neglect, dog bites, and mass tort matters (NEC baby formula, Ozempic-class drugs, paraquat)
Trial postureStates it litigates when a settlement offer is inadequate rather than settling as a default
Recognition claimedNational Trial Lawyers ‘Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Attorney’ and a Million Dollar Advocates Forum membership since 2017. Both are self-reported and not independently confirmed against the issuing organizations
Credentials and licensing
State Bar of TexasGlenson Floyd Larson, bar number 24037817, licensed since 2006
Law schoolSMU Dedman School of Law
Public disciplineNone found in any source checked; Avvo states no misconduct found
Fees and consultation
StructureContingency, advertised as no payment unless recovery is obtained
ConsultationFree
PercentageNot published by the firm. A directory listing shows 34% to 40%
What clients say
✓ After-hours personal check-ins from the attorney
✓ Client felt treated individually, not as a file number
✓ Rideshare and Texas-law case knowledge named specifically
· Rating and count reach us only through a secondary aggregator, not a direct Google pull
Reviewers describe the attorney and staff following up personally, including after-hours calls just to check on recovery, and several say they did not feel like just another client. One reviewer specifically credits the team’s grasp of Texas law in a rideshare case. No negative review pattern turned up in the sources reachable this run, but the rating itself comes through a third-party aggregator rather than a direct Google confirmation.
Why they fit Austin: The clearest fit of the three for a serious or catastrophic injury where the firm’s stated willingness to litigate, rather than settle quickly, actually matters, backed by offices in two other Texas cities for added resources. The trade-off: the 5.0-star, 95-review figure comes to us through a secondary aggregator rather than a direct Google Business Profile pull, one named attorney on the homepage does not appear on the firm’s own attorney-profiles page, and the bar record above is corroborated through Justia rather than a direct State Bar of Texas page load this run. Ask which attorney would actually handle your file and confirm the bar number yourself before signing.
2. Joe Lopez Law
Best for a Spanish-speaking client who wants the case handled in Spanish, not just translated
★★★★★ 5.0 / 5 · Google, with counts varying by aggregator between 65 and 311 (see caveat below) · 65 reviews
The pick for a Spanish-speaking client, and the only one of the three that discloses its contingency percentage in writing on its own site. Attorney Joe Lopez, licensed in Texas since 2003, runs a practice where client reviews are written in Spanish as a matter of course rather than as a translated afterthought. For someone who wants an Austin car accident lawyer who handles the case in Spanish from the first call rather than through a translation line, that is the differentiator here.
Identity and footprint
Office1502 West Ave Ste 300, Austin, TX 78701
Phone(512) 580-9962
Lead attorneyJose Luis Lopez, known as Joe Lopez
LanguagesEnglish and Spanish, advertised as Se Habla Español; multiple client reviews are written entirely in Spanish
Service areaAustin, Cedar Park, Georgetown, New Braunfels, Round Rock, San Marcos and Westlake Hills, with stated willingness to travel statewide
Practice and scope
Core workCar accidents including drunk and distracted driving, hit and run, commercial vehicle and rideshare (including Waymo and delivery vehicles), pedestrian, bicycle, boating accidents, wrongful death
Also listsPremises liability, dog bites, burn injuries, construction site injuries, electrocution, traumatic brain injury, Greyhound bus accidents
Trial postureStates most cases settle but the firm is ready for both; claims 20-plus years of trial experience
Credentials and licensing
State Bar of TexasJose Luis Lopez, bar number 24041358, licensed November 6, 2003, listed as eligible to practice in Texas
Law schoolSt. Mary’s University School of Law, 2003
Public disciplineNone on record
Name cautionA different, unrelated attorney also named Joe Lopez (bar number 24009497, San Antonio, administratively suspended) exists in the State Bar directory. Confirmed this is not the same person; do not conflate the two
Fees and consultation
StructureContingency, no win no fee
PercentagePublished on the firm’s own site as typically 33% to 40% in Texas, depending on case complexity and whether the case settles before trial
ConsultationFree
What clients say
✓ Client kept personally informed throughout the case
✓ Described feeling emotionally supported during a stressful process
✓ Case handled genuinely in Spanish, not a translated page
· Review count disagrees sharply across aggregators, 65 to 311
Several reviews, written in Spanish, describe feeling accompanied and informed from the first day and credit the attorney’s knowledge and attention with making a real difference in a stressful process. The tone across sources is consistent: personal attention and a sense of being heard, particularly from Spanish-speaking reviewers. No negative review text surfaced in the sources reachable this run, though Yelp’s review page could not be read, so that is a gap in the picture rather than a clean bill of health.
Why they fit Austin: The strongest fit for a Spanish-speaking client, since the evidence here is genuine client reviews written in Spanish rather than a marketing claim, and the only firm of the three that puts its contingency percentage in writing on its own site before you ever call. The trade-off is scale: this reads as a single-attorney practice, so there is no visible bench of associates if the caseload gets heavy, motorcycle cases are not listed as their own category, and the review count itself varies wildly by aggregator (65 to 311), so ask to see the firm’s current Google listing yourself rather than trusting either number.
3. Shrum Law Office
Best for wanting one attorney, not a rotating case team, from intake to resolution
★★★★½ 4.7 / 5 · Google, via a review aggregator; Avvo separately shows 4.9 from 20 reviews · 52 reviews
The smallest practice of the three and the most personal by design. Attorney Matthew Shrum, a former Travis County prosecutor licensed in Texas since 2006, runs a solo practice split between personal injury and criminal defense rather than an injury-only operation. For anyone hiring a solo-practice Austin car accident attorney specifically because they want the same person on the phone at every stage rather than a case manager, that is what this firm is built around, though it means weighing a two-practice generalist against a firm that handles only injury cases.
Identity and footprint
Legal nameThe Law Office of Matthew Shrum, PLLC
Austin office808 West Avenue, Austin, TX 78701
Phone512-994-0313. A BBB listing separately shows 512-447-2323, which appears to be an older number
Sole attorneyMatthew Wayne Shrum
Service areaTravis, Williamson, Hays and Bastrop counties
Practice and scope
Core workPersonal injury and motor vehicle accidents, plus criminal defense as a separate, equally weighted practice area
Car-accident sub-areasAggressive, distracted and drunk driving, hit and run, intersection and I-35 accidents, uninsured and underinsured motorist claims, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, bicycle, e-scooter, rideshare, boat and public-transportation accidents, wrongful death
BackgroundFormer Travis County Assistant County or District Attorney, 2007 to 2008
Published resultsNo case results, verdicts or settlement figures are published anywhere on the firm’s site, unlike the other two firms on this page
Directory noteFindLaw lists Family Law as a practice area; this does not appear anywhere on the firm’s own site
Credentials and licensing
State Bar of TexasMatthew Wayne Shrum, bar number 24056319, licensed since 2006
Law schoolUniversity of Texas School of Law, 2006
Public disciplineNone found in sources checked; Avvo states no misconduct found
Fees and consultation
StructureContingency for personal injury matters, stated by the attorney as no fee unless he wins or secures a settlement
ConsultationFree
What clients say
✓ Attorney personally handles the case rather than passing it to staff
✓ Described as responsive and a genuine advocate
· Visible review base leans toward criminal defense clients, not car accident clients specifically
· Only 20 to 52 reviews depending on platform, the thinnest base of the three
The reviews that are readable describe a solo attorney who stays personally involved and gets favorable negotiated outcomes, with several reviewers saying he treats every case as though it were his own. The catch for this page specifically: most of the readable review text concerns criminal defense matters such as DWI charges rather than car accident claims, since that is where his review base is concentrated. Treat the rating as evidence of how he practices generally rather than proof of car-accident-specific results.
Why they fit Austin: The right call for someone who wants a single attorney, not a rotating team, especially one with former-prosecutor insight into how a county DA’s office and adjacent processes work. The honest trade-off: this is a two-practice solo shop, not a firm that handles only injury cases, the site publishes no case results or fee percentage at all, and the visible reviews skew toward his criminal defense work rather than car accident cases specifically. Ask directly how many car accident cases, as opposed to criminal cases, he is currently handling before you sign.
What to check before hiring a Car Accident Lawyer in Austin
✓ Look up the license yourself, it takes two minutes
The State Bar of Texas runs a free licensee search showing bar number, license date, current status and any public discipline. Search the individual attorney who will handle your file, not just the firm name. Two of the three bar records on this page were corroborated through secondary sources rather than a direct State Bar page load this run, which is exactly why this is worth doing yourself before you sign anything.
✓ Get the contingency percentage in writing before you sign
Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 1.04 requires a contingency fee agreement to be in writing and to state how the fee is calculated. Ask for the pre-suit rate and the post-filing rate, whether it rises again at trial, and whether the percentage is taken before or after case costs are deducted. Only one firm on this page discloses its range publicly; ask the other two directly.
✓ Ask who advances case costs and what happens if there is no recovery
Filing fees, medical records, outside professional opinions and accident reconstruction are separate from the attorney’s fee and are usually advanced by the firm, then reimbursed from your settlement. Ask what you owe for those advanced costs if the case does not result in a recovery. This is rarely spelled out on a firm’s website.
✓ Know the 51% rule before you talk to an adjuster
Under Texas’s proportionate responsibility statute, you recover nothing if a jury finds you 51% or more at fault, and your award is reduced by your own percentage of fault at 50% or below. An insurance adjuster does not need to prove you caused the crash, only that you contributed meaningfully to it, so be careful how you describe the accident in early conversations.
✓ Check your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage
Texas requires only 30/60/25 minimum liability coverage from the at-fault driver, which a serious injury can exceed quickly. Pull your own policy’s declarations page and check your UM and UIM limits before you assume the other driver’s minimum coverage is the ceiling on what you can recover.
✓ Consider whether your claim is small enough to skip a lawyer entirely
Travis County justice courts handle disputes up to $20,000 without requiring an attorney. On a clear-liability claim with modest damages, a contingency fee may cost more than representation adds. If you cannot afford the filing fee at all, Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145 lets you file a sworn statement to have it waived.
Car Accident Lawyers in Austin: frequently asked questions
How much does a car accident lawyer cost in Austin?
Nothing upfront in most cases. Texas injury lawyers typically work on contingency, and Texas does not cap the percentage by statute. Austin firms commonly disclose about a third of the recovery if the case settles before a lawsuit is filed, rising toward 40% once litigation starts, with case costs deducted separately. Only one firm on this page publishes its own percentage; ask the others for both numbers in writing before you sign.
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Texas?
Two years from the date of the crash for most personal injury claims, under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 16.003(a). Claims against a government entity can carry a much shorter notice deadline, so confirm yours early rather than assuming you have the full two years.
What happens if I was partly at fault for the crash?
Texas uses a proportionate responsibility rule. If a jury finds you 50% or less at fault, your damages are simply reduced by your percentage of the blame. If a jury finds you 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing at all. This is why an insurer often argues for a fault percentage against you rather than for total blame.
What if the other driver was uninsured or only carried the state minimum?
Texas requires minimum liability coverage of $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage. A serious injury can exceed that quickly, which is when uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on your own policy becomes what actually pays. Check your own declarations page for UM and UIM limits rather than assuming the other driver’s minimum is the ceiling.
Is my claim too small to need a lawyer?
Possibly. Travis County justice courts hear disputes up to $20,000 with no attorney required, under Texas Government Code 27.031. On a clear-liability claim with modest medical bills, a contingency fee may cost more than a lawyer adds. If you cannot afford the filing fee, Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145 lets you file a sworn statement to waive it.
What if none of these firms can take my case?
The State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral Service (800-252-9690) connects callers to a participating attorney for an initial consultation of up to 30 minutes for no more than $20. It does not maintain a free or reduced-fee panel of its own; for broader free legal help, TexasLawHelp.org is the State Bar-affiliated directory, though groups such as Texas RioGrande Legal Aid and Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas do not list personal injury among the case types they typically take.
DJA Editorial
Legal Directory Research
Compiles Distinguished Justice Advocates city guides from State Bar of Texas licensee records, statute and court sources, and publicly visible client reviews. Firms appear as a shortlist rather than a ranking. Figures a firm publishes about itself are labelled as such, and anything that could not be verified against a primary source this run is flagged on the page rather than estimated.
