At Mendez Isaac Joudi, PLLC, our car accident lawyers fight for the Borderland community every day. With more than 50 years of combined experience, we know the unique complexities of El Paso car wrecks and the toll they take on victims and their families.
Car accidents in El Paso
El Paso County reports thousands of motor vehicle accidents every year, and traffic growth keeps pushing those numbers upward, especially crashes involving distracted driving and speeding. The most common locations include:
- High-traffic roadways such as I-10, Loop 375, and U.S. Highway 54
- Busy intersections near commercial centers and border crossings
- School zones and residential areas with frequent stop-and-go traffic
- Construction zones, where sudden lane changes and reduced speeds raise the risk
When a collision happens despite your best efforts, experienced legal representation protects your rights and your compensation.
Common causes of car accidents
Most wrecks come down to simple human error. The causes we see most often:
- Distracted driving: texting, phone calls, eating, or adjusting the radio.
- Speeding: less time to react to hazards on the road.
- Intoxication: alcohol, drugs, or both, impairing judgment and reaction time.
- Aggression: tailgating, weaving through traffic, ignoring signals.
- Inexperience: young or newly licensed drivers making preventable errors.
Injuries from serious car accidents
Depending on speed, restraints, and vehicle design, serious collisions cause fractures and broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord trauma, internal organ damage, burns, amputations, and eye or facial injuries.
Remember: adrenaline and shock can hide serious injuries behind bruises and strained muscles. Immediate medical attention protects both your health and your claim.
Who can be held liable?
Liability usually falls on the driver who broke the safety rules, and their insurer handles the financial side, often while trying to limit what it pays. But responsibility can be shared:
- Multiple drivers: Texas's modified comparative negligence rule allows claims against each responsible person based on their share of fault.
- Vehicle manufacturers: when a defective part causes a loss of control.
- Employers: when a commercial driver caused the crash on the job.
- Government entities: when unsafe road design or poor maintenance plays a role. These claims follow strict rules, so quick action matters.
What compensation is available?
Texas law allows injured people to seek full financial recovery: emergency care, surgery, therapy and long-term treatment; missed work and reduced earning ability; pain, emotional harm, and changes to daily life; property damage, home modifications, and long-term care. Every case is different, and the strongest results come from a careful review of all losses, including the ones adjusters hope you will overlook.
The deadline: two years
In Texas you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a claim. Miss it and the court can dismiss your case outright. Narrow exceptions exist (for example, if the injured person was a minor or the injuries were not immediately apparent), but do not count on them. Talk to an attorney early.
How fault is determined
Texas follows a modified comparative negligence system: every driver's actions are weighed to determine whether and how much they contributed to the crash. Investigators and insurers look at police reports, physical evidence (vehicle damage, skid marks, debris, road conditions), witness statements, photos and video, and medical records connecting injuries to the crash.
We conduct our own independent accident investigations rather than relying on the insurer's version of events. That can eliminate or minimize your assigned percentage of fault, and preserve your compensation.
What affects the value of a car accident claim?
Every case is unique, and what a claim is worth depends on several interconnected factors:
- Severity of injuries: more serious or permanent injuries typically lead to higher compensation.
- Medical expenses: emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, rehabilitation, and future treatment needs.
- Lost income and earning capacity: time missed from work and long-term impacts on your ability to earn a living.
- Pain and suffering: physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life carry real value.
- Property damage: the cost to repair or replace your vehicle and other personal property.
- Degree of fault: under Texas's modified comparative fault rule, a disputed share of fault can reduce recovery.
Understanding these factors helps you avoid accepting a settlement that does not reflect your actual losses. Our role is to fight for compensation that truly accounts for what you have been through.
Steps to take after a serious crash
- Call the police and report the accident.
- Check for serious injuries and move somewhere safe, away from traffic.
- Document everything: photos, video, witness information.
- Get examined by paramedics, then follow up with your doctor.
- Notify your insurer and file a claim, facts only.
- Speak to an attorney about your right to compensation.
You are not alone in this process. Our attorneys are available around the clock to help you understand the true value of your claim and pursue maximum compensation while you focus on healing.
When to call a lawyer
Call or email our team once you have received initial medical care and are stable enough to discuss what happened. Prompt legal guidance matters most when:
- You sustained serious or long-term injuries
- The insurance company is pressuring you for a statement
- Fault is unclear or multiple drivers are involved
- Medical bills or lost income are piling up
- The adjuster has offered a quick but inadequate settlement
Early involvement lets us preserve evidence, deal with insurers on your behalf, and position your case for the strongest possible outcome.
Frequently asked questions about car accidents in Texas
The aftermath of a car accident leaves most people with a lot of questions. Here are the ones we hear most often.
What should I do if I am involved in an El Paso car accident?
Stay calm and check yourself and your passengers for injuries. Call 911 to request police and medical assistance. Wait until the responding officer arrives to exchange information with the other driver, and make sure you do not say anything that could be construed as an admission of fault. Finally, get the medical care you need so there is a clear connection between the accident and your injuries.
What is considered a serious car accident?
A serious motor vehicle accident is any crash involving life-threatening injuries, injuries that could result in permanent scars or disabilities, or death. Serious injuries include broken limbs, crush injuries, traumatic brain injuries, dental or facial injuries, internal organ damage, and spinal cord injuries.
What should you do after a car accident that is not your fault?
If you can, document the scene with your phone: photos of the vehicles, debris on the road, and your injuries. Contact your own insurance company right away so it can cover your immediate needs and begin the subrogation process against the other driver. Then call an experienced lawyer to start pursuing compensation for your losses.
How long after an El Paso car crash can you file a lawsuit?
In Texas, you generally have just two years from the date of the car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This is the statute of limitations, and missing it usually ends your claim.
What should I say to an insurance adjuster after a serious crash?
You generally have to report an accident to your own insurer within a short time, but give only the basic facts: when and where it happened, a simple description, the other driver's information, and the police report number. Do not speculate about the cause of the accident or the extent of your injuries, and decline to give any recorded statement. Better yet, let our attorneys speak to the adjusters on your behalf so your words cannot be twisted to devalue your claim.
What happens if the driver who hit me has no insurance?
You will need to file a claim under your own Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage. If UM coverage does not make you whole, or you do not carry it, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver directly. These claims get complicated quickly, and an attorney's help is invaluable.
Do I have to talk to the other driver's insurance?
No. The other driver's insurer may reach out to gather information that could hurt your claim. You can simply refer their adjuster to your attorney.
Why should I get an El Paso car accident attorney?
Insurance companies are in no hurry to pay car accident claims, and without an attorney they may try to devalue or deny yours outright. An attorney gathers the evidence, sets a fair value on your injuries and losses, and keeps you from accepting a poor settlement offer.
Get support today
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a motor vehicle accident in El Paso, you do not have to face the aftermath alone. We offer free consultations to discuss your case and explain your options, and we serve clients throughout Texas and New Mexico. Call 915-444-1085 or reach us online to schedule yours.