Austin Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyer Serving Travis County
Last updated on April 1, 2026
Motor vehicle accidents happen in a flash; they can happen almost anywhere and any time. As one of the most common types of personal injury, the information about pursuing compensation can be confusing. But, with my help, this process can a lot easier, and much less stressful.
My name is Matthew Shrum, and I’m a motor vehicle accident attorney working in Austin and all over Travis County. Car crashes and the like are the source of many traumatic injuries, and insurance companies aren’t often responsive to your needs. It’s my job as your lawyer to get their attention and pursue the compensation you need to recover.
Common Types Of Motor Vehicle Accidents
Under Texas law, a motor vehicle accident is any accident involving a motorized vehicle of any sort. This can include many types of vehicle, and they all have their own unique challenges:
- Car accidents: There is a huge range of legal complications, severity and insurance obstacles car accident victims must overcome to get compensation.
- Commercial vehicle accidents: Crashes involving commercial trucks, buses, other commercially operated vehicles and rideshare vehicles have complex liability chains.
- Motorcycle accidents: Insurance companies aggressively fight these claims because of the native risks in motorcycling, but those risks do not end your right to compensation.
- E-bikes and scooters: These newer forms of transportation can lead to accidents with pedestrians, along with head injuries, and as a new area the law, they can be less defined.
- Boating accidents: The complex nature of boating law and regulations make any accident in this area more difficult to secure compensation from.
On my clients’ behalf, I fully investigate each potential concern and provide the facts you need. I help you understand the full scope of the legal problems ahead and work as hard as possible to put you in a position to make smart decisions at the next step.
How Does Texas Determine Liability In Motor Vehicle Accidents?
Texas liability law works on a comparative negligence basis. That means that all drivers involved in a car accident may share in the fault. If any driver in the accident was more than 50% at fault, they cannot recover from the accident. If you are 50% at fault, or less, you can pursue compensation, but the final amount is reduced by your share of the fault in the accident.
The process for determining the degree of fault in the accident comes down to a thorough investigation of the facts. The court and the car accident lawyers involved in the case can review:
- Witness testimony from bystanders and victims
- Physical evidence, including vehicle damage and skid marks
- Photo and video evidence of the accident, if that is available
- Analysis from police and accident experts
- Police reports, including statements taken immediately after the accident
However, collecting and presenting the evidence is only part of the trial. The attorneys will make arguments about what the evidence means – and that’s where my experience as a litigator can make a massive difference. I understand the tactics insurers will often against you, and I will be extremely thorough in preparation and diligent in holding the insurance company accountable for what you deserve.
What Types Of Compensation Are Available?
You may deserve quite a bit of compensation for your motor vehicle accident. Largely, there are two types of compensation available: economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages are anything that comes with a dollar amount, including items like:
- Hospital bills
- Ambulance ride bills
- Doctor bills
- Physical therapy expenses
- Transportation needs for getting to medical appointments
- Medical devices for mobility
- Durable medical equipment
- Any necessary modifications to your home
- Lost wages
- Damage to your vehicle
Any monetary cost of the accident is 100% recoverable. But those economic damages may not be the only damage you’ve suffered. Noneconomic damages include those harder-to-define aspects of getting into an accident:
- Pain and suffering from the accident itself
- Psychological anguish from the accident and stress
- Loss of companionship if the accident caused the loss of a loved one
- Punitive damages in the event the other party was grossly irresponsible in causing the accident
The noneconomic damages and the economic damages seek to reimburse you for the full, monetary and personal losses you suffered. That may not seem like enough, but it can make picking up the pieces a lot easier.
Time Matters, Get Started Today
In Texas, you have a limited amount of time to pursue recovery for an accident. After a motor vehicle accident, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file your case. There are several factors that can extend or shorten that time but, generally speaking, if you do not file suit within two years, you cannot pursue the at-fault party for compensation.
Two years seems like it should be enough time to file a lawsuit, but it moves faster than most people realize. The initial stages of physical recovery can be months long. Add to that the delaying tactics that many insurance companies employ as a matter of course, and you may run out of time. That’s why you need to reach out to me as soon as possible.
Reach Out For A Free Consultation With A Car Accident Attorney
I’m not afraid of going the distance in these car crash cases to secure the compensation that my clients deserve. I will help you understand the legal issues and strategies available to pursue what you need to get back to your life. Call my office today at 512-994-0313 for a free consultation, or send me an email using this form.