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Texas Injury Law Library
Your Rights Before Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer in Texas
You have the right to choose your own attorney. Before hiring a personal injury lawyer in Texas, learn what questions to ask, what to understand before signing a contract, and which warning signs may indicate pressure or improper solicitation.
A Texas consumer guide from The Miller Law Firm – Home of The Texas Bulldog.
Know Your RightsBefore You Sign
What Are Your Rights Before Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer in Texas?
After an accident, you may feel pressure to make decisions quickly. But choosing a lawyer is an important decision, and you have the right to decide who represents you. You should understand who the attorney is, how the fee works, what you are signing, and who will actually handle your case before agreeing to representation.
Quick Answer
Before hiring a personal injury lawyer in Texas, you have the right to choose your own attorney, ask questions about the lawyer and your case, understand the fee agreement, read the contract before signing it, and know which lawyers or law firms will be involved in your representation.
1. You Choose Your Lawyer
An accident does not give an insurance company, medical provider, tow-truck operator, investigator, friend, stranger, or other third party the right to choose an attorney for you. The decision about whom to hire belongs to you.
2. You Can Ask Questions
Ask about the attorney's experience, who will work on your case, how communication will be handled, what the legal process may involve, and what fees and expenses you may be responsible for.
3. You Can Read the Contract Before Signing
Do not sign a representation or fee agreement you do not understand. Read the document carefully, ask questions about unclear terms, and make sure the written agreement reflects what you were told.
4. You Can Understand the Fees
Personal injury cases are often handled on a contingency-fee basis. Before signing, understand the percentage charged, how case expenses are handled, and how the fee will be calculated if money is recovered.
5. You Can Know Who Will Handle Your Case
Ask whether the attorney you meet will personally work on your case, whether other attorneys or firms may become involved, and who will be your primary point of contact.
6. You Do Not Have to Hire Someone on the Spot
You can ask questions and evaluate whether an attorney is the right fit before signing. High-pressure tactics should not replace an informed decision about who will represent you.
Your Lawyer Should Be Your Choice
A personal injury case may affect your finances, medical care, and future. You should know who you are hiring and understand the agreement before you sign. Be especially cautious if someone you did not contact approaches you after an accident and pressures you to hire a particular lawyer.
Choosing the Right Attorney
7 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
Before hiring a personal injury lawyer in Texas, take time to learn about the attorney, the law firm, and how your case will be handled. A consultation is not only an opportunity for a lawyer to evaluate your claim—it is also your opportunity to decide whether you trust that lawyer to represent you.
Quick Answer
Ask who will handle your case, what experience the attorney has with cases like yours, how fees and expenses work, how often you will receive updates, whether the lawyer is prepared to take a case to trial, and what happens if you later decide to change attorneys.
1
Who Will Actually Handle My Case?
Ask whether the attorney you speak with will personally work on your case or whether most of the day-to-day work will be handled by another attorney or staff member. You should also know who your primary contact will be when you have questions.
2
Have You Handled Cases Like Mine?
Personal injury law covers many different types of claims. Ask about the lawyer's experience with cases involving circumstances and injuries similar to yours and how that experience may affect the way your claim is investigated and prepared.
3
How Do Your Fees and Case Expenses Work?
Ask what percentage will be charged as an attorney's fee, whether that percentage can change during litigation, how case expenses are handled, and how those amounts are calculated if a recovery is made.
4
How Will You Keep Me Updated?
Find out how the firm communicates with clients, who you should contact with questions, and what you can expect as the case progresses. Clear communication should be discussed before—not after—you hire the firm.
5
Are You Prepared to Take My Case to Court?
Many personal injury claims resolve without a trial, but you can still ask about the attorney's litigation and courtroom experience and how the firm prepares cases when an insurance company refuses to make a reasonable offer.
6
Will Another Lawyer or Law Firm Be Involved?
Ask whether the firm expects to associate another attorney, refer the case elsewhere, or share responsibility for the representation. Understanding who may be involved helps you make a more informed decision before signing.
7
What Happens If I Change My Mind?
Ask what the agreement says about ending the attorney-client relationship and what obligations may remain if you later decide to hire someone else. If you have already signed with an attorney and are concerned about how you were recruited, we will cover those rights later in this guide.
Did Someone Contact You Before You Chose a Lawyer?
There is an important difference between researching a law firm yourself and being unexpectedly contacted after an accident. Unsolicited calls, texts, hospital visits, pressure to sign immediately, or contact from someone trying to steer you toward a particular attorney can be warning signs of illegal lawyer solicitation.
Read: 10 Signs of Illegal Lawyer Solicitation in Texas →Warning Signs to Watch For
What Are the Red Flags When Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer?
A major red flag is being contacted by a lawyer, law firm, or someone acting on their behalf when you never asked them to contact you. Texas has laws and professional rules restricting improper solicitation of accident victims. This type of conduct may involve barratry, sometimes called illegal lawyer solicitation or ambulance chasing.
Quick Answer
Be cautious if you receive an unexpected call, text, direct message, home visit, or hospital visit encouraging you to hire a particular lawyer after an accident—especially if the person knows details about your accident that you did not give them or pressures you to sign a contract immediately.
Warning Signs of Improper Lawyer Solicitation
Unexpected Contact
A lawyer, law firm, or another person contacts you about your accident even though you never contacted that firm or asked for legal help. Learn what to do if someone contacted you about your accident.
A Stranger Recommends a Specific Lawyer
Someone you do not know approaches you after an accident and strongly directs you toward a particular attorney or law firm.
They Know Details You Never Shared
The caller or visitor already knows information about your collision, injuries, medical treatment, or other circumstances and you do not know how they obtained it.
Pressure to Sign Immediately
You are pushed to sign a legal-services contract before you have had a reasonable opportunity to read it, ask questions, or independently research the attorney.
Someone Shows Up in Person
A person unexpectedly appears at your home, hospital room, accident scene, or another location and tries to connect you with a lawyer.
A “Runner” or Middleman Is Involved
Someone who is not the lawyer appears to be recruiting accident victims or steering potential clients to a particular attorney or law firm.
What Is Barratry in Texas?
Barratry generally refers to prohibited solicitation of legal business. In accident cases, it can involve improper direct contact with an injured person or the use of another person—sometimes called a runner—to recruit clients for a lawyer. Texas law can provide remedies to people affected by prohibited barratry.
Texas Barratry & Illegal Lawyer Solicitation: Know Your Rights →What Is a Case Runner?
A runner may act as the middleman between an accident victim and a lawyer. If a stranger contacted you after your accident and tried to steer you toward a specific attorney, learn more about how case-running schemes can work and which warning signs to recognize.
Read: What Is a Case Runner in Texas? →Featured on KPRC Houston Life
Watch Adam Miller Explain Illegal Lawyer Solicitation in Texas
Houston personal injury attorney Adam H. Miller, founder of The Miller Law Firm and The Texas Bulldog, appeared on KPRC Houston Life to explain how barratry and illegal lawyer solicitation can happen after an accident and what Texans can do to protect themselves. See the full interview and transcript.
What You'll Learn in This Video
Adam explains how accident victims may be targeted by lawyers, runners, clinics, tow truck drivers, medical providers, or other people who contact them first. He also discusses warning signs of improper solicitation and why preserving texts, call logs, voicemails, contracts, and other evidence can be important if you believe you were unlawfully solicited.
Why This Matters Before You Hire a Lawyer
Advertising by a law firm is not automatically illegal solicitation. The important questions can include who initiated the contact, how the contact occurred, what was said or offered, and whether someone was being used to recruit you for a particular lawyer. If someone contacts you unexpectedly after an accident, you do not have to sign simply because they claim they can help.
For a more complete explanation of these protections, visit our Texas Barratry & Illegal Lawyer Solicitation Guide .
If Someone Contacted You First, Save the Evidence
Keep anything that shows who contacted you, when the contact happened, and what was said. Depending on the circumstances, useful evidence may include:
- Text messages and direct messages
- Call logs and phone numbers
- Voicemails
- Emails
- Business cards or referral information
- Legal-services contracts
- Medical or clinic paperwork connected to the referral
If You Already Signed
Can You Cancel a Personal Injury Lawyer Contract in Texas?
In general, a client has the right to end the attorney-client relationship and change lawyers. However, ending the representation does not necessarily eliminate every financial or contractual issue connected to the prior lawyer. The fee agreement, work already performed, case expenses, and circumstances surrounding the representation can all matter.
Quick Answer
Yes. A Texas client generally has the right to fire a personal injury lawyer and hire another attorney. But changing lawyers can raise questions about attorney fees, case expenses, liens, and the terms of the representation agreement, so it is important to understand your contract and the circumstances of your case.
What If You Were Improperly Solicited Before You Signed?
This is where the circumstances surrounding the contract become especially important. If a lawyer, runner, or another person improperly solicited you to sign a legal-services agreement, Texas barratry law may provide rights and remedies beyond simply changing attorneys.
Do not throw away the contract or delete communications connected to how you became a client. Preserve texts, call logs, voicemails, emails, referral information, and other records that may help show how the contact occurred.
Want to Change Lawyers?
Learn more about ending a personal injury representation agreement, changing attorneys, and issues that may arise after you have already signed a contract.
Read: Can You Cancel a Personal Injury Lawyer Contract in Texas? →Did a Lawyer Contact You First?
Unexpected contact after an accident can raise different questions. Learn the warning signs of illegal lawyer solicitation and what information you should preserve.
Read: 10 Signs of Illegal Lawyer Solicitation in Texas →A Barratry Contract May Raise Additional Legal Issues
Texas law provides specific remedies in certain barratry situations, including provisions addressing contracts obtained through prohibited conduct. Whether those remedies apply depends on the facts, so a person who believes they were illegally solicited should have the circumstances and documents reviewed rather than assuming they are stuck with the lawyer who signed them.
Unexpected Contact After an Accident
What Should You Do If a Lawyer or Runner Contacts You First?
If a lawyer, law firm, or someone claiming to work with an attorney contacts you unexpectedly after an accident, you do not have to hire that lawyer or sign anything immediately. Take time to understand who contacted you, how they obtained your information, and why they are recommending a particular attorney.
Quick Answer
If someone contacts you first and tries to connect you with a personal injury lawyer, do not feel pressured to sign a contract. Write down who contacted you, save the phone number and communications, ask how they obtained your information, independently research the lawyer, and preserve anything showing what you were told or offered.
6 Steps to Take After Unexpected Lawyer Solicitation
1
Do Not Sign Under Pressure
You can take time to research an attorney and understand a legal-services agreement. Be cautious if someone insists that you must sign immediately or suggests that you will lose your rights if you do not hire a particular lawyer on the spot.
2
Ask Who They Are
Get the person's name, company or organization, phone number, and relationship to the lawyer or law firm being recommended. Do not assume that someone contacting you is actually employed by the attorney they mention.
3
Ask How They Got Your Information
If the person already knows about your accident, injuries, medical treatment, or other personal details, ask where that information came from. Make a note of their response.
4
Save the Evidence
Keep texts, direct messages, emails, voicemails, call logs, screenshots, business cards, contracts, referral paperwork, and other records connected to the contact. Do not delete communications simply because they seem suspicious.
5
Research the Lawyer Independently
Look up the attorney yourself rather than relying only on what the caller or visitor tells you. Confirm the lawyer's identity, law firm, background, and contact information before making a decision about representation.
6
Get Independent Legal Advice If You Are Concerned
If you believe you were improperly solicited, consider speaking with an attorney who was not involved in the contact. An independent review can help determine whether the circumstances raise issues under Texas barratry or attorney-solicitation laws.
You Don't Owe the Person Who Contacted You Anything
Receiving a phone call, text, referral, business card, or visit does not obligate you to hire the lawyer being promoted. You can stop the conversation, investigate the situation independently, and choose an attorney based on your own research and judgment.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer in Texas
These are common questions Texans have when choosing a personal injury attorney, responding to unexpected lawyer contact, or deciding what to do after signing a representation agreement.
Can I choose my own personal injury lawyer in Texas?
Yes. You have the right to choose the attorney you want to represent you. You do not have to hire a lawyer recommended by a tow truck driver, medical provider, investigator, stranger, friend, or anyone else who approaches you after an accident.
What should I ask before hiring a personal injury lawyer?
Ask about the lawyer's experience with cases like yours, who will actually handle your case, how fees and case expenses work, how the firm communicates with clients, and whether the attorney has litigation and trial experience. You should also read and understand the representation agreement before signing it.
Can a personal injury lawyer contact me after an accident in Texas?
Texas law and attorney ethics rules restrict certain forms of direct solicitation for legal services. Whether a particular communication is prohibited depends on factors such as who initiated the contact, how it occurred, the purpose of the communication, and whether another person was used to recruit the potential client.
What is barratry in Texas?
Barratry generally refers to prohibited solicitation of legal business. In personal injury cases, it may involve improper efforts by a lawyer or another person acting on a lawyer's behalf to recruit an accident victim as a client. Texas law provides civil remedies in certain cases involving prohibited barratry.
What is a case runner?
A case runner is a person who recruits or attempts to steer potential clients toward a particular lawyer or law firm. In an accident case, a runner may contact an injured person directly, recommend a specific attorney, or act as a middleman between the accident victim and the lawyer.
Can I fire my personal injury lawyer after signing a contract?
Generally, yes. A client can end an attorney-client relationship and hire another lawyer. However, changing attorneys can create issues involving the representation agreement, attorney fees, case expenses, or liens, so the specific contract and circumstances should be reviewed.
What should I do if someone pressures me to hire a lawyer?
Do not sign a contract simply because someone pressures you to act immediately. Get the person's name and contact information, ask how they obtained your information, save texts, calls, voicemails, emails, and other evidence, and independently research any lawyer being recommended.
What should I do if a lawyer or runner contacted me first?
Document the contact and preserve the evidence. Save phone numbers, call logs, text messages, voicemails, emails, business cards, contracts, referral information, and details about what was said or offered. If you are concerned that the contact was improper, consider obtaining independent legal advice.
Do I have to hire the first personal injury lawyer I speak with?
No. Speaking with an attorney does not generally require you to hire that attorney. Before signing a representation agreement, you can ask questions, research the lawyer and law firm, review the proposed fee agreement, and decide whether the attorney is the right fit for your case.
Know Who You're Hiring
Talk With a Houston Personal Injury Lawyer You Choose
Adam H. Miller is the founder and principal attorney of The Miller Law Firm, home of The Texas Bulldog, in Houston, Texas. The firm represents injured Texans and also investigates claims involving barratry, illegal lawyer solicitation, and improper efforts to recruit accident victims.
If you have questions about choosing a personal injury attorney—or believe a lawyer, runner, clinic, or other person improperly contacted you after an accident—you can speak directly with our team about what happened and learn what options may be available.
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Reviewed by Adam H. Miller, Attorney
The Miller Law Firm · Houston, Texas · Updated August 2026