One day you are working, driving, or taking care of your family in Houston, and the next you are dealing with hospitals, pain, and unexpected insurance calls after a personal injury. The same can happen when a doctor confirms that ongoing breathing issues are asbestosis linked to asbestos exposure. Suddenly, you are focused on your health, your job, and how to cover the costs.
People may tell you to “file a claim” or “talk to a lawyer,” but that advice rarely explains what the process looks like. If you are facing a catastrophic injury like brain injuries, you need a clear picture of what a personal injury case in Houston involves and what to expect along the way.
At The Patronella Law Firm, led by Attorney Michael Patronella, we have represented Texas families for more than 30 years in catastrophic injuries and asbestos related disease cases, including mesothelioma. This guide explains how a personal injury case in Houston works when the harm is life changing, so you can make informed decisions about your next steps.
What a Personal Injury Case in Houston Really Looks Like
Many people expect a personal injury case to be a quick settlement or a trial, but it is usually a step-by-step process that begins before a lawsuit is filed. In Texas, the case is built around showing that someone else’s negligence caused your injury or disease and that you deserve compensation for the harm it created.
Straightforward car crashes can move faster, but catastrophic injury cases and asbestos related diseases are often more complex. These claims may involve exposures or unsafe decisions from years ago, multiple companies or product manufacturers, and detailed proof of what happened, who is responsible, and how your life has been affected.
Most cases start as an insurance claim where your evidence is presented and negotiations begin. If the insurer refuses to pay what the case is worth, the matter can move into a lawsuit in Houston or another Texas court, with strict deadlines and formal procedures. What happens early in the case often determines how strong it is later and how much leverage you have in resolution.
The First Days & Weeks After a Serious Injury or Diagnosis
The first days and weeks are often a blur. Your main job is to get medical care and try to stabilize your life. For a sudden injury in Houston, that may mean emergency treatment at major hospitals, followed by surgery, rehabilitation, or both. For an asbestos related disease, it may involve pulmonology visits, scans, biopsies, and long conversations about mesothelioma or another asbestos related condition.
Insurance adjusters or employer representatives may contact you early and ask for a recorded statement or broad medical authorizations. These requests often help the company reduce or deny claims, and signing or speaking too soon can limit your case later.
Focus on medical follow-through and evidence while protecting what gets shared. Keep all appointments, follow your doctor’s instructions, and save discharge papers, test results, and bills, then have your lawyer handle insurer communications, control statements, and limit record releases. Texas has strict filing deadlines, including special timing rules for asbestos related illnesses, so early legal help preserves evidence and prevents avoidable deadline issues.
Investigation, Evidence, & Building Your Houston Case
After we begin representing you, we collect the evidence needed to prove your Houston personal injury case. In catastrophic injury cases, this often includes police reports, scene photos, surveillance video, vehicle data, and witness statements, along with complete medical records that document your injuries and future care needs.
In asbestos and other toxic exposure cases, we build a work and exposure history that may go back decades. We identify job sites, tasks, and products you worked around, locate co-workers who can confirm asbestos containing materials, and match your history to product lists and company records to determine which manufacturers and employers are responsible.
Your role is to provide accurate details, documents, and names you have and keep us updated on treatment. We order records, follow up with facilities, and consult medical and technical specialists when needed to prove causation and damages.
Demand Letters, Insurance Negotiations, & Early Settlement Talks
After we have enough evidence to document what happened, who is responsible, and the scope of your injuries or disease, we send a demand letter to the insurer or responsible company. It summarizes liability under Texas law, key medical findings, how your life has changed, and the amount requested to cover your losses.
In catastrophic injury and asbestos related cases, the demand must include future medical care, lost earning capacity, long-term limitations, and pain and mental suffering not just past bills. Insurers often counter with low offers or dispute fault, causation, or pre existing conditions. Some cases settle at this stage, but many high-value cases do not; if a fair offer is not made, the next step is usually filing a lawsuit in a Houston or Texas court.
Filing a Lawsuit in Houston & What That Really Means
Filing a lawsuit can feel overwhelming, but in serious Houston personal injury cases it is often required when an insurer or company refuses to pay a fair amount. A lawsuit brings the case under court oversight and creates enforceable deadlines that move the process forward.
We start by filing a petition that names the responsible parties and explains the legal claims. In catastrophic injury cases, that may include a driver, trucking company, or property owner; in asbestos cases, it may include multiple manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, and employers tied to asbestos containing products. After filing in the proper Houston or Texas court, defendants are served and must respond, and the court sets a schedule for discovery and other steps most of the work happens over months through documents, meetings, and depositions, not constant court appearances.
Discovery, Depositions, & Independent Medical Exams
After a lawsuit is filed, the case moves into discovery, where both sides exchange information and documents. Discovery is often the longest phase in a Houston personal injury case, especially in catastrophic injury and asbestos related disease claims.
Discovery usually starts with written questions and document requests. You may answer questions about your background, medical history, and how the injury or disease affects your daily life, while we request records from the defendants such as safety policies, training materials, maintenance logs, product information, and in asbestos cases, worksite records and historical product data.
Depositions are a key part of discovery and can be stressful. You are questioned under oath in a conference room while a court reporter records the testimony, and we prepare you in advance so you understand the process and the types of questions to expect. Defendants may also request an independent medical examination or outside medical record review, and we explain what will happen, what limits apply, and how to protect your rights during the process.
Mediation, Settlement Before Trial, & When Cases Actually Resolve
Many Houston personal injury cases resolve through settlement instead of a jury verdict, often at mediation. Mediation is a structured settlement meeting with a neutral mediator, usually held at an office or mediation center.
You and your lawyers stay in one room while the defense stays in another, and the mediator carries offers and questions between both sides. You do not argue directly with the other side. We present your evidence and advise you on whether any offer matches the strength of liability proof and the scope of your damages.
In catastrophic injury and asbestos related cases, mediation often happens after major discovery, such as depositions and sworn medical testimony, and settlement talks may intensify as a trial date gets closer. When reviewing offers, we account for future medical care, lost earning capacity, long term limitations, and the impact on your family, then weigh the certainty of settlement against the risks and potential upside of trial.
Trial in a Houston Personal Injury Case & What Happens If You Win or Settle
Some cases go to trial, where a judge or jury hears evidence and decides liability and damages. Trial usually includes jury selection, opening statements, witness testimony including you and medical professionals, closing arguments, and a verdict.
Resolution is not immediate after a settlement or verdict. Liens often must be handled, settlement documents must be signed, and some agreements require court approval before funds can be distributed. In serious cases, settlement structure may also be considered to support long term needs.
Catastrophic injury and asbestos related cases can take months or years because of complex medical proof, multiple defendants, and the amount at stake. At The Patronella Law Firm, we guide you through each phase and the post settlement or post verdict steps so nothing is missed.
Talk With Us About Your Houston Personal Injury Case
A personal injury case in Houston is not a single event. It is a journey that moves from medical crisis, to investigation, to negotiation, and sometimes through trial and beyond. For people facing catastrophic injuries or asbestos related diseases, that journey can feel overwhelming. Knowing what each stage looks like, and how an experienced legal team can handle the legal load while you focus on treatment and family, can bring real peace of mind.
This guide cannot answer every question about your specific situation, and it is not meant to. Your case has its own facts, deadlines, and pressure points. What we can offer is a conversation about how this general process applies to you. If you or someone you love is dealing with a serious injury or an asbestos related diagnosis, we encourage you to reach out so we can review your options, protect your rights, and help you plan the road ahead after an industrial accident or potential wrongful death case.
Contact The Patronella Law Firm today to discuss your Houston personal injury case and learn what steps can protect your health, your rights, and your financial future. The sooner you speak with our team, the sooner we can begin building a strategy tailored to your injury or asbestos related diagnosis.