Suffered a catastrophic injury in New Braunfels, TX? Contact a trusted New Braunfels catastrophic injury lawyer to seek justice today.
A serious injury does not just hurt. It rewrites what tomorrow looks like for you and everyone who depends on you. Medical bills stack up, work stops, and the insurance company starts calling before you have even left the hospital.
You need a New Braunfels catastrophic injury lawyer who answers the phone personally, knows Comal County courtrooms, and has the resources to stand toe-to-toe with corporate defense teams. At Vendt Accident Attorneys, that is exactly what you get. Our team brings extensive Texas legal experience to every case we take, and we treat yours as if it were the only one on our desk.
Get a free consultation and discover how our catastrophic injury attorneys in New Braunfels can help you seek the compensation and justice you deserve.
What Is a Catastrophic Injury in Texas?
A catastrophic injury is one that permanently changes your ability to work, care for yourself, or live as you did before your accident. These are not injuries you recover from in a few weeks, they reshape your future entirely.
Unlike standard personal injury claims, catastrophic cases involve lifetime costs: ongoing medical care, permanent disability, and long-term support that can run into the millions. That scale demands a legal team built for the long fight.
Do You Have a Catastrophic Injury Claim?
Three things must be true: someone else’s negligence caused your accident, your injury is permanent or profoundly disabling, and your financial losses far exceed what a routine insurance settlement covers.
If all three apply, you have real grounds to pursue compensation. The sooner you move, the stronger your position will be.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Catastrophic Injury?
More than one party often shares legal responsibility for a life-altering accident. Our attorneys identify every liable defendant and pursue all of them.
Commercial Truck and 18-Wheeler Crashes
Trucking companies, their drivers, and maintenance contractors can be held accountable when violations of federal FMCSA safety regulations lead to a catastrophic crash.
Premises Liability and Dangerous Property
Property owners have a legal duty to maintain safe conditions. When a known hazard is left unaddressed and causes a devastating injury, they are legally responsible for the harm that results.
Defective and Dangerous Products
Under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Chapter 82, manufacturers, designers, and sellers can be held strictly liable when a defective product causes serious harm, regardless of whether they knew it was dangerous.
Industrial Sites and Refinery Accidents
Plant owners, general contractors, and equipment manufacturers are frequently responsible when explosions, toxic exposure, or equipment failures cause catastrophic harm at a job site.
Government Vehicles and Public Infrastructure
When a government employee causes your accident while on the job, the entity they work for may be held liable under Texas law.
Catastrophic Injuries Our Team Handles
Our New Braunfels attorneys handle the most serious injury cases in Comal County and across Texas:
- Traumatic brain injuries and severe concussions
- Spinal cord injuries, including paraplegia and quadriplegia
- Third- and fourth-degree burns and permanent scarring
- Amputations and crush injuries
- Permanent loss of vision or hearing
- Wrongful death and survival claims on behalf of grieving families
One pattern we consistently see in catastrophic injury claims out of Comal County is that clients treated at Resolute Health Hospital for a traumatic amputation or crush injury are stabilized quickly, then discharged into a long rehabilitation process that insurers rarely account for in an early offer. Adjusters often calculate a settlement off the initial hospital bill alone, long before physical therapy, prosthetics, or home modifications enter the picture. We build the claim around that full trajectory, not just the emergency room bill.
Compensation You Can Recover
Texas law allows catastrophic injury victims to pursue economic, non-economic, and punitive damages. We build every claim to capture your full lifetime losses.
Medical Expenses and Lost Earning Capacity
We pursue every past and future medical cost, surgeries, rehabilitation, specialist care, and long-term medication, alongside all income you have lost and the earning capacity your injury has permanently taken from you.
Home and Vehicle Modifications
If your injury requires a wheelchair, an accessible vehicle, or home retrofits, those costs belong in your claim. We make sure they are documented and demanded.
Pain, Suffering, and Mental Anguish
These damages reflect the true human cost of a permanent disability: the physical pain, the emotional toll, and the irreplaceable things your injury has taken from your life. They carry real legal value, and we fight for all of it.
Punitive Damages for Gross Negligence
When a defendant showed a conscious disregard for your safety, Texas law allows a jury to award punitive damages, money meant to punish that conduct and hold wrongdoers fully accountable.
What Is the Texas Filing Deadline for Catastrophic Injury Claims?
In Texas, you have two years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit. This rule is called the statute of limitations, and missing it permanently ends your right to recover anything.
If a government entity is responsible, the timeline is even shorter. You may have as little as six months to file a formal notice of claim under the Texas Tort Claims Act, long before the two-year window closes. That deadline cannot be waived.
What we see across the catastrophic injury claims we handle in Comal County is that families wait too long after a devastating diagnosis to consult an attorney, often because they assume the two-year window gives them plenty of time. By the time they call, evidence like commercial vehicle black box data or surveillance footage near I-35 or Loop 337 has already been erased. That is why we push clients to send preservation letters and start building the record the same week an injury is confirmed permanent.
What If You Were Partly at Fault?
Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule, meaning you can still recover damages as long as you were 50% or less responsible for the accident. Your award is reduced by your share of fault, but not eliminated.
Insurance companies use this rule aggressively, pushing as much blame onto you as possible to cut their payout. We build our case to counter that tactic directly.
How Insurance Companies Work against You
The adjuster handling your claim is not on your side. Their job is to close your file for as little as possible.
Watch for these tactics after a catastrophic injury:
- Requesting a recorded statement: Anything you say can be used against your claim. You are never required to give one.
- A quick, low offer: Early offers arrive before anyone has accounted for your lifetime care costs, and they almost never reflect what you deserve.
- Fault shifting: The more blame assigned to you, the less the insurer owes. They will look for any angle to do it.
- Deliberate delay: Stalling your claim is a calculated tactic designed to force a desperate, undervalued settlement.
Once you hire us, all contact with the insurance company goes through our office. You deal with us, not them.
A tactic we see repeatedly from adjusters handling catastrophic injury claims filed out of New Braunfels is a fast six-figure offer within the first thirty days, arriving before a life-care planner has even evaluated the client. Insurers know that once a family sees a large number, they are tempted to accept it before understanding what a lifetime of care actually costs. We routinely reject these early offers and wait for medical experts to finish documenting the full scope of future needs before responding.
How We Build Your Catastrophic Injury Case
We do not push cases toward cheap resolutions. We prepare every file as if it will go before a Comal County jury, drawing on our Texas trial experience and Scott M. Broussard’s extensive jury-trial background.
Evidence Collection and Preservation
We act immediately: gathering police reports, witness statements, surveillance footage, and electronic data. We also send spoliation letters, legal notices requiring all parties to preserve critical evidence like truck black box data, maintenance logs, and internal safety records.
Expert Witnesses and Life-Care Plans
We engage medical experts, certified life-care planners, and forensic economists. A life-care plan is an expert-backed document projecting every treatment, medication, therapy, and adaptive device you will need for the rest of your life and what each will cost. It is often the most powerful document in a catastrophic injury case.
Negotiation and Trial Preparation
Armed with expert testimony and documented proof of your lifetime losses, we demand a settlement that reflects everything you are owed. If the other side refuses, we take your case to trial, and we have the record to back it up.
Steps to Take after a Catastrophic Injury in New Braunfels
The decisions you make in the days immediately after an accident can shape both your recovery and your case.
- Get emergency medical care. Follow every treatment recommendation, gaps in care give insurers grounds to dispute the severity of your injuries.
- Document everything. Photograph the scene, your injuries, and any property damage. Save every bill, accident report, and piece of insurer correspondence.
- Do not speak to the insurance company. Do not give a recorded statement, sign a release, or accept payment before you have spoken with an attorney.
- Call Vendt Accident Attorneys. The earlier we are involved, the more we can do to preserve evidence and protect your right to full compensation.
What It Costs to Hire Our Firm
Nothing upfront. We represent catastrophic injury victims on a contingency-fee basis, we only get paid when we win. If we do not recover compensation for you, you owe us nothing, including case expenses like expert fees and filing costs, which our firm advances throughout your case.
“Scott Broussard helped me tremendously when I went through a major car accident. It was a very stressful time, but he made the whole ordeal so much more manageable. And he fought to made sure I was taken care of and compensated accordingly! Very highly recommend.” – Abel Rocha
Why Families in New Braunfels Trust Vendt Accident Attorneys
We built this firm around one belief: injured Texans deserve the same determination and resources that insurance companies bring to every case. Founding attorney Frank Vendt, Jr., former President of the Fort Bend County Bar Association, leads a team that gives every client direct attorney access, a trial-ready strategy, and straight answers at every step.
“Mr. Vendt is a very knowledgeable & fair Attorney. I was great and very happy with the help I received. You will not find better council.” – Darren G
|
High-Volume Firms |
Vendt Accident Attorneys |
|
|
Case Strategy |
Cookie-cutter settlements |
Individualized, trial-ready plan |
|
Client Access |
Handed to case managers |
Direct attorney contact |
|
Trial Willingness |
Settlement-focused |
Prepared to go to a jury |
|
Fee |
Contingency |
Contingency — nothing unless we win |
Call our New Braunfels office today for a free, no-obligation consultation, you pay nothing unless we win.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Two-Year Filing Deadline Still Apply if a Government Entity Is at Fault?
No, government claims follow a shorter timeline. You may have as little as six months to file a formal notice of claim under the Texas Tort Claims Act.
Who Pays My Medical Bills While My Catastrophic Injury Case Is Pending?
Your own health insurance or auto medical payments (MedPay) coverage may apply during your case, and we pursue full reimbursement from the at-fault party in your final recovery.
Can I Name More than One Defendant in a Catastrophic Injury Lawsuit?
Yes, we regularly identify and pursue multiple liable parties in catastrophic injury cases, which often increases the total compensation available to you.
What Happens if the Driver Who Caused My Injury Had No Insurance?
If the at-fault driver was uninsured or underinsured, we file a claim through your own Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage (UM/UIM), which is designed to fill exactly that gap.
How Does a Life-Care Plan Change the Settlement Value of My Case?
A certified life-care plan provides expert-backed documentation of every future cost your injury will generate, and it is often the single most important factor in reaching a fair settlement.
School Bus Accidents in Comal and Guadalupe Counties
When your child is hurt on a school bus, it is both a physical injury and a breach of trust. Our firm holds school districts and their contractors accountable to the specific safety obligations Texas law places on them.
These cases extend well beyond collisions while the bus is moving. Children are hurt in three distinct ways:
- While riding: Hard braking, sharp turns, and collisions throw unsecured passengers against hard surfaces, causing broken bones, head trauma, and spinal injuries.
- During boarding and unloading: A driver who releases a child at an unsafe stop creates liability when that child is subsequently struck or falls.
- By stop-arm runners: Texas Transportation Code §545.066 requires all traffic to stop for a school bus stop arm. Drivers who ignore this law can be held personally liable for every resulting injury.
A pattern we see often in Comal and Guadalupe County school bus cases is the district producing the bus camera footage only after a formal preservation demand and only for the exact minute of impact rather than the full boarding sequence. In the claims we have worked through New Braunfels ISD and Comal ISD routes, the boarding and unloading footage often matters more than the crash itself, which is why we request the full file the same week we are hired.
|
Claim Type |
Who You Sue |
Key Deadline |
|
Public School Bus (ISD) |
Independent School District |
6-month written notice under the TTCA |
|
City or Regional Bus |
Government Transit Authority |
As little as 90 days per city charter |
|
Private Charter or Greyhound |
Private Bus Company |
2 years under standard Texas law |
Public Bus and City Transport Claims in New Braunfels
If you were hurt on an Alamo Regional Transit (ART) bus or another government-operated shuttle, your claim falls under the Texas Tort Claims Act. The TTCA partially waives sovereign immunity, the government’s default legal shield against lawsuits, but only in specific circumstances, including motor vehicle accidents involving a government employee.
The TTCA caps recovery at $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence. It also requires formal written notice within a narrow window after the accident, a deadline many injured people don’t discover until it has already passed.
Private, Charter, and Intercity Bus Crashes
Greyhound, FlixBus, tour buses, church vans, and hotel or airport shuttles are legally classified as common carriers, transportation businesses that serve the general public for hire.
Interstate carriers also fall under federal regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and those records can be central to your case. We investigate:
- Driver logs to identify hours-of-service violations
- Pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspection reports
- Drug and alcohol testing records
- Maintenance and repair history for the specific bus involved
Hurt on a Greyhound or charter bus? Call Vendt Accident Attorneys.
What we see consistently in charter and intercity bus claims moving through New Braunfels is that the carrier’s FMCSA driver logs do not match the dispatch records once both are pulled side by side. We have found that an hours-of-service violation buried in electronic logging device data is often the detail that turns a disputed liability case into a clear one.
Deadlines and Notice Requirements for Texas Bus Claims
Texas gives injured people two years to file a personal injury lawsuit, but when a government entity is involved, that window closes much faster.
Private bus (Greyhound, charter, shuttle): 2 years from the crash date under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.003.
- Texas school district or state agency: Formal written notice within 6 months under the Texas Tort Claims Act.
- City of New Braunfels or municipal transit: City charters can require notice in as little as 90 days, one of the most compressed deadlines in Texas personal injury law.
Evidence We Preserve Immediately
On-board camera footage is routinely overwritten within days of a crash. Black box data from the event data recorder (EDR), which records the vehicle’s speed, braking force, and GPS location at the moment of impact, disappears just as quickly without formal legal intervention.
We send preservation demand letters the same day we take your case. We also subpoena the driver’s commercial license history, inspection logs, prior complaints, and training records, all of which can reveal a pattern of negligence that predates your accident. Working with accident reconstruction specialists and medical experts, we build a clear factual record of what happened and who is responsible.
“I was represented by Scott Broussard in my personal injury case. Scott helped every step of the way, answering all my questions (I had many!) and preparing me well for discovery. The office staff also was very responsive and helpful. I highly recommend Scott if unfortunately, you find yourself injured and don’t know what to do.” – Tina Michel
Common Injuries in Bus Accident Cases
Bus accidents cause some of the most severe injuries we see, largely because of the vehicle’s weight and the absence of seat belts for standing passengers.
Passengers inside the bus are commonly thrown from seats during sudden stops or impact, suffering whiplash, herniated discs, broken bones, and traumatic brain injuries. Pedestrians and cyclists face catastrophic harm when struck by a bus; large vehicles have significant blind spots that put anyone near a crosswalk or bus stop at serious risk.
Paratransit passengers face a distinct category of risk. Improperly secured wheelchairs, malfunctioning lifts, and inadequate operator training have caused spinal fractures, head trauma, and severe internal injuries in cases just like yours.
Across the paratransit claims we have handled in Comal County, a malfunctioning wheelchair lift or an improperly secured restraint is rarely documented in the driver’s own incident report. We push for the vehicle’s maintenance logs and prior lift-service complaints early, because that history is usually what proves the operator knew about the defect before it hurt someone.
What You Can Recover After a Texas Bus Accident
You should not carry the financial cost of an accident someone else caused. Texas law allows you to pursue full compensation for:
- All medical expenses, from emergency care through long-term rehabilitation
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity going forward
- Physical pain, emotional suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disfigurement or disability
- Wrongful death damages if a family member was killed in the crash
When conduct was reckless or intentional, what Texas law calls gross negligence, courts can award punitive damages under Civil Practice and Remedies Code §41.003. Because the TTCA caps government liability, identifying any private co-defendant often determines how much total compensation is actually available to you.
Why New Braunfels Families Choose Vendt Accident Attorneys
We don’t take cases to settle them quickly and move on. Every client gets a dedicated strategy, direct communication, and a team ready to go to trial when that is what your case demands.
Transit authorities and private carriers have legal teams that start working immediately after a crash, and you deserve an advocate who starts working just as fast. Our New Braunfels office gives us direct familiarity with the local courts, transit routes, and road conditions involved in your case. Senior Counsel April Tabangay-Vigilla provides bilingual support in Tagalog and Spanish, so language is never a barrier. When your case reaches a jury, attorney Scott M. Broussard brings over 25 years of Texas courtroom experience to your side. We work entirely on contingency; you pay nothing unless we win.
“Frank was great to work with. He represented me in a manner that was professional and very efficient. Frank does what he does because he has a passion for justice. I am very appreciative of all that Frank has done for me, and I will recommend him to anyone that needs legal representation conducted the ‘right’ way.” – Sharndell Carr
FAQs: New Braunfels Bus Accident Lawyer
How Quickly Must I Notify the City of New Braunfels or a School District?
City charter rules may require written notice in as little as 90 days. The TTCA gives you six months for school district claims. Missing either deadline permanently bars compensation. Contact an attorney immediately.
Can I Sue New Braunfels ISD or Comal ISD After a School Bus Crash?
Yes, but only under the TTCA’s narrow waiver for motor vehicle negligence, and only if you provide written notice within six months of the accident date.
How Do Private Charter Bus Claims Differ from Alamo Regional Transit Claims?
A private carrier like Greyhound follows standard Texas negligence law, no damage caps, two-year deadline. ART falls under the TTCA with shorter notice windows and strict recovery limits.
What Happens If Another Driver Caused the School Bus to Crash?
You may have a separate negligence claim against that driver, entirely independent of any action against the school district or bus operator; we pursue all available recovery on your behalf.
Does It Cost Anything to Hire Vendt Accident Attorneys for a Bus Accident?
There are no upfront fees. We work on contingency, meaning you pay attorney’s fees only if we recover compensation for you.
Talk to a New Braunfels Bus Accident Lawyer Today
Evidence disappears and legal deadlines move faster than most people expect. If you or your family were hurt in a bus crash in New Braunfels, our team is ready to act immediately on your behalf. Call us at (832) 490-7088, visit our office at 382 S I-35 South Frontage Rd, Building C, Suite 109, New Braunfels, TX 78130, or submit your free consultation request online.