{"id":6996,"date":"2026-10-01T20:10:01","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T20:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/?p=6996"},"modified":"2026-10-07T00:17:47","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T00:17:47","slug":"negligencia-comparativa-en-texas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/es\/comparative-negligence-texas\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00bfQu\u00e9 pasa si tuviste parte de la culpa en un accidente automovil\u00edstico en Texas?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<!--\r\n  J. ALEXANDER LAW FIRM; ARTICLE (.jal-injury-log)\r\n  Comparative fault explainer: What Happens If You Were Partly at Fault for a Car Accident in Texas?\r\n  Slug: \/texas-comparative-fault-51-percent-rule\/ (root level; owns the 51 percent rule topic, other pages summarize and link here)\r\n  Suggested title tag (set at WP level): Comparative Negligence in Texas: The 51 Percent Rule\r\n  Suggested meta description (set at WP level): You can still recover after a Texas car accident at 50 percent fault or less. See how J. Alexander Law tests an insurer's fault claim and saves evidence.\r\n  Intake call figure: WhatConverts lead export of 2026-09-29, calls with transcripts June 10 to September 29, 2026.\r\n-->\r\n<div class=\"jal-injury-log\">\r\n<link rel=\"preconnect\" href=\"https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\">\r\n<link rel=\"preconnect\" href=\"https:\/\/fonts.gstatic.com\" crossorigin>\r\n<link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css2?family=Montserrat:ital,wght@0,300;0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;0,800;1,300;1,400;1,500&#038;family=Roboto+Mono:wght@400;500;700&#038;family=Source+Sans+3:ital,wght@0,300;0,400;0,600;0,700;1,400&#038;family=Source+Serif+4:ital,opsz,wght@0,8..60,400;0,8..60,600;1,8..60,400&#038;display=swap\" media=\"print\" onload=\"this.media='all'\">\r\n<noscript><link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css2?family=Montserrat:ital,wght@0,300;0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;0,800;1,300;1,400;1,500&#038;family=Roboto+Mono:wght@400;500;700&#038;family=Source+Sans+3:ital,wght@0,300;0,400;0,600;0,700;1,400&#038;family=Source+Serif+4:ital,opsz,wght@0,8..60,400;0,8..60,600;1,8..60,400&#038;display=swap\"><\/noscript>\r\n<style>\r\n\r\n.jal-injury-log{\r\n  \/* ===== J. 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h4{font-family:'Montserrat',sans-serif;font-weight:600;font-size:22px;color:var(--ink-strong);margin:0 0 6px;line-height:1.25;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-cta p{font-size:16px;color:var(--ink);margin:0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-btn-row{display:flex;gap:14px;flex-wrap:wrap;margin-top:20px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-btn{font-family:'Montserrat',sans-serif;font-weight:700;font-size:13.5px;letter-spacing:0.04em;text-transform:uppercase;padding:14px 24px;border-radius:3px;text-decoration:none;display:inline-block;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-btn-primary{background:var(--gold);color:#0B0C0F;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-btn-ghost{background:transparent;color:var(--ink-strong);border:1px solid var(--rule);}\r\n\r\n\/* ORNAMENT *\/\r\n\r\n\/* TROUBLESHOOT (If \/ Then) *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-troubleshoot{border:1px solid var(--rule);margin:32px 0;background:var(--panel);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-troubleshoot-header{background:#101114;color:var(--ink-strong);padding:14px 22px;border-bottom:1px solid 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.jal-tag.jal-symptom{background:var(--panel-2);color:var(--ink);border:1px solid var(--rule);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-tag.jal-fix{background:var(--gold);color:#0B0C0F;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-tag.jal-why{background:transparent;color:var(--muted);border:1px solid var(--rule);}\r\n\r\n\/* FOOTER *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-footer{border-top:3px double var(--rule);padding:48px 0 32px;margin-top:24px;font-family:'Source Sans 3','Source Sans Pro',sans-serif;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-footer-meta{font-family:'Roboto Mono',monospace;font-size:11px;letter-spacing:0.1em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--muted);line-height:2;margin-top:8px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-footer-meta strong{color:var(--ink-strong);font-weight:700;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-disclaimer{font-family:'Source Sans 3','Source Sans Pro',sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.6;color:var(--muted);margin-top:24px;max-width:640px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-sig{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:14px;margin-top:32px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-sig img{height:30px;width:auto;object-fit:contain;display:block;opacity:0.9;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-sig span{font-family:'Montserrat',sans-serif;font-size:15px;color:var(--muted);letter-spacing:0.01em;}\r\n\r\n\/* TOC SIDEBAR (desktop) *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc{position:fixed;top:280px;left:max(16px,calc(50% + -630px));width:200px;font-family:'Roboto Mono',monospace;font-size:11px;line-height:1.7;z-index:3;display:none;}\r\n@media (min-width:1240px){.jal-injury-log .jal-toc{display:block;}}\r\n@media (min-width:1400px){.jal-injury-log .jal-toc{left:calc(50% + -650px);width:220px;}}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc-title{text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.15em;color:var(--gold);font-weight:700;margin-bottom:16px;padding-bottom:8px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--rule);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc ol{list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0;counter-reset:jal-toc;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc li{counter-increment:jal-toc;margin-bottom:8px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc li::before{content:counter(jal-toc,decimal-leading-zero);color:var(--muted);margin-right:12px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc a{color:var(--ink);text-decoration:none;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc a:hover{color:var(--gold);}\r\n\r\n\/* MOBILE \/ TABLET INLINE TOC *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc-mobile{display:block;margin:0 0 56px;padding:20px 22px;border:1px solid var(--rule);background:var(--panel);font-family:'Roboto Mono',monospace;font-size:11px;line-height:1.7;}\r\n@media (min-width:1240px){.jal-injury-log .jal-toc-mobile{display:none;}}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc-mobile-title{text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.15em;color:var(--gold);font-weight:700;margin-bottom:14px;padding-bottom:10px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--rule-soft);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc-mobile ol{list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0;counter-reset:jal-toc-m;display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr);gap:6px 16px;}\r\n@media (max-width:560px){.jal-injury-log .jal-toc-mobile ol{grid-template-columns:1fr;}}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc-mobile li{counter-increment:jal-toc-m;margin:0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc-mobile li::before{content:counter(jal-toc-m,decimal-leading-zero);color:var(--muted);margin-right:10px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc-mobile a{color:var(--ink);text-decoration:none;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc-mobile a:hover{color:var(--gold);}\r\n\r\n\/* RESPONSIVE *\/\r\n@media (max-width:700px){\r\n  .jal-injury-log{padding:72px 0 48px;font-size:17px;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-container{padding:0 20px;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-h2{font-size:28px;margin:56px 0 20px;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-question{padding:26px 24px 22px;margin:56px 0 20px;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-question .jal-qh2{font-size:23px;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-lede::first-letter{font-size:4em;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-masthead{flex-direction:column;align-items:flex-start;gap:12px;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-voice{flex-direction:column;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-voice-photo{flex:0 0 auto;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-voice-photo img{min-height:0;max-height:360px;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-voice-body{padding:28px 24px;}\r\n}\r\n\r\n\/* ===== C09 ADDENDUM: components not in the base template ===== *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-check{margin:34px 0;border:1px solid var(--gold-line);background:var(--panel);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-check-head{margin:0;background:var(--gold);color:#0B0C0F;padding:12px 22px;font-family:'Roboto Mono',monospace;font-size:12px;letter-spacing:0.14em;text-transform:uppercase;font-weight:700;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-check-body{padding:18px 24px 20px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-check-body p{margin:0 0 14px;font-size:16px;color:var(--muted);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-check-body ul{list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0;display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(min(280px,100%),1fr));gap:8px 24px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-check-body li{padding:8px 0 8px 26px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--rule-soft);position:relative;font-size:15.5px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-check-body li .jal-check-ico{position:absolute;left:0;top:12px;width:16px;height:16px;fill:var(--gold);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-firm-note{margin:26px 0 30px;padding:22px 26px;background:var(--gold-tint);border:1px solid var(--gold-line);border-left:4px solid var(--gold);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-firm-note .jal-label{font-family:'Roboto Mono',monospace;font-size:11px;letter-spacing:0.15em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--gold);font-weight:700;display:block;margin-bottom:8px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-firm-note p{margin:0 0 12px;font-size:16.5px;line-height:1.6;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-firm-note p:last-child{margin-bottom:0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-firm-note .jal-attrib{font-family:'Roboto Mono',monospace;font-size:11px;letter-spacing:0.08em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--muted);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-sr-only{position:absolute;width:1px;height:1px;padding:0;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);white-space:nowrap;border:0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-cta p.jal-cta-heading{font-family:'Montserrat',sans-serif;font-weight:600;font-size:22px;color:var(--ink-strong);margin:0 0 6px;line-height:1.25;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-accent{font-style:normal;color:var(--gold);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-h1 .jal-accent,.jal-injury-log .jal-h2 .jal-accent{font-weight:inherit;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-qh2 .jal-accent{font-weight:600;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-stat-number .jal-accent{font-weight:700;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-proof-grid{margin:32px 0 8px;border:1px solid var(--rule);background:var(--panel);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-proof-head{background:var(--panel-2);padding:14px 20px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--rule);font-family:'Roboto Mono',monospace;font-size:11px;letter-spacing:0.12em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--ink-strong);font-weight:700;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-proof-head span{color:var(--muted);font-weight:400;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-proof-list{list-style:none;margin:0;padding:8px 0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-proof-list li{padding:10px 20px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--rule-soft);font-size:15px;color:var(--ink);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-proof-list li:last-child{border-bottom:0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-proof-list cite,.jal-injury-log .jal-proof-list .jal-proof-cite{display:block;font-style:normal;font-family:'Roboto Mono',monospace;font-size:11px;letter-spacing:0.08em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--gold);margin-bottom:2px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-proof-note{font-size:13px;color:var(--muted);margin:8px 0 0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-reviewer{display:flex;gap:18px;margin:0 0 40px;padding:20px 24px;border:1px solid var(--rule);background:var(--panel);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-hero-media{margin:0 0 36px;border:1px solid var(--rule);border-bottom:3px solid var(--gold);background:var(--panel);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-hero-media img{width:100%;height:auto;display:block;}\r\n@media (max-width:700px){.jal-injury-log .jal-hero-media{margin:0 0 28px;}}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-figure{margin:20px 0 0;padding:0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-figure img{width:100%;height:auto;display:block;border:1px solid var(--rule);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-figcaption{font-size:13px;color:var(--muted);margin-top:10px;line-height:1.55;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-reviewer-photo{width:64px;height:64px;border-radius:50%;object-fit:cover;flex:none;border:2px solid var(--gold-line);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-reviewer-body p{margin:0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-reviewer-body{font-size:15px;line-height:1.6;color:var(--muted);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-reviewer .jal-label{font-family:'Roboto Mono',monospace;font-size:11px;letter-spacing:0.15em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--gold);font-weight:700;display:block;margin-bottom:6px;}\r\n\r\n\/* ===== COVERAGE LAYERS RAIL ===== *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-layers{list-style:none;margin:26px 0 34px;padding:0;position:relative;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-layers::before{content:\"\";position:absolute;left:21px;top:10px;bottom:10px;width:2px;background:var(--gold-line);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-layer{position:relative;display:flex;gap:20px;padding:0 0 26px;margin:0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-layer:last-child{padding-bottom:0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-layer-ico-wrap{position:relative;z-index:1;flex:none;width:44px;height:44px;border-radius:50%;background:var(--panel-2);border:2px solid var(--gold);display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-layer-ico{width:18px;height:18px;fill:var(--gold);display:block;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-layer-body{padding-top:9px;min-width:0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-layer-body p{margin:0;}\r\n\r\n\/* ===== PRINT LAYER: the dark theme must print dark-on-white ===== *\/\r\n@media print{\r\n  @page{margin:0.75in;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log{\r\n    --bg:#FFFFFF;--panel:#FFFFFF;--panel-2:#FFFFFF;--ink:#1A1A1A;--ink-strong:#000000;\r\n    --muted:#4A4A4A;--secondary:#4A4A4A;--rule:#8A8A8A;--rule-soft:rgba(0,0,0,0.28);\r\n    --gold:#7A5C0C;--gold-soft:#7A5C0C;--gold-deep:#5F470A;--gold-tint:transparent;\r\n    --gold-line:#7A5C0C;--code-bg:#FFFFFF;--code-text:#1A1A1A;\r\n    background:#FFFFFF !important;background-image:none !important;color:#1A1A1A;\r\n    padding:0;font-size:11.5pt;line-height:1.5;\r\n  }\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-container{max-width:100%;padding:0;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-toc{display:none !important;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-h1{font-size:24pt;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-h2{font-size:16pt;margin:28pt 0 10pt;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-dek,.jal-injury-log .jal-lede{font-size:12.5pt;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log 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.jal-question{background:#FFFFFF !important;break-inside:avoid;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-question::before{background:#FFFFFF !important;border:1px solid #7A5C0C;color:#7A5C0C;-webkit-print-color-adjust:exact;print-color-adjust:exact;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-check-head{border-bottom:1.5px solid #7A5C0C;break-after:avoid;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-check-body li{break-inside:avoid;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-figure,.jal-injury-log .jal-hero-media{break-inside:avoid;page-break-inside:avoid;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-figure img{max-height:8in;width:auto;max-width:100%;margin:0 auto;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-firm-note,.jal-injury-log .jal-reviewer,.jal-injury-log .jal-proof-grid,.jal-injury-log .jal-cta,.jal-injury-log .jal-pullquote{break-inside:avoid;page-break-inside:avoid;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-layer{break-inside:avoid;page-break-inside:avoid;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-layers::before{background:#7A5C0C;-webkit-print-color-adjust:exact;print-color-adjust:exact;}\r\n  .jal-injury-log .jal-layer-ico-wrap{background:#FFFFFF;}\r\n}\r\n\r\n\/* comparative fault post addendum: 24px link targets in both tables of contents, the byline and tables *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc li,.jal-injury-log .jal-toc-mobile li{margin-bottom:2px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-toc a,.jal-injury-log .jal-toc-mobile a{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;min-height:24px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-byline a{display:inline-block;padding:3px 0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-data-table-wrap td a{display:inline-block;padding:2px 0;}\r\n\/* breadcrumb *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-crumbs{margin:0 0 18px;font-family:'Roboto Mono',monospace;font-size:12px;letter-spacing:0.06em;text-transform:uppercase;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-crumbs ol{list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:4px 10px;align-items:center;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-crumbs li{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;color:var(--muted);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-crumbs li + li::before{content:'\/';color:var(--muted);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-crumbs a{color:var(--ink);text-decoration:underline;text-underline-offset:3px;display:inline-flex;align-items:center;min-height:24px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-crumbs [aria-current]{color:var(--ink-strong);}\r\n\/* statute quote: smaller than a pull quote, still set apart *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-pullquote.jal-statute{font-size:21px;line-height:1.45;margin:36px 0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-pullquote.jal-statute p{margin:0 0 12px;color:var(--ink-strong);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-pullquote.jal-statute .jal-attrib{font-family:'Roboto Mono',monospace;font-size:12px;letter-spacing:0.08em;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-pullquote.jal-statute .jal-attrib a{display:inline-block;padding:4px 0;}\r\n\/* method note under the intake call figure *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-method{font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;color:var(--muted);border-left:2px solid var(--rule);padding-left:14px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-method strong{color:var(--ink);}\r\n\/* checklist heading used as a label, not an outline heading *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-article p.jal-check-head{margin:0;color:#0B0C0F;}\r\n@media (max-width:600px){.jal-injury-log .jal-pullquote.jal-statute{font-size:18px;padding-left:18px;}\r\n}\r\n\/* case file boxes *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-casefile{margin:34px 0;padding:6px 26px 22px;background:var(--panel);border:1px solid var(--rule);border-top:3px solid var(--gold);}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-casefile .jal-h4{margin:22px 0 14px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-casefile p{margin:0 0 14px;font-size:17px;line-height:1.6;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-casefile p.jal-casefile-note{margin:16px 0 0;padding-top:12px;border-top:1px solid var(--rule-soft);font-size:14px;color:var(--muted);}\r\n@media (max-width:600px){.jal-injury-log .jal-casefile{padding:4px 18px 18px;}\r\n}\r\n\/* callout text sits in paragraphs *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-callout p{margin:0;}\r\n\/* compact tables that fit a phone screen without sideways scrolling *\/\r\n@media (max-width:600px){.jal-injury-log .jal-fit th,.jal-injury-log .jal-fit td{padding:9px 5px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-fit td.jal-metric{font-size:12px;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-fit th{font-size:11px;letter-spacing:0.04em;}\r\n}\r\n\/* ===== READING DESIGN LAYER: serif long form text, cleaner labels, attorney photos, case cards ===== *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log{--serif:'Source Serif 4',Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;--sans:'Source Sans 3','Source Sans Pro',-apple-system,'Segoe UI',sans-serif;--display:'Montserrat',-apple-system,'Segoe UI',sans-serif;}\r\n\/* reading progress bar (scroll driven where supported, invisible elsewhere) *\/\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-progress{position:fixed;top:0;left:0;right:0;height:3px;background:var(--gold);transform-origin:0 50%;transform:scaleX(0);z-index:60;pointer-events:none;}\r\n@supports (animation-timeline: scroll()){.jal-injury-log .jal-progress{animation:jal-read linear both;animation-timeline:scroll(root 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.jal-voice-photo{display:none;}\r\n.jal-injury-log .jal-casefile{break-inside:avoid;}\r\n}\r\n<\/style>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"jal-progress\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\r\n\r\n<nav class=\"jal-toc\" aria-label=\"Table of contents\">\r\n  <div class=\"jal-toc-title\">In this article<\/div>\r\n  <ol role=\"list\">\r\n    <li><a href=\"#jal-s1\">Short answer<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#jal-rule\">The 51 percent rule<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#jal-intake\">Intake calls<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#jal-decides\">Who decides<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#jal-preserve\">What we preserve<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#jal-defenses\">Fault defenses<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#jal-rear\">Rear end crashes<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#jal-turns\">Left turns<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#jal-word\">Word versus word<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#jal-multi\">Three or more drivers<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#jal-adjuster\">When an adjuster blames you<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#jal-lawsuit\">Filing suit<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#jal-faq\">FAQ<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <\/ol>\r\n<\/nav>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"jal-container\">\r\n\r\n  <header class=\"jal-hero\">\r\n    <nav class=\"jal-crumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\">\r\n      <ol role=\"list\">\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/\">Home<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/insights\/\">Blog<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><span aria-current=\"page\">Partly at Fault in Texas<\/span><\/li>\r\n      <\/ol>\r\n    <\/nav>\r\n    <div class=\"jal-issue-meta\">\r\n      <span>Resources<\/span>\r\n      <span class=\"jal-dot\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\r\n      <span>Texas Law<\/span>\r\n      <span class=\"jal-dot\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\r\n      <span>Updated <time datetime=\"2026-09-30\">September 2026<\/time><\/span>\r\n      <span class=\"jal-dot\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\r\n      <span>About 22 min read<\/span>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <h1 class=\"jal-h1\">What Happens If You Were <span class=\"jal-accent\">Partly at Fault<\/span> for a Car Accident in Texas?<\/h1>\r\n    <p class=\"jal-dek\">Being told you share the blame does not end a Texas injury claim. In the fault disputes J. Alexander Law Firm handles, the outcome often turns on the opening days after a crash: whether someone saved video, got a witness&#8217;s name, photographed the vehicles before repair, or tested the insurer&#8217;s first explanation.<\/p>\r\n    <div class=\"jal-byline\">\r\n      <div><strong>By<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/about-us\/josh-alexander\/\">Josh Alexander<\/a>, Founder and Managing Attorney<\/div>\r\n      <div><strong>Reviewed by<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/about-us\/matthew-graham\/\">Matthew Graham<\/a>, Managing Litigation Attorney<\/div>\r\n      <div><strong>Published<\/strong> <time datetime=\"2026-09-30\">September 30, 2026<\/time> &middot; <strong>Updated<\/strong> <time datetime=\"2026-09-30\">September 30, 2026<\/time><\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/header>\r\n\r\n  <figure class=\"jal-photo jal-photo-hero\">\r\n    <img src=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/crash-scene-of-the-accident-mestique-1024x768.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/crash-scene-of-the-accident-mestique-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/crash-scene-of-the-accident-mestique-1024x768.webp 1024w, https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/crash-scene-of-the-accident-mestique-1536x1152.webp 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 716px\" alt=\"Crash debris scattered along the concrete barrier on eastbound Interstate 30 in Mesquite after a tractor trailer collision\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" \/>\r\n    <figcaption><span class=\"jal-photo-tag\">Case photo<\/span>Eastbound I-30 in Mesquite after the tractor trailer collision in the first case file below. The truck driver blamed a blind spot; the crash report and the witnesses pointed back at the truck.<\/figcaption>\r\n  <\/figure>\r\n\r\n  <article class=\"jal-article\">\r\n\r\n    <nav class=\"jal-toc-mobile\" aria-label=\"Table of contents\">\r\n      <div class=\"jal-toc-mobile-title\">In this article<\/div>\r\n      <ol role=\"list\">\r\n        <li><a href=\"#jal-s1\">Short answer<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"#jal-rule\">The 51 percent rule<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"#jal-intake\">Intake calls<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"#jal-decides\">Who decides<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"#jal-preserve\">What we preserve<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"#jal-defenses\">Fault defenses<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"#jal-rear\">Rear end crashes<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"#jal-turns\">Left turns<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"#jal-word\">Word versus word<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"#jal-multi\">Three or more drivers<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"#jal-adjuster\">When an adjuster blames you<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"#jal-lawsuit\">Filing suit<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"#jal-faq\">FAQ<\/a><\/li>\r\n      <\/ol>\r\n    <\/nav>\r\n\r\n    <p class=\"jal-lede\">Texas lets you recover if your own share of responsibility is no higher than 50 percent, but your recovery is reduced by that percentage. At 51 percent, recovery is barred. The rule itself is straightforward. The real work is proving whose version of the crash is supported by the record.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"jal-reviewer\" role=\"note\">\r\n      <img class=\"jal-reviewer-photo\" src=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/r_matthew-graham-2-300x300.png\" alt=\"Matthew Graham, Managing Litigation Attorney at J. Alexander Law Firm\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" \/>\r\n      <div class=\"jal-reviewer-body\">\r\n        <span class=\"jal-label\">About this article<\/span>\r\n        <p>Written by Josh Alexander and reviewed by Matthew Graham, who defended insurance carriers before he joined our firm. The Texas law cited here was checked against the official statute text in September 2026, each case result against its published case page, and each caller quote word for word against the recorded call. Callers are not named, and identifying details are left out. This is general information, not legal advice, and it does not create an attorney client relationship.<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"jal-q1\">\r\n    <div class=\"jal-question\" id=\"jal-s1\" data-q=\"Short answer\">\r\n      <div class=\"jal-question-label\">The question behind every fault dispute<\/div>\r\n      <h2 class=\"jal-qh2\" id=\"jal-q1\">Can You Still Recover When You Were <span class=\"jal-accent\">Partly at Fault?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n      <p class=\"jal-answer-summary\"><strong>Yes, provided you carry half of the blame or less.<\/strong> Texas follows a rule known as proportionate responsibility, often called comparative negligence or comparative fault. Your own percentage of fault comes off your recovery. Above 50 percent, Texas law bars recovery altogether.<\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"jal-data-table-wrap\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"jal-share-title\" tabindex=\"0\">\r\n      <div class=\"jal-data-table-title\" id=\"jal-share-title\">What your share of fault does <span class=\"jal-source\">&middot; Texas proportionate responsibility<\/span><\/div>\r\n      <table class=\"jal-fit\" aria-labelledby=\"jal-share-title\">\r\n        <thead><tr><th scope=\"col\">Your share of fault<\/th><th scope=\"col\">What happens<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\r\n        <tbody>\r\n          <tr><th scope=\"row\">0 percent<\/th><td>You may recover your damages in full, subject to insurance limits and other case specific issues<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><th scope=\"row\">20 percent<\/th><td>Your damages are reduced by 20 percent<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><th scope=\"row\">50 percent<\/th><td>You may still recover, but your damages are cut in half<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><th scope=\"row\">51 percent or more<\/th><td>Recovery is barred; the other party owes you nothing<\/td><\/tr>\r\n        <\/tbody>\r\n      <\/table>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <p>The 51 percent line matters because a disputed percentage is not just a negotiating detail. It can shrink a case, or wipe it out entirely.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"jal-callout\" role=\"note\">\r\n      <span class=\"jal-label\">The short version<\/span>\r\n      <p>An insurance adjuster&#8217;s fault percentage is not a court ruling. It is the carrier&#8217;s position based on the information it has, the story it heard first, and the evidence it believes it can use.<\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"jal-rule\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"jal-h2\" id=\"jal-rule\">The Texas <span class=\"jal-accent\">51 Percent Rule<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <p>The governing statute is <a href=\"https:\/\/statutes.capitol.texas.gov\/Docs\/CP\/htm\/CP.33.htm#33.001\">Civil Practice and Remedies Code 33.001<\/a>. It bars an injured person from recovering damages once that person&#8217;s share of responsibility tops 50 percent. That means exactly 50 percent fault is still recoverable.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <h3 class=\"jal-h4\">Example<\/h3>\r\n    <p>Assume your total damages are $100,000. Damages means the full value of your losses before any reduction; medical bills, lost pay, vehicle repairs, and pain and suffering all count. Under section 33.012, the reduction works like this:<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"jal-data-table-wrap\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"jal-math-title\" tabindex=\"0\">\r\n      <div class=\"jal-data-table-title\" id=\"jal-math-title\">Example on $100,000 of total damages <span class=\"jal-source\">&middot; real cases turn on their own facts, injuries and insurance<\/span><\/div>\r\n      <table class=\"jal-fit\" aria-labelledby=\"jal-math-title\">\r\n        <thead><tr><th scope=\"col\">Your share of fault<\/th><th scope=\"col\">Calculation<\/th><th scope=\"col\">Potential recovery<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\r\n        <tbody>\r\n          <tr><th scope=\"row\">0 percent<\/th><td>$100,000 minus $0<\/td><td class=\"jal-metric\">$100,000<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><th scope=\"row\">20 percent<\/th><td>$100,000 minus $20,000<\/td><td class=\"jal-metric\">$80,000<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><th scope=\"row\">30 percent<\/th><td>$100,000 minus $30,000<\/td><td class=\"jal-metric\">$70,000<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><th scope=\"row\">50 percent<\/th><td>$100,000 minus $50,000<\/td><td class=\"jal-metric jal-hi\">$50,000<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><th scope=\"row\">51 percent<\/th><td>Recovery barred<\/td><td class=\"jal-metric jal-lo\">$0<\/td><\/tr>\r\n        <\/tbody>\r\n      <\/table>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <p>That calculation is only the beginning. Insurance limits, prior settlements, available coverage, medical proof, and the number of responsible parties can all affect what is actually collected. Our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/average-car-accident-lawsuit-value-in-texas\/\">what Texas car accident lawsuits are worth<\/a> covers how limits shape the final number.<\/p>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"jal-think\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"jal-h2\" id=\"jal-think\">How We Think <span class=\"jal-accent\">About Fault<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <p>When someone calls our office and says, &#8220;The other driver is blaming me,&#8221; we do not begin by arguing over a number. We start with the questions that can actually change the number:<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <ul>\r\n      <li>What did the vehicles look like immediately after the impact?<\/li>\r\n      <li>Is there business, traffic, dashcam, apartment, rideshare, or home security footage?<\/li>\r\n      <li>Did anyone independent see what happened?<\/li>\r\n      <li>What does the report say, and what facts does it rely on?<\/li>\r\n      <li>Did either driver make a statement before speaking with an insurer?<\/li>\r\n      <li>Is there vehicle data, phone evidence, or a commercial driver record to preserve?<\/li>\r\n      <li>What has the insurer already been told, and what evidence has it not seen?<\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n\r\n    <p>A fault percentage can be no stronger than the proof underneath it.<\/p>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"jal-intake\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"jal-h2\" id=\"jal-intake\">What Our Intake <span class=\"jal-accent\">Calls Show<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <p>Between June 10 and September 29, 2026, we reviewed 155 recorded intake calls involving vehicle crashes. Fault, blame, or an insurer&#8217;s liability decision came up in 71 of those calls, or 46 percent. In 37 of them, 24 percent of all the crash calls, the caller raised it in their own words.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"jal-stats-grid\">\r\n      <div class=\"jal-stat\"><div class=\"jal-stat-number\">155<\/div><div class=\"jal-stat-label\">Recorded crash intake calls reviewed<\/div><\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"jal-stat\"><div class=\"jal-stat-number\">71 <span class=\"jal-accent\">46%<\/span><\/div><div class=\"jal-stat-label\">Fault, blame or liability came up<\/div><\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"jal-stat\"><div class=\"jal-stat-number\">37 <span class=\"jal-accent\">24%<\/span><\/div><div class=\"jal-stat-label\">Raised by the caller in their own words<\/div><\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <p>People were not simply asking, &#8220;Who was at fault?&#8221; They were often facing one of the same recurring problems:<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <ul>\r\n      <li>The other driver was telling a different story than the caller<\/li>\r\n      <li>The police report did not assign fault, or the officer never spoke to a witness<\/li>\r\n      <li>The carrier said it was still investigating and had not accepted liability<\/li>\r\n      <li>The caller accepted part of the blame, but not all of it<\/li>\r\n      <li>The claim had been denied, or was likely to be, with nothing to break a word versus word dispute<\/li>\r\n      <li>The caller had video, photographs, or a witness and wanted to know whether it was enough<\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n\r\n    <p>One caller had rear ended a slow car just past a blind curve on the highway, after a truck in the next lane sped up and blocked the merge. The caller put the shared fault problem in a single sentence: &#8220;I&#8217;m having difficulty with being 100% at fault, if that makes sense.&#8221; That is exactly the question proportionate responsibility answers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"jal-firm-note\">\r\n      <span class=\"jal-label\">What we learn from that pattern<\/span>\r\n      <p>Fault disputes do not begin in a courtroom. They often begin when the first story reaches the insurer, when an important piece of evidence is not preserved, or when an unanswered defense theory becomes the carrier&#8217;s reason to discount the claim.<\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <p class=\"jal-method\"><strong>Method note.<\/strong> The figures above come from a review of those calls. A call counted when someone on it discussed who was at fault or to blame, or whether an insurer had accepted, denied, or was still investigating liability. Our intake script includes a question about whether the caller thinks the other driver is responsible, so the 71 includes calls where only our staff used those words; the 37 counts only calls where the transcript shows the caller using them. No caller is identified, and individual results and experiences vary.<\/p>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"jal-decides\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"jal-h2\" id=\"jal-decides\">Who Actually <span class=\"jal-accent\">Decides Fault?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <p>An insurance adjuster can assign a percentage, accept liability, deny liability, or offer to pay only part of a claim. But that does not make the percentage final.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <h3 class=\"jal-h4\">Before a lawsuit<\/h3>\r\n    <p>The insurer evaluates the available evidence:<\/p>\r\n    <ul>\r\n      <li>Police report and crash diagram<\/li>\r\n      <li>Statements from both drivers<\/li>\r\n      <li>Witness information<\/li>\r\n      <li>Photos and video<\/li>\r\n      <li>Vehicle damage<\/li>\r\n      <li>Traffic citations<\/li>\r\n      <li>Medical records and claimed injuries<\/li>\r\n      <li>Available insurance coverage<\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n    <p>The carrier may call its conclusion &#8220;accepted liability,&#8221; &#8220;comparative negligence,&#8221; &#8220;shared fault,&#8221; or &#8220;insufficient evidence.&#8221; Regardless of the label, the important question is the same: what evidence supports that decision?<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <h3 class=\"jal-h4\">In a lawsuit<\/h3>\r\n    <p>A judge or jury ultimately assigns percentages of responsibility if the case goes to trial (section 33.003). An argument that you share the fault is generally an affirmative defense; Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 94 lists contributory negligence among them. The other side must plead it and support it with evidence that you failed to use reasonable care and that your conduct helped cause the collision or your injuries. It is not enough to say you &#8220;should have seen&#8221; something or &#8220;could have avoided&#8221; the crash.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"jal-voice\">\r\n      <div class=\"jal-voice-photo\"><img src=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/r_matthew-graham-2.png\" alt=\"Matthew Graham, Managing Litigation Attorney at J. Alexander Law Firm\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \/><\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"jal-voice-body\">\r\n      <span class=\"jal-label\">From Matthew Graham&#8217;s desk<\/span>\r\n      <p>Our litigation practice is led by Matthew Graham, who describes his background this way: &#8220;I spent more than a decade defending insurance carriers. I know exactly how they evaluate a file, where they will dig in, and how to make them blink.&#8221;<\/p>\r\n      <p>That background shapes how we read a file. A comparative fault argument does not have to be perfect to affect an offer; it only has to sound plausible until someone forces the carrier to identify what supports it. So we want to know whether the percentage comes from video, a witness, vehicle evidence, a photograph, or simply the other driver&#8217;s story.<\/p>\r\n      <p class=\"jal-voice-name\">Matthew Graham<\/p>\r\n      <p class=\"jal-voice-role\">Managing Litigation Attorney<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"jal-preserve\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"jal-h2\" id=\"jal-preserve\">What We <span class=\"jal-accent\">Preserve First<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <p>In a disputed fault crash, time matters. Video can be overwritten, witnesses become difficult to locate, vehicles are repaired, and an insurer&#8217;s version of the event can harden before the full record exists.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <h3 class=\"jal-h4\">1. Video<\/h3>\r\n    <p>We look for footage from nearby businesses, intersections, apartment complexes, homes, dashcams, rideshare vehicles, and commercial vehicles.<\/p>\r\n    <p>A camera does not need to capture the impact to matter. Video showing traffic flow, vehicle positions, signal timing, lane movement, weather, or the seconds before a collision can be enough to challenge a false narrative.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <h3 class=\"jal-h4\">2. Independent witnesses<\/h3>\r\n    <p>A neutral witness can break a &#8220;word versus word&#8221; dispute. But a witness who leaves without giving contact information may be impossible to find later. If someone stops, get:<\/p>\r\n    <ul>\r\n      <li>Full name<\/li>\r\n      <li>Phone number<\/li>\r\n      <li>Email address<\/li>\r\n      <li>A short description of what they saw<\/li>\r\n      <li>Their location when they saw it<\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n\r\n    <h3 class=\"jal-h4\">3. Vehicle evidence<\/h3>\r\n    <p>Damage location and crush patterns can test what each driver says happened. The vehicles themselves may also contain event data recorder information showing speed, braking, steering, or other data near the crash; federal rules set what those recorders capture (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecfr.gov\/current\/title-49\/subtitle-B\/chapter-V\/part-563\">49 CFR Part 563<\/a>).<\/p>\r\n    <figure class=\"jal-photo\">\r\n      <img src=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/piece-of-the-bumper-1024x768.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/piece-of-the-bumper-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/piece-of-the-bumper-1024x768.webp 1024w, https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/piece-of-the-bumper-1536x1152.webp 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 716px\" alt=\"A torn black bumper cover lying against the concrete barrier on I-30 after the Mesquite collision\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \/>\r\n      <figcaption><span class=\"jal-photo-tag\">Case photo<\/span>Bumper debris from the Mesquite crash. Where parts land, and how they tear, can help test each driver&#8217;s account of the impact.<\/figcaption>\r\n    <\/figure>\r\n    <p>Commercial cases can involve even more sources of evidence, including onboard video, driver logs, dispatch records, inspection records, GPS data, and company communications. What to save yourself is listed in our <a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/how-to-gather-evidence-after-a-car-accident-texas\/\">guide to gathering crash evidence<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <h3 class=\"jal-h4\">4. The carrier&#8217;s stated reason<\/h3>\r\n    <p>If an insurer pins 30 percent of the fault on you, asks for a recorded statement, or denies your claim, ask for the reason in writing. We want to know:<\/p>\r\n    <ul>\r\n      <li>What percentage did the insurer assign?<\/li>\r\n      <li>What evidence did it rely on?<\/li>\r\n      <li>What witness statements does it claim to have?<\/li>\r\n      <li>Does it rely on the crash report?<\/li>\r\n      <li>Is it arguing speed, following distance, distraction, weather, a lane change, or another theory?<\/li>\r\n      <li>Has it reviewed the evidence you possess?<\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n    <p>The first step in responding to a blame shifting argument is identifying the actual argument.<\/p>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"jal-defenses\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"jal-h2\" id=\"jal-defenses\">The Fault Defenses <span class=\"jal-accent\">We Expect<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <p>Insurance companies and defense lawyers return to the same themes. A theme is not proof. It is a starting point for investigation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"jal-data-table-wrap\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"jal-def-title\" tabindex=\"0\">\r\n      <div class=\"jal-data-table-title\" id=\"jal-def-title\">Common fault defenses <span class=\"jal-source\">&middot; and the questions that test them<\/span><\/div>\r\n      <table class=\"jal-fit\" aria-labelledby=\"jal-def-title\">\r\n        <thead><tr><th scope=\"col\">What the insurer may argue<\/th><th scope=\"col\">What we ask next<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\r\n        <tbody>\r\n          <tr><th scope=\"row\">&#8220;You should have seen the other vehicle.&#8221;<\/th><td>From where? At what distance? With what sightline? How many seconds were actually available?<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><th scope=\"row\">&#8220;You were in the truck&#8217;s blind spot.&#8221;<\/th><td>Did the truck driver signal, keep a proper lookout, check mirrors, or make a safe lane movement?<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><th scope=\"row\">&#8220;Rain or weather caused the crash.&#8221;<\/th><td>Did weather actually cause it, or did a driver fail to slow down, stay awake, brake, steer, or maintain control?<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><th scope=\"row\">&#8220;Both drivers were moving, so it is 50\/50.&#8221;<\/th><td>Who had the better opportunity to see, yield, stop, or avoid impact?<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><th scope=\"row\">&#8220;The police report blames you.&#8221;<\/th><td>What underlying facts support that opinion, and what does independent evidence show?<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><th scope=\"row\">&#8220;There is no proof.&#8221;<\/th><td>Has anyone obtained nearby video, preserved vehicle data, found witnesses, or compared the damage to the story?<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><th scope=\"row\">&#8220;You stopped suddenly.&#8221;<\/th><td>Was the stop necessary? What was traffic doing ahead? Did the rear driver maintain a safe following distance?<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><th scope=\"row\">&#8220;You had a green light too.&#8221;<\/th><td>Who had the protected movement? Who was turning? What did the signal phase require?<\/td><\/tr>\r\n        <\/tbody>\r\n      <\/table>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"jal-casefile\">\r\n      <div class=\"jal-casefile-top\"><span class=\"jal-casefile-tag\">Case file<\/span><span class=\"jal-casefile-amt\">$600,000<\/span><\/div>\r\n      <h3 class=\"jal-h4\" id=\"jal-case-blind\">&#8220;Blind Spot&#8221; Was the Defense<\/h3>\r\n      <figure class=\"jal-photo\">\r\n        <div class=\"jal-photo-pair\"><img src=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/j-alexander-mestique-tx-accident-settlement-600k-768x576.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/j-alexander-mestique-tx-accident-settlement-600k-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/j-alexander-mestique-tx-accident-settlement-600k-1024x768.webp 1024w, https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/j-alexander-mestique-tx-accident-settlement-600k-1536x1152.webp 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 340px\" alt=\"Rear damage to the client's Toyota Camry after the tractor trailer collision on I-30, license plate blacked out\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \/><img src=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/back-oversize-load-bad-truck-collision-mestique-j-alexander-law-firm-768x576.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/back-oversize-load-bad-truck-collision-mestique-j-alexander-law-firm-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/back-oversize-load-bad-truck-collision-mestique-j-alexander-law-firm-1024x768.webp 1024w, https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/back-oversize-load-bad-truck-collision-mestique-j-alexander-law-firm-1536x1152.webp 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 340px\" alt=\"Rear doors of the tractor trailer, marked with an oversize load banner, after the I-30 collision\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \/><\/div>\r\n        <figcaption><span class=\"jal-photo-tag\">Case photo<\/span>Both vehicles in the blind spot dispute: our client&#8217;s Camry and the rear of the tractor trailer.<\/figcaption>\r\n      <\/figure>\r\n      <p><strong>The claim.<\/strong> In one commercial truck case on Interstate 30, the truck driver argued that our client&#8217;s Camry had been sitting in the truck&#8217;s blind spot.<\/p>\r\n      <p><strong>What we tested.<\/strong> We did not accept &#8220;blind spot&#8221; as the conclusion. We looked at whether the truck driver&#8217;s lane movement, the crash report, and witness accounts supported that explanation.<\/p>\r\n      <p><strong>What mattered.<\/strong> The crash report identified no contributing factor for the Camry, and it listed two factors for the tractor trailer: an unsafe lane change and failing to control speed. Witnesses described the 18 wheeler swerving across lanes.<\/p>\r\n      <p><strong>The result.<\/strong> After the trucking company&#8217;s insurer opened with a low offer, the <a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/results\/600k-mesquite-car-accident-settlement\/\">case resolved for $600,000<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n      <p><strong>Lesson from the file.<\/strong> &#8220;Blind spot&#8221; is not a complete defense. The real questions are whether the commercial driver made a safe lane change, maintained a proper lookout, used mirrors and signals, and had room to move safely.<\/p>\r\n      <p class=\"jal-casefile-note\">Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Injuries, evidence and coverage were specific to this client.<\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"jal-rear\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"jal-h2\" id=\"jal-rear\">Rear End Fault Is <span class=\"jal-accent\">Not Always Automatic<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <p>The driver in the rear often begins with a difficult position because Texas requires drivers to maintain enough distance to stop safely (<a href=\"https:\/\/statutes.capitol.texas.gov\/Docs\/TN\/htm\/TN.545.htm#545.062\">Transportation Code 545.062<\/a>). But &#8220;rear end crash&#8221; is not the end of the investigation. The other side may argue:<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <ul>\r\n      <li>The front driver cut in abruptly<\/li>\r\n      <li>The front vehicle stopped without reason<\/li>\r\n      <li>Brake lights were defective<\/li>\r\n      <li>A third vehicle created an emergency<\/li>\r\n      <li>Road conditions made the crash unavoidable<\/li>\r\n      <li>The front driver reversed<\/li>\r\n      <li>The collision occurred in a chain reaction<\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n\r\n    <p>We look for what happened in the last seconds before the collision, not simply where the damage appeared.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"jal-casefile\">\r\n      <div class=\"jal-casefile-top\"><span class=\"jal-casefile-tag\">Case file<\/span><span class=\"jal-casefile-amt\">$100,000<\/span><\/div>\r\n      <h3 class=\"jal-h4\" id=\"jal-case-noreport\">No Police Report Did Not Mean No Proof<\/h3>\r\n      <figure class=\"jal-photo\">\r\n        <div class=\"jal-photo-pair\"><img src=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/rend-d1-768x576.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/rend-d1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/rend-d1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/rend-d1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 340px\" alt=\"The other driver's white work pickup stopped on a highway with its hood buckled and front bumper pushed in\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \/><img src=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/rend-d2-768x576.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/rend-d2-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/rend-d2-1024x768.webp 1024w, https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/rend-d2-1536x1152.webp 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 340px\" alt=\"Scrapes and deformation across the tailgate and rear bumper of the client's white Chevrolet Silverado\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \/><\/div>\r\n        <figcaption><span class=\"jal-photo-tag\">Case photo<\/span>The photos that had to stand in for a police report: the striking work truck and our client&#8217;s Silverado.<\/figcaption>\r\n      <\/figure>\r\n      <p>In one rear end case, there were no officer fault codes to frame the claim. That did not mean there was no case. Photos became important because they documented the vehicles and scene when no police conclusion existed for the insurer to rely on. The <a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/results\/100000-rear-end-accident-no-police-report-settlement\/\">case resolved for $100,000<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n      <p><strong>Lesson from the file.<\/strong> A missing police report creates an evidence problem, not automatically a liability problem. When there is no report, photographs, witness information, repair records, messages, admissions, and video become more important. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/no-police-report-car-accident-texas\/\">no police report guide<\/a> covers what to gather.<\/p>\r\n      <p class=\"jal-casefile-note\">Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.<\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"jal-turns\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"jal-h2\" id=\"jal-turns\">Left Turns and <span class=\"jal-accent\">Lane Changes<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <p>Left turn crashes produce some of the most common fault disputes because both drivers may claim a green light.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <p>A green signal does not always mean a protected right to turn. One driver may be proceeding straight through a solid green while another faces a flashing yellow arrow and must yield before turning across traffic.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"jal-casefile\">\r\n      <div class=\"jal-casefile-top\"><span class=\"jal-casefile-tag\">Case file<\/span><span class=\"jal-casefile-amt\">$82,500<\/span><\/div>\r\n      <h3 class=\"jal-h4\" id=\"jal-case-green\">The Green Light Was Not the Whole Story<\/h3>\r\n      <figure class=\"jal-photo\">\r\n        <img src=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pd-1-1024x768.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pd-1-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pd-1-1024x768.webp 1024w, https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pd-1-1536x1152.webp 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 716px\" alt=\"Point of impact in Plano: the front left corner of the client's black Lexus against the front right bumper of the company pickup\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \/>\r\n        <figcaption><span class=\"jal-photo-tag\">Case photo<\/span>The point of impact on Legacy Drive in Plano, where the company pickup turned left into our client&#8217;s Lexus.<\/figcaption>\r\n      <\/figure>\r\n      <p>In a Plano commercial vehicle case, our client drove through on a solid green while the driver of a company pickup, facing a flashing yellow arrow, turned left across his path. The report found the turning driver failed to yield, and both a traffic camera run by the City of Plano and an independent witness supported that conclusion.<\/p>\r\n      <p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/results\/82k-plano-commercial-truck-left-turn-settlement\/\">case resolved for $82,500<\/a> after suit was filed.<\/p>\r\n      <p><strong>Lesson from the file.<\/strong> &#8220;We both had green lights&#8221; is often the beginning of the analysis. We look at which driver had the protected movement, which one was turning across traffic, what the signal required, and whether independent evidence supports either version.<\/p>\r\n      <p class=\"jal-casefile-note\">Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.<\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"jal-parking\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"jal-h2\" id=\"jal-parking\">Parking Lots and <span class=\"jal-accent\">Backing Collisions<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <p>A parking lot crash is not automatically 50\/50. These cases often involve:<\/p>\r\n    <ul>\r\n      <li>A driver reversing out of a space<\/li>\r\n      <li>Two cars reversing at the same time<\/li>\r\n      <li>A driver leaving a gas pump<\/li>\r\n      <li>A blind corner or blocked sightline<\/li>\r\n      <li>Bright sun or poor lighting<\/li>\r\n      <li>A disputed claim about who started moving first<\/li>\r\n      <li>Security camera footage that may be overwritten quickly<\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n\r\n    <p>In a shared fault parking lot case, we reconstruct the final seconds:<\/p>\r\n    <ul>\r\n      <li>Who was moving?<\/li>\r\n      <li>Who had the clearer view?<\/li>\r\n      <li>Who had time to stop?<\/li>\r\n      <li>Was one driver backing across an established lane of travel?<\/li>\r\n      <li>Did the other driver have a duty to yield?<\/li>\r\n      <li>Is there a gas station, store, apartment, or home security camera nearby?<\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n\r\n    <p>The fact that both cars were moving does not answer those questions.<\/p>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"jal-weather\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"jal-h2\" id=\"jal-weather\">Bad Weather Does Not <span class=\"jal-accent\">Excuse Careless Driving<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <p>Rain, fog, darkness, wet pavement, and glare are often cited as reasons a crash was unavoidable. But weather is usually context, not a free pass.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <p>A driver still has a duty to adjust to conditions. That may mean slowing down, increasing following distance, using headlights, maintaining control, and pulling over rather than driving while dangerously fatigued. Our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/bad-weather-car-accidents-texas\/\">bad weather car accidents<\/a> goes further.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <h3 class=\"jal-h4\">What we look for in a weather defense<\/h3>\r\n    <ul>\r\n      <li>Did the driver brake?<\/li>\r\n      <li>Did the driver steer to avoid impact?<\/li>\r\n      <li>Was the vehicle speeding for conditions?<\/li>\r\n      <li>Was the driver drifting between lanes?<\/li>\r\n      <li>Did the driver report fatigue, distraction, or poor visibility?<\/li>\r\n      <li>Did witnesses see erratic driving before the crash?<\/li>\r\n      <li>Does vehicle data show no meaningful attempt to avoid the collision?<\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n\r\n    <p>A wet roadway does not explain why a driver crossed into another lane, failed to react, or continued driving when they could not do so safely.<\/p>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"jal-word\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"jal-h2\" id=\"jal-word\">When It Is <span class=\"jal-accent\">Word Versus Word<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <p>The hardest cases are not always the ones with the worst damage. They are the cases where each driver has a different story, the police report does not assign fault, there is no video, and no neutral witness is available.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <p>We are candid about that problem. If nothing can break the tie, the insurer may deny the claim, and litigation may not change the result. But &#8220;word versus word&#8221; is not always truly a tie. The tie can be broken by:<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <ul>\r\n      <li>A recorded admission at the scene<\/li>\r\n      <li>A text message or call made shortly after the collision<\/li>\r\n      <li>Damage that does not match the other driver&#8217;s account<\/li>\r\n      <li>A nearby camera<\/li>\r\n      <li>A witness who was not listed on the report<\/li>\r\n      <li>Vehicle data<\/li>\r\n      <li>Phone records<\/li>\r\n      <li>Prior inconsistent statements<\/li>\r\n      <li>A commercial driver&#8217;s logs or onboard systems<\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n\r\n    <p>One caller told our team they were recording damage after a rear end crash when the other driver admitted on video that the collision was their fault. That type of statement can matter: Texas law keeps an expression of sympathy out of evidence, but not a statement of fault (<a href=\"https:\/\/statutes.capitol.texas.gov\/Docs\/CP\/htm\/CP.18.htm#18.061\">Civil Practice and Remedies Code 18.061<\/a>). Another caller had a witness who said they saw the other driver back into the caller&#8217;s car, but the officer never spoke to that witness, and the caller never got the witness&#8217;s name or number.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <p><strong>Lesson:<\/strong> If a neutral witness stops, treat that contact information like evidence. It may decide whether the claim is denied or proved.<\/p>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"jal-multi\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"jal-h2\" id=\"jal-multi\">When More Than Two Drivers <span class=\"jal-accent\">Share Fault<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <p>A crash with several vehicles can involve more than one responsible driver, an employer, a commercial carrier, a vehicle owner, a contractor, or a person who caused the sequence and then left the scene.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <p>Texas can divide responsibility among the people and entities that helped cause the harm. As a general rule, each defendant pays only its own percentage, but a defendant whose share tops 50 percent can be held liable for everything you are entitled to recover, and the statute has other narrow exceptions (section 33.013). What you actually collect also depends on the coverage available. That means a case can become less about &#8220;which one driver caused it&#8221; and more about identifying everyone who helped create the crash. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/multi-car-accident-texas\/\">multi car accident guide<\/a> walks through chain reaction claims.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"jal-casefile\">\r\n      <div class=\"jal-casefile-top\"><span class=\"jal-casefile-tag\">Case file<\/span><span class=\"jal-casefile-amt\">$600,000<\/span><\/div>\r\n      <h3 class=\"jal-h4\" id=\"jal-case-chain\">Find the Driver Who Started the Chain<\/h3>\r\n      <figure class=\"jal-photo\">\r\n        <img src=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/18.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/18-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/18.webp 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 716px\" alt=\"The client's silver sedan with a crushed front end, a shattered windshield and an open door after the Rockwall County chain reaction\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \/>\r\n        <figcaption><span class=\"jal-photo-tag\">Case photo<\/span>Our client&#8217;s sedan after the chain reaction: struck from behind first, then head on.<\/figcaption>\r\n      <\/figure>\r\n      <p>In a Rockwall County commercial crash, a company driver failed to slow down and struck our stopped client from behind. That impact drove her forward into another car, then forced her into the path of oncoming traffic, where a second driver hit her head on. Five vehicles were involved in all.<\/p>\r\n      <p>The final impact was not the whole story. The question was who began the chain of events that put the vehicles in their final positions.<\/p>\r\n      <p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/results\/600k-rockwall-county-commercial-crash-settlement\/\">case resolved for $600,000<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n      <p><strong>Lesson from the file.<\/strong> In a chain reaction collision, we map the crash in order: who struck whom, when, from which lane, and what earlier impact changed the path of the vehicles. The final collision may not identify every responsible party.<\/p>\r\n      <p class=\"jal-casefile-note\">Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.<\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <h3 class=\"jal-h4\">The &#8220;Empty Chair&#8221; Problem<\/h3>\r\n    <p>A defendant may try to point blame at someone who is not part of the lawsuit: a hit and run driver, an employer, a contractor, another motorist, or a person the defense says caused the event. Texas lets a defendant designate that person as a responsible third party (section 33.004).<\/p>\r\n    <p>Lawyers sometimes call this the &#8220;empty chair&#8221; defense. That matters because fault assigned to someone outside the case may affect what can actually be collected. That is why we work to identify every potentially responsible person early, rather than accepting the first insurer&#8217;s narrow version of the crash.<\/p>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"jal-both\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"jal-h2\" id=\"jal-both\">What If Both Drivers <span class=\"jal-accent\">Were Hurt?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <p>Both drivers can make claims. Each claim is evaluated separately. For example:<\/p>\r\n    <ul>\r\n      <li>If you are 30 percent at fault and the other driver is 70 percent at fault, you may recover 70 percent of your damages.<\/li>\r\n      <li>The other driver, being over 50 percent responsible, cannot recover from you for their own damages.<\/li>\r\n      <li>If both drivers are 50 percent responsible, each may be able to recover half of their own damages, subject to available coverage and other facts.<\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n\r\n    <p>A shared fault crash is not a single claim with a single winner. It can involve two different injury claims, two different damage calculations, and multiple available policies.<\/p>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"jal-adjuster\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"jal-h2\" id=\"jal-adjuster\">If an Adjuster Says You Are 30 Percent, <span class=\"jal-accent\">or 51 Percent, at Fault<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <p>A percentage from an insurer should trigger questions, not panic.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <h3 class=\"jal-h4\">Ask for the basis<\/h3>\r\n    <p>Ask the adjuster to identify the facts and evidence supporting the percentage. Request:<\/p>\r\n    <ul>\r\n      <li>The written liability decision<\/li>\r\n      <li>The crash report, or at least its number<\/li>\r\n      <li>The insurer&#8217;s stated reason for assigning fault<\/li>\r\n      <li>Any photographs or witness information it relied on<\/li>\r\n      <li>The names and contact information of the assigned adjuster and supervisor<\/li>\r\n      <li>A copy of any recorded statement you gave<\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n\r\n    <h3 class=\"jal-h4\">Treat the other insurer&#8217;s request for a recorded statement with care<\/h3>\r\n    <p>Your own insurer may require cooperation under your policy. But the other driver&#8217;s insurer represents the other driver&#8217;s financial interests, not yours.<\/p>\r\n    <p>Before you give the other carrier a recorded statement, understand what it is seeking. Fault questions can be framed in ways that invite a person to guess, accept blame, or make an incomplete statement under stress. Our article on <a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/dealing-with-insurance-companies-texas\/\">handling insurance companies in Texas<\/a> covers adjuster calls in more detail.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <h3 class=\"jal-h4\">Do Not Rush to Sign a Release<\/h3>\r\n    <p>A release can end the claim. A check labeled as a full and final settlement may have the same practical effect. If the fault picture changes later because video appears, a witness is found, or medical care becomes more serious, it may be too late to reopen the case.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <h3 class=\"jal-h4\">Preserve your own coverage options<\/h3>\r\n    <p>If the other carrier disputes fault, your own policy may matter. Depending on what you purchased, you may have:<\/p>\r\n    <ul>\r\n      <li>Personal injury protection<\/li>\r\n      <li>Collision coverage<\/li>\r\n      <li>Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage<\/li>\r\n      <li>Medical payments coverage<\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n    <p>Using collision coverage may require payment of a deductible, but your insurer may later seek reimbursement from the responsible carrier.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"jal-voice\">\r\n      <div class=\"jal-voice-photo\"><img src=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/josh-alexander-j-alexander-law-firm-768x768.png\" alt=\"Josh Alexander, Founder and Managing Attorney at J. Alexander Law Firm\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \/><\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"jal-voice-body\">\r\n      <span class=\"jal-label\">From Josh Alexander&#8217;s case review<\/span>\r\n      <p>Josh Alexander writes on his attorney page that under the 50 percent rule, &#8220;insurers often look for ways to shift blame. They may point to a statement, a prior injury, a social media post, a split-second decision, or an incomplete piece of evidence. My job is to make sure that fault is evaluated using the entire record.&#8221;<\/p>\r\n      <p>In practice, that review does not begin with the percentage the adjuster assigned. It begins with what the roadway looked like, where the vehicles were damaged, who saw the collision, what evidence still exists, and whether the insurer&#8217;s version makes physical sense. The goal is not to argue louder than the other side. It is to build a record that makes the other side&#8217;s argument harder to maintain.<\/p>\r\n      <p class=\"jal-voice-name\">Josh Alexander<\/p>\r\n      <p class=\"jal-voice-role\">Founder and Managing Attorney<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"jal-lawsuit\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"jal-h2\" id=\"jal-lawsuit\">When a Fault Dispute <span class=\"jal-accent\">Requires a Lawsuit<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <p>Most cases resolve without trial. But insurers price settlement offers based on the risk they believe exists. If they believe they can persuade a jury that you were partly at fault, or over 50 percent at fault, that risk may be built into the offer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <p>When a carrier denies liability or refuses to move off a weak fault argument, filing suit can allow your lawyer to use formal discovery. That may include:<\/p>\r\n    <ul>\r\n      <li>Written questions answered under oath<\/li>\r\n      <li>Requests for documents<\/li>\r\n      <li>Requests for video and digital evidence<\/li>\r\n      <li>Depositions under oath<\/li>\r\n      <li>Requests for phone, vehicle, and company records<\/li>\r\n      <li>Expert analysis of crash mechanics, vehicle data, or roadway conditions<\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n\r\n    <p>Litigation is not the right move in every case. But it gives both sides access to tools that are unavailable while an insurer simply says it is &#8220;still investigating.&#8221; Our page on <a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/can-you-sue-for-a-car-accident-texas\/\">whether you can sue for a car accident in Texas<\/a> explains when that step makes sense.<\/p>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"jal-faq\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"jal-h2\" id=\"jal-faq\">Frequently Asked <span class=\"jal-accent\">Questions<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <h3 class=\"jal-h3\">Is the rear driver always at fault in Texas?<\/h3>\r\n    <p>No. The rear driver often faces a difficult argument because every Texas driver has to keep enough space to stop in time. But a rear end crash can involve a cut off, a sudden unnecessary stop, brake light problems, a chain reaction, a reversing vehicle, or another fact that affects fault.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <h3 class=\"jal-h3\">What if I was exactly 50 percent at fault?<\/h3>\r\n    <p>You may still recover. The bar applies only above 50 percent. At 50 percent, your damages are reduced by half.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <h3 class=\"jal-h3\">Does a police report decide fault?<\/h3>\r\n    <p>No. A crash report can be important evidence, but it does not make the final legal decision. The report may contain an officer&#8217;s opinion, witness statements, diagrams, contributing factors, and factual observations. Its weight depends on the facts and other available evidence.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <h3 class=\"jal-h3\">Does a ticket prove I caused the crash?<\/h3>\r\n    <p>Not necessarily. A citation can matter, but it does not automatically resolve a civil injury claim. The facts surrounding the alleged violation, the evidence, and the relationship between the violation and the crash still matter. Paying a fine only ticket counts as a no contest plea, and a no contest plea cannot be used as an admission in the civil case (<a href=\"https:\/\/statutes.capitol.texas.gov\/Docs\/CR\/htm\/CR.27.htm#27.02\">Code of Criminal Procedure 27.02 and 27.14<\/a>).<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <h3 class=\"jal-h3\">Can I apologize after a crash?<\/h3>\r\n    <p>You can check on someone and express concern. But avoid making broad conclusions about fault before you understand what happened. A statement such as &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry this happened&#8221; is different from saying, &#8220;It was my fault; I never saw you.&#8221; Texas law keeps the first kind out of evidence; the second can be used against you.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <h3 class=\"jal-h3\">Does not wearing a seat belt mean I caused the crash?<\/h3>\r\n    <p>No. Seat belt use does not cause a collision. But the other side may argue that failure to use a seat belt worsened injuries, which can become a separate issue about damages. The Texas Supreme Court allowed that argument in <a href=\"https:\/\/law.justia.com\/cases\/texas\/supreme-court\/2015\/13-0136.html\">Nabors Well Services v. Romero<\/a> (2015), but only where the evidence shows the nonuse caused or worsened the injuries.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <h3 class=\"jal-h3\">Does my share of fault still matter if the other driver was uninsured?<\/h3>\r\n    <p>Yes. Your own UM\/UIM coverage (uninsured and underinsured motorist), if you bought it, may help, but your own percentage of fault can still affect what you recover. Our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/hit-by-uninsured-driver-texas-who-pays\/\">who pays when an uninsured driver hits you<\/a> walks through an example.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <h3 class=\"jal-h3\">What is the deadline to sue after a Texas car accident?<\/h3>\r\n    <p>The usual filing deadline for an injury lawsuit in Texas is two years, but exceptions can apply (<a href=\"https:\/\/statutes.capitol.texas.gov\/Docs\/CP\/htm\/CP.16.htm#16.003\">section 16.003<\/a>). Claims against a government body can carry far shorter notice requirements, sometimes six months or less (<a href=\"https:\/\/statutes.capitol.texas.gov\/Docs\/CP\/htm\/CP.101.htm#101.101\">section 101.101<\/a>). A fault dispute does not stop the deadline from running. Our page on <a href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/texas-car-accident-filing-deadlines\/\">Texas car accident filing deadlines<\/a> lists the exceptions.<\/p>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"jal-bring\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"jal-h2\" id=\"jal-bring\">What to Bring to <span class=\"jal-accent\">a Fault Review<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <p>If an insurer has blamed you or denied your claim, bring whatever you have; a perfect file is not required before speaking with a lawyer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"jal-check\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"jal-bring-title\">\r\n      <p class=\"jal-check-head\" id=\"jal-bring-title\">The most useful items<\/p>\r\n      <div class=\"jal-check-body\">\r\n        <ul role=\"list\">\r\n          <li><svg class=\"jal-check-ico\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M256 512A256 256 0 1 0 256 0a256 256 0 1 0 0 512zM369 209L241 337c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-64-64c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9s24.6-9.4 33.9 0l47 47L335 175c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0s9.4 24.6 0 33.9z\"\/><\/svg>The crash report or report number<\/li>\r\n          <li><svg class=\"jal-check-ico\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M256 512A256 256 0 1 0 256 0a256 256 0 1 0 0 512zM369 209L241 337c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-64-64c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9s24.6-9.4 33.9 0l47 47L335 175c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0s9.4 24.6 0 33.9z\"\/><\/svg>Any denial letter, liability letter, email, or text from the insurer<\/li>\r\n          <li><svg class=\"jal-check-ico\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M256 512A256 256 0 1 0 256 0a256 256 0 1 0 0 512zM369 209L241 337c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-64-64c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9s24.6-9.4 33.9 0l47 47L335 175c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0s9.4 24.6 0 33.9z\"\/><\/svg>The adjuster&#8217;s name and claim number<\/li>\r\n          <li><svg class=\"jal-check-ico\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M256 512A256 256 0 1 0 256 0a256 256 0 1 0 0 512zM369 209L241 337c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-64-64c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9s24.6-9.4 33.9 0l47 47L335 175c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0s9.4 24.6 0 33.9z\"\/><\/svg>Photos and video from the crash scene<\/li>\r\n          <li><svg class=\"jal-check-ico\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M256 512A256 256 0 1 0 256 0a256 256 0 1 0 0 512zM369 209L241 337c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-64-64c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9s24.6-9.4 33.9 0l47 47L335 175c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0s9.4 24.6 0 33.9z\"\/><\/svg>Photos of both vehicles before repair<\/li>\r\n          <li><svg class=\"jal-check-ico\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M256 512A256 256 0 1 0 256 0a256 256 0 1 0 0 512zM369 209L241 337c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-64-64c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9s24.6-9.4 33.9 0l47 47L335 175c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0s9.4 24.6 0 33.9z\"\/><\/svg>Witness names and contact information<\/li>\r\n          <li><svg class=\"jal-check-ico\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M256 512A256 256 0 1 0 256 0a256 256 0 1 0 0 512zM369 209L241 337c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-64-64c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9s24.6-9.4 33.9 0l47 47L335 175c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0s9.4 24.6 0 33.9z\"\/><\/svg>Medical records and bills received so far<\/li>\r\n          <li><svg class=\"jal-check-ico\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M256 512A256 256 0 1 0 256 0a256 256 0 1 0 0 512zM369 209L241 337c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-64-64c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9s24.6-9.4 33.9 0l47 47L335 175c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0s9.4 24.6 0 33.9z\"\/><\/svg>Your insurance declarations page<\/li>\r\n          <li><svg class=\"jal-check-ico\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M256 512A256 256 0 1 0 256 0a256 256 0 1 0 0 512zM369 209L241 337c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-64-64c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9s24.6-9.4 33.9 0l47 47L335 175c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0s9.4 24.6 0 33.9z\"\/><\/svg>Any dashcam footage<\/li>\r\n          <li><svg class=\"jal-check-ico\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M256 512A256 256 0 1 0 256 0a256 256 0 1 0 0 512zM369 209L241 337c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-64-64c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9s24.6-9.4 33.9 0l47 47L335 175c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0s9.4 24.6 0 33.9z\"\/><\/svg>Any messages or statements from the other driver<\/li>\r\n          <li><svg class=\"jal-check-ico\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M256 512A256 256 0 1 0 256 0a256 256 0 1 0 0 512zM369 209L241 337c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-64-64c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9s24.6-9.4 33.9 0l47 47L335 175c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0s9.4 24.6 0 33.9z\"\/><\/svg>A timeline of what happened before, during, and after the crash<\/li>\r\n        <\/ul>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"jal-contact\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"jal-h2\" id=\"jal-contact\">Talk With a Texas Injury Lawyer <span class=\"jal-accent\">About a Fault Dispute<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <p>If an insurer says you share the blame, says your case is &#8220;word versus word,&#8221; or assigns you more than 50 percent fault, the evidence should be reviewed before you accept the decision.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <p>At J. Alexander Law Firm, we examine the full record: the crash report, every photo and video, the witnesses, the vehicle damage, available insurance, statements, and the actual theory behind the insurer&#8217;s percentage.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"jal-cta\">\r\n      <div class=\"jal-cta-kicker\">24\/7 &middot; Free consultation &middot; No fee unless we win<\/div>\r\n      <p class=\"jal-cta-heading\">A Free Review of the Insurer&#8217;s Fault Decision<\/p>\r\n      <p>J. Alexander Law Firm serves injured clients throughout Texas: Dallas &middot; Houston &middot; San Antonio &middot; Fort Worth &middot; Arlington &middot; Canton. <span lang=\"es\">Se habla espa&ntilde;ol.<\/span><\/p>\r\n      <div class=\"jal-btn-row\">\r\n        <a class=\"jal-btn jal-btn-primary\" href=\"tel:4698077480\">Call 469-807-7480<\/a>\r\n        <a class=\"jal-btn jal-btn-ghost\" href=\"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/contact-us\/\">Request a free case review<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n\r\n  <\/article>\r\n\r\n  <footer class=\"jal-footer\">\r\n    <div class=\"jal-footer-meta\">\r\n      <div><strong>J. Alexander Law Firm<\/strong> &middot; 12801 N. Central Expressway, Suite 1100, Dallas, TX 75243<\/div>\r\n      <div><strong>Phone<\/strong> 469-807-7480 &middot; <strong>Toll free<\/strong> 1-800-INJURED<\/div>\r\n      <div><strong>Sources<\/strong> Tex. Civ. Prac. &amp; Rem. Code &sect;&sect; 16.003, 18.061, 33.001 to 33.013, 101.101 &middot; Tex. Transp. Code &sect; 545.062 &middot; Tex. Code Crim. Proc. arts. 27.02, 27.14 &middot; Tex. R. Civ. P. 94 &middot; Nabors Well Services v. Romero, 456 S.W.3d 553 (Tex. 2015) &middot; 49 CFR Part 563 &middot; Firm case result pages &middot; Recorded intake calls, June 10 to September 29, 2026<\/div>\r\n      <div><strong>Written by<\/strong> Josh Alexander &middot; <strong>Reviewed by<\/strong> Matthew Graham &middot; Dallas, TX<\/div>\r\n      <div><strong>Updated<\/strong> <time datetime=\"2026-09-30\">September 30, 2026<\/time><\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"jal-disclaimer\">\r\n      This is general information, not legal advice, and it does not create an attorney client relationship. Fault allocation, case value, deadlines, available coverage, and legal options depend on the facts of each case. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Individual results and experiences vary.\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/footer>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\r\n{\r\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\r\n  \"@graph\": [\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\r\n      \"@id\": \"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/comparative-negligence-texas\/#webpage\",\r\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/comparative-negligence-texas\/\",\r\n      \"name\": \"Comparative Negligence in Texas: The 51 Percent Rule\",\r\n      \"description\": \"You can still recover after a Texas car accident at 50 percent fault or less. See how J. Alexander Law Firm tests an insurer's fault claim and saves evidence.\",\r\n      \"inLanguage\": \"en\",\r\n      \"isPartOf\": {\r\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/#website\"\r\n      },\r\n      \"breadcrumb\": {\r\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/comparative-negligence-texas\/#breadcrumb\"\r\n      },\r\n      \"reviewedBy\": {\r\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/about-us\/matthew-graham\/#person\"\r\n      },\r\n      \"lastReviewed\": \"2026-09-30\",\r\n      \"datePublished\": \"2026-09-30\",\r\n      \"dateModified\": \"2026-09-30\"\r\n    },\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Article\",\r\n      \"@id\": \"https:\/\/severeinjurylawyers.com\/comparative-negligence-texas\/#article\",\r\n      \"headline\": \"What Happens If You Were Partly at Fault for a Car Accident in Texas?\",\r\n      \"alternativeHeadline\": \"Comparative Negligence in Texas: The 51 Percent Rule\",\r\n      \"description\": \"You can still recover after a Texas car accident at 50 percent fault or less. 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But a rear end crash can involve a cut off, a sudden unnecessary stop, brake light problems, a chain reaction, a reversing vehicle, or another fact that affects fault.\"\r\n          }\r\n        },\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n          \"name\": \"What if I was exactly 50 percent at fault?\",\r\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n            \"text\": \"You may still recover. The bar applies only above 50 percent. At 50 percent, your damages are reduced by half.\"\r\n          }\r\n        },\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n          \"name\": \"Does a police report decide fault?\",\r\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n            \"text\": \"No. A crash report can be important evidence, but it does not make the final legal decision. The report may contain an officer's opinion, witness statements, diagrams, contributing factors, and factual observations. Its weight depends on the facts and other available evidence.\"\r\n          }\r\n        },\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n          \"name\": \"Does a ticket prove I caused the crash?\",\r\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n            \"text\": \"Not necessarily. A citation can matter, but it does not automatically resolve a civil injury claim. The facts surrounding the alleged violation, the evidence, and the relationship between the violation and the crash still matter. Paying a fine only ticket counts as a no contest plea, and a no contest plea cannot be used as an admission in the civil case (Code of Criminal Procedure 27.02 and 27.14).\"\r\n          }\r\n        },\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n          \"name\": \"Can I apologize after a crash?\",\r\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n            \"text\": \"You can check on someone and express concern. But avoid making broad conclusions about fault before you understand what happened. A statement such as \\\"I'm sorry this happened\\\" is different from saying, \\\"It was my fault; I never saw you.\\\" Texas law keeps the first kind out of evidence; the second can be used against you.\"\r\n          }\r\n        },\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n          \"name\": \"Does not wearing a seat belt mean I caused the crash?\",\r\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n            \"text\": \"No. Seat belt use does not cause a collision. But the other side may argue that failure to use a seat belt worsened injuries, which can become a separate issue about damages. The Texas Supreme Court allowed that argument in Nabors Well Services v. Romero (2015), but only where the evidence shows the nonuse caused or worsened the injuries.\"\r\n          }\r\n        },\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n          \"name\": \"Does my share of fault still matter if the other driver was uninsured?\",\r\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n            \"text\": \"Yes. Your own UM\/UIM coverage (uninsured and underinsured motorist), if you bought it, may help, but your own percentage of fault can still affect what you recover. Our guide to who pays when an uninsured driver hits you walks through an example.\"\r\n          }\r\n        },\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n          \"name\": \"What is the deadline to sue after a Texas car accident?\",\r\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n            \"text\": \"The usual filing deadline for an injury lawsuit in Texas is two years, but exceptions can apply (section 16.003). Claims against a government body can carry far shorter notice requirements, sometimes six months or less (section 101.101). A fault dispute does not stop the deadline from running. Our page on Texas car accident filing deadlines lists the exceptions.\"\r\n          }\r\n        }\r\n      ]\r\n    }\r\n  ]\r\n}\r\n<\/script>\r\n\r\n<script>\r\n(function(){var root=document.querySelector(\".jal-injury-log\");if(!root){return;}var items=[].slice.call(root.querySelectorAll(\".jal-toc a\")).map(function(a){return {a:a,el:document.getElementById(a.getAttribute(\"href\").slice(1))};}).filter(function(x){return x.el;});if(!items.length){return;}var ticking=false;function update(){ticking=false;var line=window.innerHeight*0.35;var cur=null;items.forEach(function(x){if(!(x.el.getBoundingClientRect().top > line)){cur=x;}});items.forEach(function(x){x.a.classList.toggle(\"jal-on\",x===cur);});}window.addEventListener(\"scroll\",function(){if(!ticking){ticking=true;window.requestAnimationFrame(update);}},{passive:true});update();})();\r\n<\/script>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Being told you share the blame does not end a Texas injury claim. 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