Help & Information
We have straight answers to difficult questions to help you navigate legal process and secure financial compensation.

At Thomas J. Henry Law, we want to ensure all injured victims are informed and knowledgeable about their rights. The legal process can be complicated, confusing, and overwhelming, especially when you are also dealing with the aftermath of an accident or injury.
Thomas J. Henry Law has prepared the following Infographics, FAQs, Videos, and Personal Injury Legal Guides to assist you on your road to recovery. If you wish to speak directly with an attorney, contact our offices now for a FREE Case Consultation – we are available 24/7, nights and weekends.
Your questions answered
How Does the “No Win No Fee” Promise Work?
The Thomas J. Henry “No Win No Fee” promise works as part of a contingency fee agreement. Instead of receiving payments from clients, we recoup fees and expenses from the final settlement or verdict our clients receive.
This allows us to start working on your case as soon as you hire us, ensuring that your case is handled with the urgency it deserves. It also means you can focus on getting better rather than cutting us a check.
The percentage we collect may vary depending on the complexity of your case, but you will be kept informed so you know what we are collecting before your case is closed.
Even better, you owe us nothing if we don’t win your case! Because our fees are collected as a percentage of your settlement or verdict, we do not collect anything unless and until you get your recovery. This means there is no risk to hiring a qualified attorney to handle your case!
Do I Have to Pay to Speak with an Injury Attorney?
Thomas J. Henry Law offers free case reviews so that you can better understand your legal options. This means you pay nothing for your first consultation. Additionally, Thomas J. Henry Law works on a contingency fee basis meaning that if you do choose to hire us, you pay us nothing unless and until we win your case.
To learn more about what it takes to speak with an injury attorney about your claim here.
Do I Need a Personal Injury Attorney Help Me Settle My Case?
Insurance companies will attempt to pay out as little as possible when resolving an injury claim. When an individual pursues compensation from an insurance company without the aid of an attorney, the insurance company may see the lack of representation as an opportunity to lowball the injured victim as there is no immediate risk of trial or legal recourse.
By hiring a competent attorney who has a reputation for achieving large verdicts in the courtroom, you are sending a message to the insurer. It will provide the insurance company with extra incentive to offer a fair settlement the first time.
If that first offer is not fair, an experienced personal attorney will have the resources and the knowledge to negotiate with the insurance company in pursuit of a better offer.
What is a Contingency Fee?
In a contingency fee arrangement, an attorney agrees to accept a fixed percentage of your recovery as payment. This means that if you win your case, your attorney will collect their fees and expenses from the money awarded to you. However, if you lose your case, your attorney will collect nothing.
Most lawyers prefer not to work on contingency cases for two reasons:
- There is a risk the firm will be paid nothing
- Any payment is delayed until money is collected from the opposing party
Generally, a lawyer who accepts contingency fee cases:
- Regularly represents clients who lack the financial resources to pay hourly attorney’s fees (as is often the case for personal injury victims).
- Is more selective about the cases they accept.
- Is very confident in their ability to win the cases they choose to handle.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?
The cost associated with hiring a personal injury attorney and how payment is collected may vary from firm to firm. At Thomas J. Henry, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means that we don’t charge our clients a penny unless and until we win their case.
Working on a contingency fee basis allows clients access to resources and legal representation they might otherwise struggle to afford. The more serious a case is, the more money it costs to take to trial. This is because complex litigation tends to take longer to resolve and the entities involved fight harder.
This is especially true if your lawsuit is against a large company, as would be the case in a trucking accident or on-the-job injury. Such companies employ teams of lawyers and have seemingly unlimited financial resources. You need an attorney who has the same. Thomas J. Henry employs a team of more than 100 attorneys and has the money to fight your case out to the end.
Finally, by collecting any fees and expenses after a verdict or settlement is secured, Thomas J. Henry can help ensure his clients are able to focus on healing. “The client’s job is to heal. We will handle the rest,” says Thomas J. Henry.
How Much Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?
In Texas, a personal injury case is only worth what a jury is willing to award you. This is why you need an attorney who can not only prove the economic damages you have sustained due to your accident, but can also demonstrate the value of non-economic damages you may have sustained, such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of consortium.
Learn more about how to estimate the value of your personal injury claim here.
What Types of Expert Witnesses Could Benefit My Texas Trucking Accident Lawsuit?
In Texas, truck drivers are subject to strict rules and regulations that do not normally apply to other drivers. This means there is much more to consider when filing a Texas truck accident claim. Because of the complexities surrounding commercial trucking regulations, it is not uncommon for a truck accident attorney in Texas to bring on expert witnesses to assist with a case. These are people with specialized knowledge who are recognized by courts as being able to provide expert testimony beyond that of the average person.
Thomas J. Henry Law has spent years finding and building professional relationships with the best expert witnesses from all across the country. Expert witnesses that could benefit your trucking accident lawsuit include:
- Accident Investigation Experts
- Hazardous Materials Experts
- FMCSA Compliance Consultants
- Forensic Engineers
- Accident Re-constructionists
- Human Factors Forensic Science Experts (reaction time, fatigue, and distracted driving)
- General Equipment Technical Expert
Are Expert Witnesses Necessary to Prove Fault in a Texas Truck Accident Case?
If you want to receive full compensation for your claim, then it is best to have expert witnesses who can help prove your case. An expert witness can provide a detailed account of your accident before a jury, explaining what factors contributed to your collision and your injuries. They can also provide insight into the rules and regulations that a trucking company may have ignored before your accident, increasing their liability for the damages you have suffered.
Trucking is a big industry in Texas, and with big industry comes big legal teams. At Thomas J. Henry Law, we have not only a team of Texas truck accident lawyers to fight for your right to compensation, but we also have the finances and resources to litigate against the largest companies in the world. This includes some of the leading expert witnesses in the nation.
What are Examples of Commercial Trucking Regulations?
While trucking regulations do vary by state, there are federal guidelines by which all commercial vehicle drivers and fleet operators must abide. These regulations are codified in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulation.
A few of the most important federal commercial motor vehicle regulations are:
- Drivers must be 21 years of age or older to drive across state lines or operate a vehicle containing hazardous materials.
- Texas truck drivers must be at least 18 years old to operate within state lines.
- To be eligible for a CDL, drivers must have no prior disqualifying criminal offenses.
- Before obtaining a CDL, drivers must test for and obtain a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) and hold it for 14 days.
- To obtain a commercial learner’s permit, drivers must be cleared by a qualified medical examiner that they are physically able to operate a commercial vehicle.
- For commercial motor vehicle operators, the blood alcohol content (BAC) limit is .04, compared to .08 for regular drivers.
- Truck drivers are banned from using handheld mobile phones while driving. Trucking companies are prohibited from allowing or requiring drivers to use handheld devices while driving.
- Drivers are prohibited from holding a CDL issued by more than one state or jurisdiction.
When you contact Thomas J. Henry Law, you will be working with an experienced truck accident attorney in Texas. They will have handled previous Texas truck accident cases and will have a clear understanding of the rules and regulations truck drivers are subject to when traveling on our state’s roadways.
What Rules or Laws Apply to Commercial Trucks in Texas?
In Texas, drivers of commercial vehicles, 18-wheelers, and large trucks are subject to specialized rules enacted by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act (FMCSA)
From rules dictating who can operate a commercial vehicle to rules limiting the number of consecutive hours a driver can spend behind the wheel, these regulations have been put in place to help keep other drivers safe. When drivers fail to comply by these rules, tragedy can occur.
Another important note is that trucking regulations are not limited to drivers, but also affect transportation companies. These can set requirements for commercial trucking companies, managers, and fleet operators. If you have more questions about these rules or how they may affect your claim, contact Thomas J. Henry Law now to speak directly with one of our Texas truck accident attorneys.
How Do I Prove the Wages I Lost After a Trucking Accident?
To prove loss of income, you will want to gather the appropriate documentation to support your claim. Your attorney will go into more detail, but generally, you will want to start by:
- Getting a letter from your employer indicating how much time you took off.
- A paycheck stub or W-2 can be used to calculate the hourly rate of pay or your monthly salary.
- Documentation from your employer showing how many hours a week you work.
- Documentation from your employer indicating whether you are qualified to receive overtime pay and whether or not you typically work overtime.
Once that information is collected, you can begin calculating a rough estimate of your lost wages by:
- Determine the number of hours you missed from work. If your hours vary from week to week, calculate the average based on your last two to three weeks of work.
- Determine the number of overtime hours you missed.
- Multiply the number of hours you missed by your hourly rate or estimated hourly rate.
- Multiply any overtime hours by 1.5 your hourly rate or estimated hourly rate.
- Add the values for regular hours missed to the overtime hours you missed.
If you are salaried, you can work out your lost wages by:
- Divide your annual salary by the number of hours you work (hours a full-time employee works per year: 2,080) in order to get the amount you earn per hour.
- Calculate the number of hours you missed by multiplying the days you were out of work by 8 (typical workdays for salaried employees 8 hours – even if you actually work more).
- Multiply those two figures to calculate your lost wages.
Tips, commissions, bonuses, and other items can be added to the base amount of lost wages.
It is best to start gathering this evidence early so you do not miss any opportunities for financial recovery. Call Thomas J. Henry Law now to start working with a truck accident attorney in Texas on proving your lost wages.
Can I Recover Wages I Lost After a Trucking Accident?
When you are involved in a serious trucking accident, you will likely miss some work due to your injuries. The amount of work missed generally depends on the severity of your injuries and the physical requirements of your job. In the most severe cases, you may not be able to return to your previous occupation at all. You can recover these damages as lost wages.
In the simplest terms, lost wages are any wages you did not or cannot earn due to your injury. Lost wages are not limited to those you have already missed out on, but can also refer to wages you will miss out on in the future.
Typically, lost wages are broken down into three categories:
- Lost wages – wages you lost during a period you were unable to work.
- Loss of earning capacity – if you have sustained a long-term disability from an accident and cannot make as much money as you did before your accident.
- Lost opportunities – this would include things like missing a job interview while you were recovering.
An important thing to remember is that if you lost your previous job due to your injuries and returned to work for lower pay, you may be entitled to the difference in pay between your previous job and the job you now hold.