If you or someone you love suffered a catastrophic injury in Fort Bend County, you have the right to pursue full compensation from the person or company responsible — and Varghese Summersett’s personal injury team is ready to fight for every dollar you deserve.
A Team Built for the Biggest Cases
Catastrophic injury cases are not like ordinary accident claims. The injuries are permanent. The medical costs are staggering. And the insurance companies on the other side have enormous resources dedicated to limiting what they pay you. You need a team that matches that firepower — and then some.
Varghese Summersett’s personal injury division is led by Partner Ty Stimpson, a former prosecutor at both the Dallas County and Tarrant County District Attorney’s Offices who has built a reputation for exceptional negotiation and trial skills. He has been named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers, a Top 40 Under 40 by the National Trial Lawyers, and a 40 Under 40 honoree by Fort Worth Inc.
Partner Damian Williams handles the firm’s most complex catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. A trial-first attorney and former prosecutor, Damian has secured multiple seven-figure verdicts and settlements in cases involving traumatic brain injuries, amputations, trucking fatalities, oilfield explosions, and industrial accidents. He has been named to Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers and recognized by D Magazine as one of the Best Plaintiff Lawyers Under 40. Insurance companies know him as a lawyer who cannot be pressured into undervaluing a case.
Founder and Managing Partner Benson Varghese — who worked as an insurance adjuster before law school — rounds out the leadership. He brings the rare perspective of someone who has worked on both sides of the table, and he personally handles serious personal injury matters that may go to trial.
With more than 100 years of combined experience across the firm, four offices in Texas, and a team of 70+ legal professionals, Varghese Summersett has the depth and resources to take on the largest defendants and their insurers — and to take cases all the way to trial when that is what it takes.
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What Counts as a Catastrophic Injury in Texas?
Texas law does not define “catastrophic injury” in a single statute, but the term generally describes injuries so severe that they permanently change a person’s ability to work, care for themselves, or live without significant ongoing medical support. The most common catastrophic injury types include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) — ranging from severe concussions to permanent cognitive impairment
- Lesiones medulares — including partial or complete paralysis
- Amputaciones — loss of a limb due to trauma or necessary surgery following an accident
- Severe burn injuries — particularly those requiring grafting and long-term reconstructive care
- Multiple fractures or crush injuries — often in trucking, construction, or industrial accidents
- Permanent vision or hearing loss
These injuries share a common thread: they don’t just heal over time. They reshape every part of a person’s life — and that needs to be fully accounted for in any claim for compensation.
Where Do Catastrophic Injuries Happen in Fort Bend County?
Fort Bend County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. With that growth comes more traffic on roads like U.S. 59, Highway 90, and I-69 — and more workers on active construction sites and in commercial and industrial facilities throughout Sugar Land, Missouri City, Rosenberg, and Richmond. The county’s industrial and petrochemical activity also means a significant number of oilfield and workplace accidents.
Common causes of catastrophic injuries in Fort Bend County include 18-wheeler and commercial truck crashes, construction and worksite accidents, oilfield and industrial explosions, defective products, and high-speed collisions on major roadways. No matter how the injury occurred, the legal framework for pursuing compensation is the same.
What You Must Prove Under Texas Law
Texas personal injury law is governed primarily by the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. Under Texas CP § 33.001, an injured person can recover compensation from a negligent party when four elements are proven:
- Duty — The defendant had a legal obligation to act with reasonable care toward you. Drivers owe a duty to others on the road. Employers owe a duty to maintain safe working conditions. Product manufacturers owe a duty to sell safe products.
- Breach — The defendant failed to meet that duty through some act or omission.
- Causation — The breach directly caused your injury. Texas requires both cause-in-fact (the breach was a substantial factor in causing the harm) and proximate cause (the harm was a foreseeable result of the breach).
- Damages — You suffered actual harm — physical, financial, or emotional — as a result.
The burden of proof is on the plaintiff (the injured person). The standard is preponderance of the evidence — meaning it is more likely than not that each element is true. Unlike a criminal case, the prosecution does not need to prove anything beyond a reasonable doubt.
Texas also follows a modified comparative fault rule under CP § 33.001. If you are found to be partially at fault for the accident, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. But if you are found to be more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover anything. This makes it critical to have experienced attorneys document and present the evidence of the other party’s fault as clearly and completely as possible.
¿Qué indemnización por daños y perjuicios puedes reclamar?
In a catastrophic injury case, the full picture of what you’ve lost must be put before the jury or insurance adjuster. Texas law allows recovery for both economic and non-economic damages, and in some cases, exemplary (punitive) damages.
Economic damages cover measurable financial losses, including:
- Past and future medical bills — hospitalizations, surgeries, rehabilitation, assistive devices, home health care
- Salarios perdidos por el tiempo perdido en el trabajo
- Loss of future earning capacity, if the injury prevents you from returning to your prior work
- Cost of home modifications — ramps, lifts, accessible bathrooms
- Transportation for ongoing medical care
Non-economic damages cover the human cost of the injury, including:
- Physical pain and suffering — past and future
- Angustia mental
- Pérdida del disfrute de la vida
- Desfiguración
- Loss of consortium — harm to your relationship with your spouse
Exemplary damages puede estar disponible en CP § 41.003 when a defendant’s conduct was fraudulent, malicious, or grossly negligent. These damages are designed to punish and deter — and they can significantly increase the total recovery in the right case.
How Long Do You Have to File in Fort Bend County?
Texas imposes a strict deadline on personal injury claims. Under CP § 16.003, por lo general tienes two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. Miss that deadline, and you lose the right to recover — regardless of how serious your injuries are or how clear the other party’s fault may be.
There are narrow exceptions — for minors, for injuries not immediately discovered, or when a government entity is involved — but these exceptions are limited and require prompt legal analysis. Do not assume you have more time than you do.
What many people don’t realize is that the two-year window is not just about filing the lawsuit. Building a catastrophic injury case takes months of investigation, expert consultation, medical documentation, and legal preparation. Starting that process early gives your legal team the best possible foundation.
What Is Your Case Worth?
No attorney can honestly tell you what your case is worth in an initial consultation — and you should be skeptical of anyone who does. The value of a catastrophic injury case depends on the severity and permanence of the injury, the extent of future medical needs, your age and earning capacity, the defendant’s level of fault, and the amount of insurance coverage available.
What we can tell you is that catastrophic injury cases routinely involve the largest claim values in personal injury law. A person who suffers a spinal cord injury at age 35 faces decades of medical costs, lost earnings, and diminished quality of life. Quantifying all of that accurately — with the help of medical experts, life care planners, and economists — is exactly what it takes to present a complete case.
The goal is not just to cover what you’ve already spent. It’s to account for everything you will need for the rest of your life. That requires attorneys who have done this before — in high-stakes cases, against well-funded opponents — and who know how to fight when the other side refuses to offer fair value.
The Legal Process in a Catastrophic Injury Case
Most catastrophic injury cases in Fort Bend County move through the following stages:
- Investigation and evidence preservation — Gathering police reports, surveillance footage, crash reconstruction data, employment records, and medical documentation. The earlier this begins, the better.
- Medical assessment — Working with your treating physicians and independent medical experts to fully document your injuries and projected future needs.
- Demand and negotiation — After treatment is complete or a clear picture of long-term needs emerges, presenting a comprehensive demand to the at-fault party’s insurer.
- Filing suit — If the insurer refuses to offer fair value, filing a lawsuit in Fort Bend County District Court and moving the case through discovery, depositions, and expert disclosures.
- Mediation — Texas courts typically require the parties to attempt mediation before trial. Many cases resolve here.
- Trial — If mediation fails, the case goes before a jury in Fort Bend County. Our attorneys prepare every case as if it will be tried.
Most cases take 12 to 24 months from filing suit to resolution, though complex catastrophic injury cases can take longer. Throughout that process, you focus on your recovery. We handle the legal fight.
¿Por qué las compañías de seguros se oponen a las reclamaciones por lesiones catastróficas?
Insurance companies are not on your side. They have one goal: pay as little as possible. In catastrophic injury cases — where the true value of a claim can reach into the millions — that motivation is more intense than ever.
Common tactics include disputing the severity of your injuries, arguing that your condition was pre-existing, claiming you were partially or primarily at fault, and delaying the process long enough that you feel pressure to accept a lower offer. They may also send adjusters to take recorded statements from you before you have legal representation — statements they will later use to limit your claim.
The attorneys at Varghese Summersett understand these tactics because several of them spent years on the other side. Benson Varghese worked as an insurance adjuster before becoming a lawyer.
Fort Bend County Local Resources
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in Fort Bend County, these local resources may be helpful:
- Centro Médico OakBend — 1705 Jackson St., Richmond, TX 77469 — The county’s primary hospital, serving Richmond and surrounding communities. oakbendmedcenter.org
- Hospital Metodista de Houston Sugar Land — 16655 Southwest Frwy., Sugar Land, TX 77479 — houstonmethodist.org
- Hospital Memorial Hermann Sugar Land — 17500 W Grand Pkwy S, Sugar Land, TX 77479 — memorialhermann.org
- Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Fort Bend — 1410 Brady Lane, Richmond, TX 77469 — For crash reports and law enforcement records. fortbendcountytx.gov
- Departamento de Policía de Sugar Land — 15226 City Hall Ave., Sugar Land, TX 77478 — sugarlandtx.gov
- Departamento de Policía de Missouri City — 1522 Texas Pkwy., Missouri City, TX 77489 — missouricitytx.gov
- Fort Bend County District Court — 301 Jackson St., Richmond, TX 77469 — Where civil personal injury suits are filed in Fort Bend County.
- Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) — Houston District — Handles crash report requests for accidents on state highways in Fort Bend County. txdot.gov
Qué esperar de Varghese Summersett
Hiring the right attorney for a catastrophic injury case is one of the most important decisions you will make. Here is what you can expect from our team:
No fee unless we win. We handle catastrophic injury cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we recover for you.
A team that prepares every case for trial. Insurance companies know which law firms will settle for less to avoid the courtroom. We are not that firm. Our attorneys prepare every case as if a jury will decide it — and that reputation gives us leverage in negotiations.
Direct access to the attorneys handling your case. You will not be passed off to a paralegal or call center. The attorneys you meet are the attorneys working your file.
Honest communication about your case. We will tell you what your case is worth based on the evidence — not what you want to hear. We believe clients are best served by clear, realistic guidance at every stage.
Resources to take on large defendants. Catastrophic injury cases often involve trucking companies, construction firms, manufacturers, and their insurers — all with significant legal teams. Our firm has the staffing, expert network, and financial commitment to compete on that level.
To speak with a member of our personal injury team about your Fort Bend County catastrophic injury case, call (281) 805-2220 para una consulta gratuita.
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Watch: Can You Sue if Injured on Someone Else’s Property:
Attorney Ty Stimpson explains if you can sue if you were injured on someone elses’ property.
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What is the difference between a catastrophic injury case and a regular personal injury claim?
The difference is primarily in severity and permanence. A regular personal injury claim often involves injuries that heal over months with predictable costs. A catastrophic injury — a spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, or amputation — may require care and support for the rest of a person’s life. That changes the scope of investigation, the role of expert witnesses, and the total value of the claim significantly. These cases demand attorneys with specific experience handling high-value, long-term injury claims.
Can I still recover compensation if I was partly at fault for the accident?
Yes, in most cases. Under Texas’s modified comparative fault rule, you can still recover as long as you are not found to be more than 50% responsible. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you were 20% at fault and your damages are $1,000,000, you would recover $800,000. This is why it is so important to have experienced attorneys documenting and presenting the evidence of the other party’s negligence — the more clearly they can establish the defendant’s fault, the better your recovery.
What happens if the at-fault driver didn’t have enough insurance?
In catastrophic injury cases, policy limits are frequently an issue. If the responsible party’s insurance is not enough to cover your full damages, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may provide additional compensation. There may also be other liable parties — an employer, a vehicle owner, a product manufacturer, or a property owner — who can be pursued for additional recovery. An experienced attorney will investigate every potential source of compensation from the start.
¿Cuánto tiempo tardará mi caso?
Catastrophic injury cases in Fort Bend County typically take 12 to 36 months from the time a lawsuit is filed to final resolution. This timeline reflects the complexity of the medical evidence, the number of parties involved, and whether the case settles at mediation or proceeds to trial. While the process can feel slow, moving too quickly — before the full scope of your injuries and future needs is clear — can cost you significant compensation. Your attorneys will keep you informed at every stage.
Is there any cost to speak with a Fort Bend catastrophic injury attorney?
There is no charge for an initial consultation with Varghese Summersett. We also handle catastrophic injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you. To speak with our team, call (281) 805-2220 en cualquier momento.
Áreas de práctica en materia de lesiones personales en el condado de Fort Bend
Nuestros abogados especializados en lesiones del condado de Fort Bend luchan para conseguir la máxima indemnización
Páginas principales
Accidentes de tráfico
Muerte por negligencia
¿Ha sufrido una lesión en el condado de Fort Bend? Solicite una consulta gratuita.
If you suffered a lesión catastrófica in Fort Bend County, the team at Varghese Summersett is prepared to take on your case. We serve clients throughout Sugar Land, Missouri City, Rosenberg, Richmond, Stafford, and the surrounding communities. Call (281) 805-2220 to speak with a member of our personal injury team. There is no fee unless we win.