Have you been injured and want to file a personal injury claim? The legal process can seem daunting, and even more so if you aren’t sure where your case could end up.
If you live in Texas, there are three primary court systems that could handle your personal injury case over the course of the legal process. Those courts include state-level district courts, federal courts, or appellate courts. Here are some situations where you could find yourself in these courts.
State-level district courts
The majority of personal injury claims start their journey in state-level district courts.
There are hundreds of these courts across the state of Texas and they are primarily used to see whether or not you have a claim and to award compensation if it is due. You may choose to hire an attorney for this court, or you can decide to submit your claim on your own.
Federal courts
Sometimes, your personal injury case may move to federal court.
Federal courts have limited jurisdiction compared to state district courts. This means federal courts can only hear a few types of cases. For example, federal courts can hear personal injury cases against federal laws or the U.S. Constitution.
Federal courts can handle civil cases if those cases have “diversity.” Here, “diversity” means that you are filing your case against someone that does business or lives in a different state and the damages in question exceed $75,000. If your case meets these requirements, your case will qualify for federal court.
Appellate Courts
Your case may go to appellate courts if you decide you want to appeal. This means you believe the jury’s ruling process was wrong and want another chance to prove your case.
If the Texas appellate court says that nothing went wrong in your trial, you can also submit your case to the Texas Supreme Court for another look, although they are not required to take on your case.
For more information about Texas court systems and where your personal injury claim could end up, check out our article “Texas Courts – Where Personal Injury Claims are Filed.”