San Antonio Courthouse Guide for Personal Injury Claims

Personal injury lawsuits in San Antonio are filed with the Bexar County District Clerk at 100 Dolorosa, Suite 104, San Antonio, TX 78205. The District Clerk's Civil Filing Division accepts all new civil suits and subsequent filings for Bexar County's district courts. Phone: (210) 335-2113. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Texas venue rules (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 15.002) generally require you to file in the county where all or a substantial part of the events giving rise to the claim occurred, or where the defendant resided at the time the cause of action accrued. For car accidents that happened within San Antonio or Bexar County, you file at the Bexar County Courthouse.

Bexar County has multiple district courts that hear civil cases. When you file your lawsuit, the District Clerk assigns it to a specific court. The Bexar County Civil District Courts handle personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and other tort claims where the amount in controversy exceeds the jurisdiction of the county courts at law.

If your accident occurred on a highway that crosses county lines, you can generally file in any county where a substantial part of the accident occurred. Check your police crash report — it identifies the investigating agency and jurisdiction, which tells you which county to file in.

Texas requires mandatory electronic filing for civil cases. You must e-file through a state-approved electronic filing service provider (EFSP). The most commonly used platform is eFileTexas.gov, which connects to the statewide e-filing system. Create an account, select Bexar County as the filing location, choose the case category (Civil — Personal Injury/Tort), upload your petition and citation, and pay the filing fee electronically.

Your petition must comply with Texas pleading rules (Tex. R. Civ. P. 47). Since 2013, Texas requires that petitions state whether the plaintiff seeks monetary relief of $250,000 or less, or over $250,000. Your petition must identify the parties, state the facts of the accident, explain how the defendant's negligence caused your injuries, and describe the damages you are seeking.

After filing, the court issues a citation. You must serve each defendant with the citation and petition. In Texas, service can be made by a sheriff, constable, or private process server, or by certified mail with return receipt requested (Tex. R. Civ. P. 106). The defendant has until 10:00 a.m. on the first Monday after 20 days from the date of service to file an answer (Tex. R. Civ. P. 99).

Self-represented litigants who cannot e-file due to a lack of internet access or other hardship may file in person at the District Clerk's office, but this is limited to emergency situations. For e-filing technical support, contact the EFSP provider you selected or the Texas Office of Court Administration at (512) 463-1625.

Filing fees for a civil lawsuit in Bexar County district court are set by Texas statute (Tex. Gov't Code § 51.317 and local fee schedules). For a new personal injury lawsuit filed in district court, expect to pay approximately $300 to $350 for the initial filing fee. The exact amount varies based on the specific court and any additional fees required by local rule. Contact the Bexar County District Clerk at (210) 335-2113 or visit bexar.org for the current fee schedule.

Justice court filing fees for small claims ($20,000 or less) are significantly lower — typically $54 to $200 depending on the claim amount. Bexar County has multiple justice of the peace courts organized by precinct. Check which precinct covers the location of the accident or the defendant's address.

If you cannot afford the filing fee, Texas provides a process for filing an Affidavit of Inability to Pay Court Costs (Tex. R. Civ. P. 145). File this affidavit with your petition, and the court will determine whether to waive the fees based on your financial situation. You qualify if you receive government benefits (SNAP, Medicaid, TANF) or if paying the fees would cause a substantial economic hardship.

Beyond the filing fee, budget for additional costs: service of process fees ($75 to $150 for a private process server or constable), deposition transcript fees, medical record retrieval fees, and expert witness fees. Most personal injury attorneys in San Antonio work on contingency — they advance these costs and recover them from your settlement or verdict.

Texas justice courts (formerly called small claims courts) handle civil disputes where the amount in controversy is $20,000 or less, exclusive of interest and court costs (Tex. Gov't Code § 27.031). If your personal injury damages — medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering combined — exceed $20,000, you cannot use justice court.

Texas organizes civil jurisdiction into several tiers. Justice courts handle claims of $20,000 or less. County courts at law handle claims from $200.01 to $250,000 (Tex. Gov't Code § 25.0003). District courts have jurisdiction over claims where the amount in controversy exceeds $200 (Tex. Gov't Code § 24.007) and typically handle the larger personal injury cases. In practice, most personal injury cases exceeding $20,000 are filed in district court.

Justice court is faster and less formal — cases are typically heard within 30 to 60 days, the rules of evidence are relaxed under the Small Claims Rules (Tex. R. Civ. P. 500-507), and many people represent themselves. However, the $20,000 cap is strict. Most personal injury cases involving an emergency room visit and follow-up treatment will exceed $20,000 in medical bills alone, making district court the appropriate venue.

Bexar County offers online case lookup through the District Clerk's website at bexar.org. Navigate to the District Clerk's Courts Portal to search by case number or party name. The system shows filing dates, hearing schedules, and docket entries for civil cases in Bexar County district courts.

For justice court cases, contact the specific justice of the peace court where your case was filed. Bexar County has justice courts in each precinct, and case lookup availability varies by precinct.

The Texas Office of Court Administration also provides statewide case search tools. For Bexar County, the most reliable method is the District Clerk's own portal. If you cannot find your case online, call the District Clerk's office at (210) 335-2113 for assistance.

Since Texas mandates e-filing, most of your interaction with the court will be electronic. However, you will need to appear at the courthouse for hearings, case management conferences, mediations, and trial. The Bexar County Courthouse at 100 Dolorosa is in downtown San Antonio, adjacent to Main Plaza.

When you arrive, expect security screening — empty your pockets, remove belts, and send bags through the X-ray machine. Cell phones are allowed but must be silenced in courtrooms. No weapons are permitted in the courthouse. Arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled hearing. Check the docket board or ask the clerk's office to confirm your courtroom assignment. Dress professionally — business casual at minimum. Address the judge as 'Your Honor.'

Parking is available in nearby downtown parking garages and surface lots. Metered street parking is available but limited. The Paul Elizondo Tower (101 W. Nueva, attached to the courthouse complex) has additional courtrooms. VIA Metropolitan Transit bus routes serve downtown San Antonio, with stops near the courthouse. The Bexar County Courthouse is ADA accessible.

If your injury was caused by a government entity — the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, TxDOT, or any other governmental unit — you must comply with the Texas Tort Claims Act (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Chapter 101). The Act provides a limited waiver of sovereign immunity for certain claims involving motor vehicles operated by government employees, defective premises or equipment, and injuries arising from a condition or use of tangible property.

You must give formal written notice to the governmental unit within 6 months of the incident (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101). The notice must reasonably describe the damage or injury claimed, the time and place of the incident, and the incident giving rise to the claim. However, the City of San Antonio's charter may impose a shorter notice period — check with the City Clerk's office to confirm the applicable deadline.

Government tort claims in Texas are capped. Damages against a local governmental unit are limited to $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury, and $100,000 per occurrence for property damage (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.023). If a government entity may be responsible for your accident — a pothole, defective traffic signal, or accident with a city vehicle — consult an attorney immediately to preserve your rights.

If you were injured in San Antonio and you are considering filing a lawsuit, take our free 2-minute assessment. You will answer a few quick questions about your accident and injuries, and we will give you a personalized report that includes Texas's filing deadline for your specific claim, whether your case would likely land in justice court or district court, and whether connecting with a personal injury attorney makes sense for your situation.

Filing a lawsuit is a big step — but understanding your options should not be. Our assessment is free, confidential, and gives you the information you need to make an informed decision about what comes next.