Scanes Yelverton Talbert, LLP is a trusted Central Texas personal injury and trial law firm based in Waco, Texas. With deep local roots and extensive courtroom experience, SYT represents clients in complex injury and accident cases, providing personalized, results-driven advocacy for victims and families across Central Texas. 

   

Many law firms focus on quick settlements, but at SYT, we prepare every case as if it will go to court. Because when your health, livelihood, and future are on the line, you cannot afford to be backed into a settlement that falls short. Our attorneys bring to every matter the mindset of true trial lawyers: we gather evidence early, anticipate defenses, build a strategy, and are ready to go before a jury if necessary. Insurance companies and corporate defendants know that when we represent you, we are not interested in shortcuts. 

   

But trial readiness is only half the story. We also believe deeply in compassion, listening, and tailoring a legal strategy to each client and family. Every injury, accident, and human being is unique, so every case deserves a unique approach. We take the time to understand your immediate suffering, your long-term needs, your family’s hopes and challenges, and we craft a roadmap not just for a legal outcome but for rebuilding your life with dignity. 

   

From our strong local ties and knowledge of Central Texas courts to our record of complex litigation and verdicts, SYT stands out as the personal injury and trial law firm you want in your corner. When you’re looking for Central Texas personal injury lawyers who handle severe injury cases, look no further than the experienced team at SYT. 

 

Our Practice Areas: Serving Victims in Central Texas 

We represent victims of negligence across a broad spectrum of serious injury and catastrophic accident cases. Below is an overview of the kinds of cases we handle, what commonly causes them, the types of injuries we see, and the compensation that may be available. Our team is dedicated to doing everything in our power to pursue the maximum compensation you deserve. 

   

Catastrophic Injuries 

Catastrophic injuries include spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, amputations, severe burn injuries, paralysis, and other life-changing harm. These often arise from high-impact accidents, such as motor vehicle collisions, heavy-truck crashes, construction site incidents, or falls from significant heights. Victims face not only acute medical treatment, but long-term rehabilitative care, adaptive equipment, loss of ability to work, and profound changes to family life. Compensation in these cases can include past and future medical expenses, lost wages (past and future), pain and suffering, diminished earning capacity, and, in severe cases, punitive damages if the defendant's conduct was egregious. At SYT, we explore every possible recovery option to maximize your compensation. 

   

Wrongful Death 

When negligence results in the death of a loved one, the emotional and financial toll on the family is devastating. If this is the case for you, we want you to know that we are deeply sorry for your loss. No words can truly ease the pain of losing someone you love. Still, our mission is to help families seek justice, accountability, and the financial stability they deserve during a tough time. This not only enables you to rebuild your life but also gives you the support and room you need to grieve.   

 

Wrongful death claims may arise from car or truck crashes, workplace tragedies, nursing-home neglect, drowning accidents, aviation accidents, or boating disasters. Common causes include distracted drivers, drunk or intoxicated operators, defective equipment, unsafe working conditions, or negligent supervision. Compensation may include funeral and burial costs, the deceased's loss of future income, loss of companionship, and punitive damages in appropriate cases. 

 

Workplace Injuries & Construction Accidents 

In Central Texas, many people work in industrial, manufacturing, oil and gas, agricultural, and construction industries, all fields that keep our communities running and our economy strong. The men and women in these industries take on tough, physical jobs every day, often in challenging and high-risk environments. Unfortunately, when safety standards are ignored or equipment fails, the results can be catastrophic. 

 

Construction accidents and workplace injuries often involve falls from scaffolding or ladders, heavy equipment rollovers, trench collapses, electrocution, or injuries caused by defective machinery. Victims may suffer broken bones, amputations, crush injuries, head trauma, chemical exposure, and long-term disabilities that prevent them from returning to work. The consequences ripple far beyond the individual, affecting families who suddenly face mounting medical bills, lost income, and uncertainty about the future. Compensation may include benefits through workers’ compensation, as well as additional recovery through a third-party negligence claim, covering medical bills, rehabilitation, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future care needs. At SYT, we work to secure compensation that truly reflects the full scope of your losses, both now and in the years to come. 

 

18-Wheeler and Large Truck Accidents 

Large-truck and 18-wheeler accidents in Central Texas are complex and dangerous. Our region is home to several major highway routes and transportation hubs, including I-35, Highway 6, Highway 84, and Highway 77, that see constant commercial traffic. With so many tractor-trailers and freight carriers moving through Waco and surrounding counties every day, serious truck accidents are, unfortunately, all too common. At SYT, we are no strangers to the devastation these crashes cause for victims and their families. Common causes of these accidents include driver fatigue, overloaded trucks, improper maintenance, blind-spot risk, and aggressive driving. Injuries tend to be catastrophic, resulting in spinal injuries, brain trauma, or wrongful death. Because the stakes are higher, carriers and trucking companies defend vigorously. Compensation may include extensive medical care, long-term disability, future lost income, and claims for punitive damages if the trucking company ignored safety regulations. 

   

Car Accidents 

Car accidents remain one of the most common sources of severe injury in Central Texas. Frequently caused by distracted driving (usage of phones), impaired drivers, speeding, red-light running, and unsafe intersections. Injuries may range from whiplash and broken bones to herniated discs, concussions, spinal injuries, or worse. Compensation typically covers medical expenses, repair or replacement of the vehicle, lost income, pain and suffering, and lost future earning capacity if injuries are long-term. 

 

Motorcycle Accidents 

Motorcycle riders face an elevated risk on the road. Causes often include negligent drivers failing to see motorcycles, unsafe road conditions, or poorly maintained bikes. Injuries are usually severe, including road rash requiring skin grafts, broken limbs, head trauma, and spinal injuries. Compensation includes medical care, rehabilitative therapy, prosthetics (if needed), vocational retraining, lost wages, and pain and suffering. 

   

Bus Accidents 

Bus accidents, whether involving private charter buses, public transit, or school buses, can result in catastrophic injury to multiple passengers. Causes include driver inattention, fatigue, mechanical failure, or poor maintenance. Injuries span from fractures and internal injuries to traumatic brain injury and spinal trauma. Compensation is similar to large-truck cases but may also involve complex claims against transit agencies or municipalities. 

 

Boating Accidents 

In Central Texas, boating accidents occur due to intoxicated operators, excessive speed, wake collisions, defective equipment, or inadequate supervision. While these accidents are not as common as others we see, they are every bit as serious. Injuries can include drowning, near-drowning, brain damage, fractures from collisions, and spinal or head injuries. Compensation may include medical costs, rehabilitation, psychological therapy, lost income, and pain/suffering.   

   

ATV Accidents 

All-terrain-vehicle (ATV) accidents often stem from defective machinery, lack of protective equipment, rollover incidents, or unsupervised use. Injuries can include amputations, head injury, crush injuries, and neck/spine trauma. Recovery after these accidents can range from short-term to long-term. Compensation addresses medical bills, long-term care, lost wages, pain & suffering, and, in some cases, punitive damages when the defendant's conduct is reckless. 

 

Bicycle Accidents 

Bicycle–vehicle collisions are among the most dangerous types of roadway accidents, often occurring when drivers fail to share the road, disregard cyclists’ right of way, or when riders are forced to navigate unsafe infrastructure or poorly lit areas. Because cyclists have little physical protection, the injuries sustained in these crashes can be catastrophic. Victims often suffer multiple fractures, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, internal bleeding, and severe soft-tissue trauma. When a collision involves a car, truck, or other motor vehicle, the consequences can be life-threatening or even fatal. Beyond the immediate medical emergency, survivors frequently face long-term rehabilitation, chronic pain, and lasting emotional trauma. Compensation in bicycle accident cases may include coverage for emergency medical treatment, hospital and surgical care, physical therapy, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, future medical needs, and pain and suffering. At SYT, we understand how devastating these accidents can be, and we fight tirelessly to ensure injured cyclists and their families receive the justice and financial recovery they need to move forward. 

   

Aviation Accidents 

Although less common, minor plane crashes in Central Texas can lead to devastating and life-altering consequences for victims and their families. Severe physical injuries, profound emotional trauma, and, in many cases, the heartbreaking loss of life often mark the aftermath of an aviation accident. These cases are complex and require an in-depth understanding of federal aviation regulations, aircraft maintenance standards, and pilot safety protocols. Common causes of minor aircraft accidents include pilot error, inadequate training, poor weather decisions, mechanical or maintenance failures, defective aircraft components, and air traffic control mistakes. In rural and regional areas of Central Texas, where private planes, crop dusters, and small charter flights are more common, such accidents can happen unexpectedly and with catastrophic results. The injuries sustained in minor plane crashes are often severe, including traumatic brain injuries, burns, spinal cord damage, fractures, and internal injuries. When fatalities occur, families are left facing overwhelming grief, emotional hardship, and the sudden financial instability that follows the loss of a loved one. Compensation in aviation accident cases may include recovery for catastrophic injuries, wrongful death damages, long-term medical care, rehabilitation, loss of earning capacity, loss of companionship, and, in cases involving reckless or grossly negligent conduct, punitive damages. 

 

DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) Accidents 

Few types of accidents are as senseless and heartbreaking as those caused by impaired drivers. At SYT, we know that every DWI accident is 100% preventable. When someone makes the reckless decision to get behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they endanger lives, families, and entire communities. These crashes are not “accidents”; they are the direct result of negligence and disregard for human safety. 

   

Victims of DWI accidents often suffer catastrophic and life-changing injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, amputations, burns, and internal organ trauma. In too many cases, these collisions result in wrongful death, leaving loved ones to cope with unimaginable loss. Beyond the physical pain, victims and families also face the emotional toll of knowing their suffering was caused by a choice that never should have been made. 

   

Our attorneys at SYT are relentless in holding drunk and drug-impaired drivers accountable. Compensation in DWI accident cases may include medical bills, future care costs, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and, in many cases, punitive damages, which are designed to punish reckless behavior and deter others from making the same dangerous choice. 

 

Nursing Home Injuries 

Neglect or abuse of nursing-home residents is a serious problem in Central Texas. Causes include understaffing, inadequate training, failure to monitor medications, falls, pressure ulcers, and inattentive care. Injuries may include broken bones, dehydration, sepsis, head injury, or wrongful death. Compensation may include past and future medical costs, pain & suffering, and punitive damages in cases of willful neglect. 

 

Daycare Facility Injuries 

Injuries in daycare facilities can occur in a variety of ways. Common causes include inadequate supervision, unsafe playground equipment, hazardous conditions, failure to follow safety protocols, neglect, and, in some cases, abuse. Children may suffer head injuries from falls, broken bones, burns, choking incidents, exposure to toxic substances, or even drowning in unmonitored pools. These injuries can have lasting physical and emotional effects that shape a child’s development and a family’s peace of mind for years to come. Compensation for daycare facility injuries can include medical expenses, future therapy and rehabilitation, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and, in some cases, punitive damages if the conduct was particularly reckless or intentional. At SYT, we handle daycare injury cases with both fierce advocacy and deep compassion. We know that parents are not just seeking financial recovery, but they are seeking answers, accountability, and assurance that no other child will be hurt the same way. 

 

Drowning Accidents 

Drowning accidents often arise in pools, lakes, or during boating activities. Common causes include a lack of supervision, defective pool equipment, intoxicated boat operators, or unsafe dock conditions. Injuries may involve hypoxic brain injury, spinal trauma, or death. Compensation may include medical care, loss of earning capacity, rehabilitation, future care, pain & suffering, and, in the case of death, wrongful death damages. 

 

Our Unique Approach: Why Partnering with SYT Matters 

When you choose SYT, you are choosing a law firm that believes in more than just settling claims. We believe in your life, your family, and your future. We begin every case by listening: we want to know your story, your fears, your family’s needs, and how this accident changed your life. We strive for open communication, transparency about options, and honesty about strategy. We don’t assume every case fits the same mold because we recognize that your injuries, your losses, and your future are unique. Then we build a trial-ready team of attorneys, investigators, medical experts, and rehabilitation professionals who know Central Texas and know how to win in the courtroom to take on your case. We walk alongside you while you heal, answering your questions, guiding you through medical care, helping you understand each legal step, and realigning our strategy as your life changes. We don’t accept low-ball offers simply because insurance companies hope you’ll settle early under pressure. Instead, we leverage our reputation as fierce trial lawyers to drive meaningful compensation on your behalf. Because in the end, you deserve more than just a check; you deserve someone who will fight for your dignity, your future, and the life you still want to live. 

 

Statute of Limitations in Central Texas 

In Texas, most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years from the date of your accident. If you miss this deadline, you may permanently lose your right to recover compensation. The clock begins when your injury occurs or, in certain rare cases, when you discover the injury or should have discovered it. Because each case has its own facts, and because exceptions may apply (such as for minors, intoxicated drivers, or claims against government entities), it is critical to contact us as soon as possible so we can evaluate your specific timeline and protect your rights. Acting fast in these cases is the best practice. 

 

Get Started With a Free Case Review 

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in Central Texas due to someone else’s negligence, now is the time to act. Our team at Scanes Yelverton Talbert, LLP is ready to listen, review your case, and determine what options are available to you. Please get started by initiating your free case review by filling out our online personal injury claim form. Our team will review your case to determine your options. If you decide to move forward with a claim, we will answer your questions, outline how we would approach your case, and help you understand your potential compensation. Let us put our trial experience, local strength, and personalized approach to work for you. Reach out when you are ready, we are here for you.