Texas Personal Injury Trial Law

• Semester: Fall 2025
• Course ID: 296W
• Credit Hours: 2
• Unique: 30859

Description

Taught by Ronald Rodriguez.

Texas Personal Injury Trial Law is a comprehensive, practice-oriented course designed to equip law students with the doctrinal knowledge, procedural expertise, and strategic judgment necessary to competently manage a straightforward personal injury case under Texas law. This course systematically follows the lifecycle of a personal injury matter—from initial client intake and pre-suit investigation through discovery, trial, post-judgment motions, and final settlement—while providing students with the analytical framework and litigation tools required for real-world practice. Instruction is led by Ronald Rodriguez, a nationally recognized trial attorney who is dual board-certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Drawing upon decades of experience in high-stakes litigation, Mr. Rodriguez delivers instruction grounded in actual courtroom advocacy. Students will gain access to a comprehensive suite of professionally developed and courtroom-proven litigation checklists and practice-ready forms used in modern personal injury practice. The course emphasizes not only plaintiff-side advocacy but also critical defense strategies, fostering balanced and ethically sound professional judgment. Through rigorous examination of liability theories, damages models, ethical considerations, and evidentiary rules, students will learn to evaluate case merits, draft pleadings, develop discovery plans, conduct depositions, prepare trial strategies, and ensure compliance with fiduciary obligations. Upon successful completion of the course, students will be expected to demonstrate competence in handling an uncomplicated personal injury case from intake to resolution, including the ability to analyze legal and factual issues, prepare litigation documents, engage in strategic negotiation, and advocate effectively in both plaintiff and defense contexts. This course is ideal for students interested in personal injury practice, civil litigation, and advanced trial advocacy. Texas Civil Procedure is a recommended prerequisite.