About Us

About Cruz & Payne Injury Lawyers, P.C.

San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyers

Each year, the skilled and compassionate personal injury lawyers at Cruz & Payne Injury Lawyers, P.C., help hundreds of clients recover millions of dollars in financial compensation for those who have been injured by the negligence of others.

Our website provides basic information about the many ways that injuries can change and end lives — in motor vehicles; in homes and hospitals; on unsafe properties, such as apartment complexes; in the workplace and due to dangerous consumer products.

Continue reading to learn more about the Fernando Cruz and Clay Payne, our respected San Antonio Attorneys, and the many ways our law firm can help you.

A Trusted Name In Texas Personal
Injury Law For MoreThan 40 Years

Hiring a lawyer is an important first step in ensuring that your legal rights are thoroughly investigated and preserved. Our firm is founded on a commitment to the highest level of ethics and professionalism. We are dedicated to the needs of our clients and remain responsive throughout the legal process. We pride ourselves in providing in-depth investigations as to the cause of injuries and we are thorough in preparing your case.

While not every case is tried by a jury, we remain committed to preparing each case for trial so that our client is in the best position to evaluate settlement offers throughout the life of the case. The quality legal services we provide are pointed to one goal: obtaining the maximum financial compensation you deserve for your physical, financial and emotional injury.

Reach Out To Us Today

To arrange your free initial consultation with Cruz & Payne Injury Lawyers, P.C. — at our law offices or your home or hospital room — contact us by calling 210-224-4474. We respond promptly to all email messages. Our contingency fee policy ensures that you owe no attorney fees unless we win your case.

HABLAMOS ESPAÑOL.

Accomplishments
And Education

Personal Injury Trial
Automobile Accidents
Company Vehicle Accidents
Premises Liability
Trucking Accidents
Workplace Accidents
Wrongful Death

Board Certified, American Board of Trial Advocates

Drake University Law School, Des Moines, Iowa Juris Doctorate – 1998 Honors: President, Hispanic Law Student Association Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas B.A. – 1995 Honors: Student Senate as Hispanic Senator Major: Political Science

Texas Trial Lawyers Association
San Antonio Trial Lawyers Association
San Antonio Bar Association
Mexican-American Bar Association

About Fernando Cruz

Founding Attorney

Fernando R. Cruz is a first-generation American who was born and raised in San Antonio’s Southside. He graduated from Burbank High School then completed undergraduate studies at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where he was elected by the student body to the Student Senate as Hispanic Senator and received his B.A. in Political Science. In 1998, Fernando received a Juris Doctorate degree from Drake Law School in Des Moines, Iowa, where he served as President of the Hispanic Law Student Association. For seven years, Fernando honed his trial experience as a litigator specializing in insurance defense. He has tried numerous personal injury cases to verdict, primarily in Bexar, Nueces and Maverick counties. Since then, Fernando has represented individuals and families who have been injured or have lost loved ones due to the negligence of others. Fernando’s commitment to community service and dedication to the law were inspired by Mexican parents who came to the United States in pursuit of happiness through hard and honest work and civic responsibility. Fernando practices in the area of personal injury trial. He is licensed by the State Bar of Texas and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Western District of Texas.

His legal affiliations include the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, San Antonio Trial Lawyers Association, San Antonio Bar Association, and Mexican American Bar Association.

Fernando is a strong supporter of ACTS Missions of San Antonio and has an unwavering commitment to inspiring San Antonio’s under-privileged youth to reach their full potential. Fernando is sought after as a motivational speaker and has spoken to hundreds of students at numerous schools throughout San Antonio.

About Clay Payne

Partner

Clay Payne is a Texas native and third-generation personal injury attorney. After graduating from Second Baptist High School, Clay attended the University of Texas at Austin where he received a B.B.A. in Management from the McCombs School of Business.  After graduation, Clay followed in the footsteps of his parents and grandfather by attending law school so he could advocate for the rights of others.

Following his passion, Clay applied and was accepted to St. Mary’s University School of Law. Throughout his law school career, Clay placed an emphasis on honing his trial and negotiation skills.  Clay began his legal career with the Cruz & Payne Injury Lawyers, PC in 2018. Since then, Clay has successfully negotiated hundreds of personal injury settlements and has obtained millions of dollars for his clients.

As a trial attorney with Cruz & Payne Injury Lawyers, PC, Clay represents clients injured in auto and trucking accidents, company vehicle accidents, premises liability accidents, and workplace accidents.  He is licensed by the State Bar of Texas and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Western District of Texas.        

Clay’s legal affiliations include the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and the San Antonio Trial Lawyers Association. Outside of the office, Clay enjoys spending time with his wife, Daisy.  Clay likes to attend local events in King William and Southtown as well as go out for dinner with friends and family.

Accomplishments
And Education

Personal Injury Trial
Automobile Accidents
Company Vehicle Accidents
Premises Liability
Trucking Accidents
Workplace Accidents
Wrongful Death

State Bar of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas

St. Mary’s University School of Law, San Antonio, Texas (J.D.)
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas (B.B.A.)

Accomplishments
And Education

Aquatic Litigation
Water and Swimming Pool Accidents
Personal Injury Trial
TBI
Wrongful Death

All of the State Courts of Texas
Texas Southern District Federal Court
U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas.
Illinois State Courts
Arizona State Courts

J.D., Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
B.S., The University of Texas at Austin

Texas Bar Association
Corpus Christi Bar Association
San Antonio Bar Association
Texas Trial Lawyers Association
San Antonio Trial Lawyers Association
Illinois Bar Association
Arizona Bar Association
National Drowning Prevention Association, Legal Counsel

About Jesse E. Guerra Jr.

Of Counsel

Jesse E. Guerra Jr. is nationally known as the “swimming pool safety lawyer” – a unique niche Jesse created to meet the demands of safety in the aquatic world, in order to keep you and your family safe.

As the firm’s aquatic litigation attorney, his primary focus is on swimming pool safety law. Due to his vast experience in aquatic litigation and his knowledge of pool safety, Jesse has been sought out by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to create drowning prevention programs. He has appeared on local TV stations in San Antonio to discuss Aquatic Safety, and he has sponsored water safety events in the community. These free events provide swimming lessons and water safety videos to parents in order to help educate them on the dangers surrounding unsafe pools.

Because of his endless commitment to swimming pool safety and his devotion to clients, Jesse has earned widespread praise and respect in the legal world. He is highly regarded as “THE” go-to swimming pool attorney in the nation and as an expert in pool safety regulations. Jesse continues to be at the forefront of swimming pool safety laws and health codes that affect the swimming pool industry. He is also an active blogger on swimming pool safety topics – keeping you informed on pool safety-related news. Jesse’s dedication to serving as a pool safety watchdog pretty much makes him Public Enemy Number 1 to pool owners who are not carrying out their responsibility to keep their pools free of hazards for visitors.

Jesse, who has earned the nickname “Texas Safety Lawyer,” focuses solely on drowning, swimming pool accidents and other water-related accident cases. His passion for what he does, coupled with his strong work ethic, is what sets Jesse apart from his peers. He is truly willing to go the distance for you … on each and every case. Above all else, Jesse truly cares about his clients, making himself available to each and every one of them … 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

About Pedro Webber

Associate

Pedro Webber is an Associate Attorney at Cruz & Payne Injury Lawyers, PC. Originally from Mexico City, Pedro has called San Antonio home for over 17 years. He obtained his B.B.A. in Management from the University of Texas at San Antonio before earning his Juris Doctor degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law.

Pedro’s background, as an adjuster for one of the largest insurance companies in the nation, has given him a unique understanding of how insurance companies operate and handle cases. He started his legal career as a prosecutor in the Bexar County Criminal District Attorney’s office, where he handled and tried a wide range of cases in both adult and juvenile court, from low-level misdemeanors to serious felonies.

After leaving the District Attorney’s office, Pedro joined an insurance company as an in-house trial attorney, where he defended and went to trial on personal injury cases. This experience provided him with valuable insights into the strategies employed by insurance companies to minimize payouts.

Now, as a trial attorney at Cruz & Payne Injury Lawyers, PC, Pedro represents people who have been wronged, injured, or lost a loved one due to the negligence of others. With his extensive trial experience, Pedro has successfully represented clients in complex and challenging cases, obtaining favorable outcomes and compensation for their losses.

In his free time, Pedro enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, and indulging his passion for Formula 1 racing. Pedro is a Chief Post Marshal for the FIA, and he manages a team of professional race marshals in F1 races taking place in Austin, Miami, and Las Vegas.

Accomplishments
And Education

Personal Injury Trial
Automobile Accidents
Company Vehicle Accidents
Premises Liability
Trucking Accidents
Workplace Accidents
Wrongful Death

State Bar of Texas

St. Mary’s University School of Law, San Antonio, Texas (J.D.)
University of Texas at San Antonio,  San Antonio, Texas (B.B.A.)