Texas Auto Accident Settlement Amounts

After an auto accident in Texas, you may suffer severe injuries and property damage. The hospital bills, treatment fees, and other financial losses you incur due to a motor vehicle accident can be expensive. It’s important to understand that every case is different, and the amount of your potential settlement depends on the unique facts of your case. The best way to understand the value of your claim is to speak with a qualified accident attorney.

Hiring a car accident lawyer will maximize your odds of obtaining a more significant auto accident settlement. With the help of a dependable auto accident, a lawyer at Sutliff & Stout can guide you through the process and offer honest advice about settlement amounts. We have years of experience advocating for the rights of those in our community and are proud to provide that same level of dedication to you.

What You Need to Know About the Texas Car Accident Settlement Process

Auto accidents are among the leading causes of unintentional injuries in Texas. According to information provided by the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDoT), 265,076 people were hurt in motor vehicle accidents in the state in 2016. Many of these accidents were incredibly serious, with more than 17,000 people suffered debilitating, long-term injuries and 3,700 people killed in traffic collisions.

Injured car accident victims are entitled to full and fair financial compensation for their losses. While victims can file a lawsuit to seek compensation, the overwhelming majority of Texas auto accident injury claims are settled before any formal litigation. As a car accident victim, you need to get a settlement offer that provides complete coverage for your medical bills and fair financial support for your family.

What is the average settlement for a minor car accident?

There is is no real average settlement on a minor car accident, let alone a major one. A full review of your accident to determine all the contributing details will need to be made to establish a fair settlement for your accident.

How Are Car Accident Settlements Calculated in Texas?

Under Texas law, auto accident victims are eligible to receive compensation equal to the value of their damages. For this reason, there is no true ‘average’ or ‘standard’ car accident settlement amount. All car accident claims must be viewed on an individualized basis. This includes when dealing with compensation. The compensation that an accident survivor is eligible for depends on the severity and amount of damage they suffer.

Some examples of compensation you may recover after an auto accident include:

• Current and future medical bills
• Physical therapy or rehabilitative care
• Lost wages and diminished earning power
• Long-term disability
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Disfigurement
• Wrongful death of a family member.

Car accidents are dangerous and can lead to severe, life-threatening injuries that impact your life forever. While the compensation can lessen an accident’s monetary burden and financial challenges, some things can’t be taken back. Figuring out how to navigate a settlement offer is challenging without the help of an experienced attorney.

You Must Carefully Document Your Damages

To maximize your Texas auto accident settlement, you must thoroughly document your losses. Insurance companies will look for any way that they can find to reduce the value of your settlement award. You will not get the total money you rightfully deserve if you cannot provide evidence and documentation that supports your claim.

The following are great examples of documentation that can help as evidence:

• Pictures and videos
• Dashcams
• Witnesses
• Medical and treatment bills
• Vehicle debris and wreckage

One of the biggest mistakes that car accident victims make is not preparing and presenting proof of their damages. This mistake can cost you thousands of dollars. Our Houston car accident lawyers have deep experience handling Texas personal injury claims. We are committed to helping victims maximize their settlement amount.

A Finding of Partial Fault Will Reduce Your Compensation

When considering car accident settlement amounts in Texas, one of the most important things you need to know is that a finding of partial fault will reduce the value of your settlement, perhaps substantially. This is because Texas is a comparative negligence state. When two or more parties share the fault for the same Texas traffic collision, the financial liability will be divided by each party’s percentage of the blame.

For example, consider a hypothetical case in which you were injured in a severe three-car accident on Interstate-10 in East Texas. In all, you sustained $50,000 in total damages. You incurred significant medical bills, were forced to miss work time, and experienced considerable pain and suffering. In this case, you would be entitled to a car accident settlement worth $50,000.

However, that is only true if you were not at fault for the crash. If an investigation determines that you were to blame for 30 percent of the crash, your settlement offer will be reduced by a corresponding 30 percent. Instead of recovering the entire $50,000, you may only be offered $35,000, with 30 percent of your total damages, or $15,000, is deemed your responsibility.

Work With the Insurance Company Through Your Attorney

Insurance adjusters are trained professionals. They are hired to represent the financial interests of the insurance company that is defending your claim. You cannot and should not rely on an insurance adjuster for advice. If they can get away with it, they will try to settle your Texas car accident claim for the smallest amount possible. It is not advised that you go up against the insurance company on your own.

You should get an experienced Texas car accident lawyer by your side as early on in the claims process as possible. Your lawyer will be able to handle all correspondence and interactions with the insurance company, carefully building and presenting your claim and negotiating a maximum settlement offer for you. If the insurance company refuses to act in good faith and pay you the amount you are entitled to receive, your attorney will be able to file a lawsuit.

Contact Our Texas Car Accident Attorneys Today

The aftermath of an accident can be not only stressful but also frightening. Trying to navigate the legal claim process by yourself is unwise and may lead to you recovering unfair compensation. At Sutliff & Stout, our Texas motor vehicle accident lawyers have years of experience helping people recover the financial compensation they deserve. We are proud to offer accessible communication and dependable legal services. Our clients are part of our family, and we want to make sure you come out with the best possible outcome for your case.

Call (713) 987-7111 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation today.