How much is a car accident case worth in Texas?

“What is my case worth?” is the first question almost every injured client asks. The honest answer is that a car accident case in Texas is worth what the evidence supports and what the available insurance can pay. Nobody can tell you an exact number on day one, and you should be careful of anyone who does. This article explains the factors that decide the value of a Texas car accident claim.

Quick answer: the value depends on your medical bills, lost income, pain and lasting effects, how much of the crash was your fault, and how much insurance covers the driver who hit you.

What damages can you recover after a Texas car accident?

Texas law lets an injured person recover economic losses and non-economic losses caused by the crash.

Type of damage	Examples
Medical expenses	ER visit, doctor and therapy bills, future treatment
Lost income	Missed work and reduced ability to earn in the future
Pain and mental anguish	Physical pain and emotional distress from the injury
Physical impairment and disfigurement	Lasting limits on what you can do, and scarring
Property damage	Repair or replacement of your vehicle

Texas limits medical expense recovery to the amounts actually paid or owed, not the higher list price on a bill. That is one reason careful records matter.

How do insurance policy limits affect your case?

Policy limits are often the real ceiling on a car accident case. Texas requires drivers to carry at least $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $60,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage. If the at-fault driver carries only the minimum and your losses are higher, their policy may not cover everything.

That is why a lawyer looks for every source of coverage: the other driver’s policy, your own personal injury protection (PIP), your uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, and any employer or company responsible for the driver. A crash with a company vehicle or an 18-wheeler usually involves much larger policies.

How does fault change what you recover?

Texas uses proportionate responsibility. If you are partly at fault, your recovery is reduced by your share. If you are found more than 50 percent responsible, you recover nothing from the other driver.

For example, if a jury finds your damages are $50,000 and you were 20 percent at fault, your recovery would be reduced to $40,000. Adjusters often try to push more of the blame onto you for exactly this reason, so do not admit fault at the scene or in a recorded statement.

What makes a car accident claim worth more, or less?

Claims tend to be stronger when treatment starts promptly, records are complete, and the injuries are clearly documented. Claims lose value when there are gaps in treatment, missing bills, social media posts that contradict the injury, or a recorded statement that minimizes what happened. The first steps matter, which is why we wrote what to do after a car accident in San Antonio.

How do attorney fees work in a car accident case?

Injury cases are usually handled on a contingency fee, meaning the fee is a percentage of what is recovered. The percentage and how case costs are handled should always be explained in writing before you sign.

Get an honest read on your case

Clients say Ryan Bergmann tells them what is realistic, even when other lawyers promised more. On a free consultation, he will look at your injuries, your bills and the available insurance, and give you a straight answer. Read about the firm’s car accident practice or request a free consultation.