A car crash can turn your life upside down in seconds. Beyond the immediate shock and confusion, you may find yourself facing mounting medical bills, missed work, and the frustrating task of negotiating with insurance companies—all while trying to recover from your injuries. Getting fair compensation matters, but knowing what constitutes a “fair” settlement in Texas can be a tricky endeavor. The answer depends on the circumstances surrounding your case and remember that a car accident attorney in McAllen can help you understand the answer better.
Types of Damages You Can Recover in a Car Accident Claim
Texas law recognizes two categories of damages in car accident claims. Economic damages compensate you for direct financial losses resulting from the accident. These include past and future medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and expenses for necessary household services you can no longer perform. Every medical bill, receipt, and pay stub helps document these concrete losses.
Non-economic damages address the accident’s impact on your quality of life. These harder-to-quantify losses include physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, disability or disfigurement, loss of enjoyment in daily activities, and damage to personal relationships. While these damages lack quantifiable evidence, they often represent a significant portion of car accident settlements.
Factors That Determine Your Final Settlement Value
Every car accident claim is unique, and numerous factors may influence the potential settlement value. These may include:
- The severity and permanence of injuries
- Total cost of current and future medical treatment
- Length of recovery time
- Impact on work capacity and career trajectory
- Property damage extent
- Quality and amount of evidence available
- Impact on daily activities and quality of life
- Insurance policy limits
For example, a severe back injury requiring multiple surgeries and preventing return to work would likely result in a higher settlement than a minor whiplash injury where you make a full recovery.
When to Accept or Reject a Settlement Offer
Never accept the first settlement offer without careful evaluation. Initial offers typically fall well below fair value, as insurance companies hope to minimize payouts. You should only consider accepting a settlement when it adequately covers all current and future expenses related to your accident, accounts for non-economic damages, and reflects the strength of your case.
Reject offers that undervalue your claim or pressure you to settle quickly before understanding the full extent of your injuries. Be particularly wary of accepting early settlement offers before you reach maximum medical improvement—you may discover additional complications requiring costly treatment.
Get Your Car Accident Claim Evaluated Today
Determining whether a settlement offer truly reflects your claim’s worth can be a challenging process. In these situations, an attorney can provide invaluable support. A Texas car accident attorney can analyze all pieces of evidence and consult with experts to determine what would constitute a fair settlement in your case. They will also understand insurance company tactics and can protect you from accepting lowball offers that might leave you financially strained in the future.
At the De La Garza Law Firm, our McAllen personal injury attorneys know how to accurately value claims and pursue the compensation that our clients truly deserve. If you have been injured in a Texas car accident, we can fight for you every step of the way. Contact us today at (956) 533-1426 for a thorough evaluation of your case and dedicated representation throughout your recovery journey.
