What To Ask For In A Texas Car Accident Settlement

Explanation and examples of car accident settlements

Most Texas car accident claims end with a cash settlement. Unfortunately, insurance adjusters are known to manipulate injured crash victims into settling for a lot less money than they deserve.

Don’t get fooled. Get help.

A settlement is a negotiated agreement that resolves a victim’s demand for crash compensation without having to go to court. The insurance company wants to settle every claim for as little as possible. But for more than 20 years, Weinstein Law has helped injured car accident victims in Athens, Tyler, Henderson County and throughout East Texas get the compensation they deserve.

Free legal consultation for injured East Texas car accident victims

One of the best ways to avoid a lowball settlement is to have an experienced lawyer explain what goes into a Texas car accident settlement and give you an estimated value. Only a lawyer with your best interests at heart can calculate the value of your claim and identify an unfair offer.

Jeff Weinstein is a personal injury and car accident lawyer with a successful track record in Henderson County and across East Texas. He’s known for thorough investigations and building strong cases that demand maximum compensation. When insurance companies realize the amount of work Jeff has put into a case – and that he’s ready to battle them in court, if necessary – they typically realize a substantial settlement offer is a must.

If you were injured or a loved one was killed in a Henderson County car accident, contact Jeff for a free case consultation. At no cost to you, he will listen to the details of your case, answer your crash-related legal questions, estimate your claim’s value, and help you decide what to do next.

Texas car accident settlement examples

Once an injured crash victim accepts a settlement, the case is closed. With few exceptions, they cannot go back to the insurance company or file a lawsuit for more money.

You don’t have to worry about getting shortchanged when Weinstein Law is on your side. We do not accept lowball settlement offers. We always negotiate for maximum compensation.

While past success is no guarantee of future awards, here are examples of car accident settlements and awards recovered by Weinstein Law:

$660,077 for the victim of a drunk driving accident.
$346,071 for the victim of a car accident that caused a serious leg injury.
$143,337 for the victim of a car accident that caused leg and back Injuries.

When the insurance company tries to push a lowball settlement on you, tell them “No.” Send in Henderson County car accident attorney Jeff Weinstein to fight for your rights while you focus on healing.

What should I ask for in a car accident settlement?

The job of every insurance adjuster is to protect the company’s bottom line by denying claims or settling for as little as they can get away with. You can negotiate for more money. But first, you need to know what to ask for.

Texas car accident settlements cover economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are for losses with objective expenses like medical bills. Non-economic damages are for things that are harder to put a price on like pain and suffering.

Depending on the nature and extent of your injuries, your Texas car accident settlement can cover things like:

Medical expenses

Past, present, and future medical expenses like specialist appointments and surgeries.
Recovery therapies like physical therapy, massage therapy, or occupational therapy.
Medications.
Medical devices.
Transportation costs to and from medical appointments.

Other economic damages

Damaged property and car repairs or replacement.
Rental vehicle while your car is being repaired.
Lost wages.
Purchase and installation of home or vehicle mobility equipment.
Replacement services for things you can no longer handle due to your injury such as cooking, cleaning, yard work.
Diminished earning potential.
Lost contributions to household.

Non-economic damages

Disfigurement
Pain and suffering.
Emotional distress.
Mental anguish.
Loss of counsel, guidance, or companionship.

It’s unfair that the claims process calls upon seriously injured accident victims to enter high-stakes negotiations with veteran insurance adjusters and their attorneys. Don’t be the only one at the negotiating table without a lawyer. Jeff doesn’t just level the playing field. He gives you an advantage for maximum results.

How much money can I get for my car accident injury settlement?

The short answer is: It depends. In general, the more severe and life-altering an injury is, the more money a crash victim collects. That’s why, for example, someone who sustains a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in a Highway 175 head-on collision with a semi-truck will likely collect more than a crash victim who fractured their arm in a rear-end accident by Lake Athens.

In Texas, the size of your car accident settlement is influenced by a handful of factors, including:

Injury type and severity. Medical expenses, disabilities, and necessary lifestyle changes can increase a financial award.
Available insurance. Although there are exceptions, when you file a claim, the insurance company generally won't pay out more insurance than what has been purchased. The minimum amounts of liability coverage allowed in Texas are:
- $30,000 per injured person, per accident
- $60,000 total for all injuries in an accident
- $25,000 for property damage, per accident

Optional insurance coverage that may be available, depending on your circumstances, includes personal injury protection (PIP), which pays for medical expenses and a percentage of lost income; collision coverage, which pays for damage to your vehicle; and uninsured and underinsured motorist (UIM or UM) coverage, which pays for damages caused by a driver who is either uninsured or underinsured. UIM also applies to hit-and-run accidents.

Available assets. If there is no insurance or your damages exceed available policies, you may file a lawsuit against the negligent driver and other liable third parties, like a defective parts manufacturer or the vehicle’s owner. However, suing the driver who hit you is not always effective. People without insurance, or enough insurance, usually do not have the resources to pay for losses. Your lawyer can identify all liable parties and help you decide whether to file a lawsuit.
Fault. Texas applies a modified comparative negligence standard to car accident compensation. Crash fault is divided among all those involved. Financial awards are reduced by a victim’s percentage contribution to the accident. That means, for example, a person who is 10 percent at fault in a crash would have their settlement reduced by 10 percent. In other words, the insurance company knows that the more they blame you, the less they must pay. Jeff can be by your side every step of the way protecting your right to compensation. He will fight hard to hold the negligent driver that hit you accountable.
Past wages and earnings. How much you collect for lost wages, diminished future income, and lost contributions to household damages is largely influenced by your past earnings.
Negotiating skills. Jeff is relentless in negotiations. He understands what’s at stake. He knows that accepting a too-small settlement means the money could run out before you’re healed. That’s why Jeff would rather invest more of his own time and resources into your case than settle for less.

Don’t take on the insurance company alone

When calculating car accident injury compensation packages, Jeff puts the highest value on your health and comfort. He knows that your crash settlement, verdict, or judgment must consider past, current, and future crash-related expenses. He knows you deserve significant damages for the pain you have endured.

When the insurance company won't make a substantial offer, Jeff prepares for court. A former Dallas prosecutor, Jeff has tried hundreds of cases. He knows how to get results in the courtroom.

Were you injured in a Henderson County crash? Did a loved one die in a fatal car accident in East Texas? Contact Jeff for a free case consultation to learn more about the value of your claim and your legal options. Jeff represents injured accident victims for a contingency fee. There is no upfront or out-of-pocket charge for his service. Jeff’s fee is a percentage of the case outcome. If he doesn’t win, you don’t pay.

Weinstein Law has an office in Athens, TX, but if you can’t come to Jeff, he can go to you. Do not delay. A statute of limitations applies to car accidents and wrongful death actions. Contact Weinstein Law to schedule your free case consultation right now.