A careless motorist has just hit your car on a busy highway. Your car sustained major damage. On top of that, you suffered potentially life-changing injuries.
Is there any good news in this situation? Fortunately, you have the right to seek compensation for the damages sustained in your car accident in Texas. Here is a look at how car crash compensation works in the Lone Star State.
How Texas law handles fault
Before you can receive compensation for the injuries you have suffered in your car wreck, you must prove that the other driver caused your injuries due to driver negligence or recklessness. Even if you are partially at fault for your accident, you might still receive compensation based on the idea of comparative negligence.
For example, perhaps you made too quick of a turn prior to the accident. In this case, a jury or judge will determine your level of fault in the accident. Then, the court will simply reduce the amount of compensation you receive based on this level. As an example, if a judge says that you were 30% at fault in the collision, then you would receive 70% of the compensation amount you would have otherwise received.
Economic damages
Following an accident resulting from another driver’s negligence, you may pursue a number of damages. Here are a few economic damages that may be available to you:
- Medical expenses you may incur in the future
- Household service costs
- Vehicle repair costs
- Lost earnings
You could also seek damages for losing your ability to earn wages in the future as a result of your accident.
Noneconomic and punitive damages
You may also be eligible to receive noneconomic damages. For example, these damages include disability as well as pain and suffering. Furthermore, you may receive punitive damages in a case of egregious fault. However, in Texas, punitive damages come with a limit. You may receive one of the three punitive damage amounts — whichever is the highest.
- Your noneconomic and economic damage amounts added together
- Your economic damage amount multiplied by two, with $750,000 added to the total
- $200,000
A personal injury attorney in Texas can ultimately help you to pursue the maximum damage amount available to you given the circumstances surrounding your motor vehicle accident.