In Texas, a lawsuit involving a catastrophic injury that results in permanent disability can lead to a jury verdict ranging from $100,000 to multiple millions of dollars, depending on the circumstances.
The value of a permanent disability case depends on factors such as injury severity, lifetime medical costs, lost earning potential, and how significantly the injury impacts daily life.
If your disability was caused by a serious crash, speaking with an experienced Austin personal injury attorney can help you understand what your case may actually be worth.
Severe injuries generally result in higher settlements because they involve decades of financial losses, long-term care needs, and permanent life changes.
What Is the Average Settlement for a Permanent Disability in Texas?
It’s difficult to assign an “average” settlement value for a permanent disability case, as values can vary significantly from person to person. Some settlements and verdicts are in the $50,000 to $100,000 range, while others exceed $1 million.
Factors that can affect settlement value include:
- Extent or severity of the injury
- Degree of disability
- The victim’s age and overall health
- Effects on the victim’s daily life and independence
- How much the victim made before vs. after the accident
- The number of defendants or liable parties
- The insurance coverage available
- Comparative negligence
In general, injury cases that involve permanent disabilities lead to higher settlements because the victim will experience a lifetime of related costs and losses. A settlement or jury verdict will take into account decades of medical care, lost wages, out-of-pocket costs, loss of consortium, and pain and suffering in connection with a long-term injury.
| Severity Level | Typical Settlement Range |
|---|---|
| Mild permanent impairment | $50,000 – $150,000 |
| Moderate long-term disability | $150,000 – $500,000 |
| Severe disability (major impairment) | $500,000 – $1 million |
| Catastrophic disability (paralysis, TBI, amputation) | $1 million – Several million |
Disclaimer:
Every personal injury case is unique. The settlement ranges and examples discussed above are for general informational purposes only and do not guarantee any specific outcome. The value of a permanent disability claim depends on the specific facts, evidence, liability issues, and damages involved. Past results and estimated ranges should not be interpreted as a promise or prediction of future results.
Types of Financial Compensation Available for Permanent Injuries in Texas
State law in Texas allows for the recovery of financial compensation for economic and noneconomic damages. In an effort to become whole again, an accident victim with a permanent injury could pursue damages for various types of losses from the defendant.
Medical Bills
The past, present and future health care costs associated with a long-term injury, which may include surgeries, hospital stays, doctor’s appointments, specialists, medical tests and x-rays, various treatments, medical devices, physical therapy, rehabilitation, live-in care, and prescription medications.
Disability
Costs and losses associated with a permanent disability, such as necessary home or vehicle modifications, mobility assistive devices, prosthetics, nursing aids, lost enjoyment of life, wages lost from the inability to return to work in the same capacity as before the accident, and vocational training for a new position.
Pain and Suffering
The invisible or intangible effects that the permanent injury has had on the victim’s life, which may include physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, loss of consortium, lost quality of life, scarring or disfigurement, or loss of mental well-being.
Punitive Damages
In rare cases, punitive damages are awarded in addition to compensatory damages to punish defendants for their conduct. This is a possibility in cases where a defendant’s “fraud, malice or gross negligence” is the cause of a victim’s permanent injury. Negligence refers to the failure to act with proper care; gross negligence is a reckless disregard for the safety of others.
How Are Permanent Disability Settlements Calculated?
During a permanent disability lawsuit in Texas, a jury will decide how much to award a plaintiff in damages based on the facts and evidence presented. The two types of compensatory damages, economic and non-economic, are calculated differently.
Economic damages represent the monetary losses suffered by the victim due to the accident and permanent disability. These calculations rely on specific numbers found in medical bills and other documentation, such as projected future care costs as demonstrated in a Life Care Plan.
Non-economic damages are the intangible losses caused by a catastrophic injury, also known as pain and suffering. These damages can be awarded at a jury’s discretion. Compelling evidence and storytelling by the plaintiff’s attorney can lead to higher non-economic damage awards.
In some cases, a judge may also award punitive damages. This is a rare type of award that is designed to punish a defendant for gross negligence and discourage future acts of wrongdoing. Punitive damages are more common in cases where a defendant’s actions have resulted in permanent injuries, disabilities or deaths.
Texas Damage Caps
Texas has caps, or limits, on the amount of financial compensation a person can receive for damages in a lawsuit. In a medical malpractice claim, the noneconomic damages are capped at $250,000 per defendant, with a $500,000 total cap for multiple healthcare providers.
There is also a cap on punitive damages. All punitive damage awards granted in Texas are limited to a maximum of $200,000 or twice the amount of economic damages awarded, plus an amount equal to noneconomic damages (up to $750,000) – whichever is higher.
How to Prove the Value of a Permanent Disability Case
If you want to achieve the best possible results for your permanent disability case in Texas, the right way forward is to hire an experienced personal injury attorney to represent you. A lawyer will have the resources and ability to prove the extent of your injuries, demonstrate how a permanent disability will affect your daily life and career, and seek maximum financial compensation for your losses.
At FVF Law Firm – Injury & Wrongful Death Lawyers, our personal injury attorneys use the full extent of our resources, attention and dedication to pursue the financial justice that makes our clients whole again.
Our Texas personal injury lawyers have over 100 years of combined experience and have collected millions of dollars in compensation for accident victims. Contact us today to speak with one of our permanent disability attorneys at no cost or pressure about your case.
