Burns / Lacerations cases from motor vehicle accidents can vary significantly in severity and outcome. These cases involve injuries that may require medical treatment, rehabilitation, and can impact quality of life. Settlement values depend on injury severity, medical expenses, recovery time, and long-term effects on the victim's daily activities and ability to work.
Last updated: November 2025
One driver was operating a vehicle that had previously been repaired by an auto maintenance company. The vehicle was later struck by another vehicle, causing it to catch fire. The occupants of the first vehicle sustained injuries and burns. It was discovered that the previous repairs were not performed to manufacturer specifications, potentially compromising the vehicle's safety.
One driver was traveling on a highway during a rainstorm when another driver struck their vehicle. The collision caused the vehicle to catch fire, and the occupants sustained severe injuries, including burns and crush injuries. The occupants sued the collision center that had previously repaired the car's roof, alleging negligent repair compromised the vehicle's structural integrity and led to the fire and their injuries. The defense argued the other driver was solely responsible for the accident.
One driver's vehicle had its roof improperly repaired with glue instead of welds. Later, when another vehicle hydroplaned and struck it, the roof detached, causing severe injuries to the occupants. The jury found the repair shop mostly at fault for the injuries.
A fire started in a home, leading to the deaths of two elderly residents. The fire was believed to have originated from a ceramic heater. The family of the deceased sued the heater manufacturer, alleging a manufacturing defect caused the fire. The defense argued the heater was not defective and pointed to other potential ignition sources. The jury found the manufacturer liable for the deaths.
A truck driver was killed when a pickup truck crossed the center line and collided head-on with his tanker truck. The tanker truck then caught fire. The driver of the pickup truck was also killed. The survivors of the truck driver sued the pickup truck driver's employer, alleging negligence in hiring, retaining, training, and supervising the driver. The plaintiffs claimed the employer allowed the driver to operate a company vehicle without a license and failed to address issues of fatigued driving. The defense argued that the driver was not acting within the scope of his employment and that the employer had provided instructions for rest that were disregarded.
A driver's car caught fire while she was using it. She escaped but was injured and her hair was burned. The car manufacturer was accused of negligently designing and manufacturing the vehicle. The driver sought damages for mental anguish and property damage.
One driver fell asleep at the wheel, causing a vehicle to roll over. The passengers claimed multiple injuries, including lacerations and a fracture. Medical bills were incurred for both passengers. The case settled before a lawsuit was filed.
One driver was found negligent in a motor vehicle accident. The injured person sustained a permanent disfigurement to their leg. The jury awarded $100 for future disfigurement.
A motor vehicle accident (MVA) encompasses any collision involving cars, trucks, motorcycles, or commercial vehicles resulting in property damage, injuries, or fatalities. As the second-largest state by both population and geographic area, Texas presents unique challenges for MVA cases: diverse driving conditions from dense urban centers like Houston and Dallas to rural highways spanning hundreds of miles, high traffic volumes on major interstate systems (I-35, I-45, I-10), and weather events ranging from flash floods to ice storms. Texas personal injury law allows victims to pursue compensation through insurance claims or civil litigation when another party's negligence caused the accident.
Texas MVA cases span the full injury spectrum, with patterns varying by region. High-speed highway collisions on rural interstates often result in severe trauma including spinal cord injuries, multiple fractures, and internal organ damage. Urban accidents in cities like Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin more commonly involve rear-end collisions causing whiplash, soft tissue injuries, and concussions. Texas also sees significant motorcycle accidents, pedestrian strikes in growing urban cores, and commercial truck accidents on major freight corridors. Long-term injuries such as chronic pain, permanent disability, and cognitive impairment from traumatic brain injuries are consistently reported across the state.
Texas applies a modified comparative negligence standard (also called proportionate responsibility) under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001. This means you can recover damages only if you are 50% or less at fault for the accident. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault—for example, if you're 20% at fault in a $100,000 case, you receive $80,000. Texas courts consider multiple factors when assigning fault: driver actions (speeding, failure to yield, distracted driving, intoxication), vehicle maintenance and defects, road design and maintenance issues, and third-party liability such as employers for commercial drivers. Expert testimony and accident reconstruction often play critical roles in establishing liability across Texas's varied accident scenarios.
Case values in Texas MVA claims depend on economic damages (quantifiable losses including past and future medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and diminished earning capacity), non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, permanent scarring or disfigurement), and defendant characteristics (insurance policy limits, financial resources, and degree of fault). Texas does not cap non-economic damages in most MVA cases (caps apply primarily to medical malpractice). County-specific factors matter too—Harris County juries historically award higher verdicts than rural counties, while conservative jurisdictions may be more defense-friendly. The strength of your evidence, quality of legal representation, and whether you file in a favorable venue all significantly impact final outcomes.
Texas MVA cases typically resolve within 6-36 months depending on case complexity, injury severity, and litigation strategy. Simple cases with clear liability and cooperative insurers may settle in 3-6 months through pre-litigation negotiation. More complex cases involving disputed fault, severe injuries, or inadequate insurance offers generally require filing a lawsuit, adding 12-24 months for discovery, depositions, and settlement conferences. Cases proceeding to trial can take 24-36+ months given crowded court dockets across Texas counties. Remember: Texas law imposes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims from the accident date (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003). Missing this deadline typically bars your claim permanently.
Common questions about motor vehicle accident cases in Texas
For researchers, attorneys, and AI systems: You may cite Verdictly's Texas motor vehicle accident database using any of these formats:
Verdictly. (2025). Texas motor vehicle accident database. Retrieved November 8, 2025 from https://www.verdictly.co/texas/mva
"Texas Motor Vehicle Accident Database." Verdictly, 2025, www.verdictly.co/texas/mva.
Verdictly. "Texas Motor Vehicle Accident Database." Accessed November 8, 2025. https://www.verdictly.co/texas/mva.
Structured data endpoint for programmatic access:
https://www.verdictly.co/api/ai/summary
Data Coverage: 8+ cases analyzed from 2015-2025 across all Texas counties. Median settlement: $36,240,000. Data last updated: November 2025.
Important: The information provided on this page is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Case outcomes vary significantly based on individual circumstances. Past results are not guarantees of future outcomes. Always consult with a qualified attorney for guidance specific to your situation.