Catastrophic Injury 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
A defective truck roof crushed down on the occupants during a motor vehicle accident. The case involved an issue with the tire load capacity. Experts in various fields testified, including pathology, biomechanics, and accident reconstruction.
A child sustained a severe brain injury when a driver crashed into the back of his father's car. The impact caused the driver's seat to collapse, leading to the child's head hitting his father's head. The child suffered a fractured skull, partial paralysis, and blindness, requiring lifelong assisted living and medical care.
An elderly woman was struck by a truck in a store parking lot. She sustained multiple fractures and injuries, requiring extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. The woman sued the store and the driver, alleging negligence. A jury found the store 75% at fault for negligence and gross negligence, awarding the woman $43.6 million.
A driver crashed a van into a highway divider after drinking. Several passengers were ejected from the vehicle. Some passengers suffered fatal injuries, while others had injuries ranging from bruised lungs to fractures. Lawsuits alleged the driver and his employer were responsible for the crash.
A broad-side collision occurred, causing significant injuries to the driver. The injured driver sustained damage to internal organs, including the lung, liver, and bladder, as well as injuries to the vertebrae and pelvis. The accident also resulted in a traumatic brain injury, leading to cognitive impairment, and other physical trauma such as lacerations and blunt force trauma.
A defective tire retread caused a motor vehicle accident. One person suffered the amputation of an arm, and an infant sustained the loss of a leg.
A woman and her daughter were injured when a truck tire tread failed, causing the vehicle they were passengers in to swerve and overturn. The woman suffered the amputation of her arm, and the daughter lost her leg. The tire had been retreaded by a tire company. Lawsuits were filed against the truck owner and tire companies.
A tractor-trailer crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with a pickup truck, resulting in the death of the pickup truck driver. The plaintiffs alleged the truck driver was impaired and the employer was liable. The jury found the defendant driver 70% liable and the employer 30% liable.
One driver was traveling on a highway when a tractor-trailer hydroplaned, crossed the median, and struck the driver's vehicle head-on. The collision caused extensive injuries. The jury found the defendant vehicle's driver negligent and awarded damages for medical care, loss of household services, and loss of consortium.
A commercial truck driver was instructed to prepare his tanker for a chemical delivery. He was told to climb to the top of the tanker without fall protection. While climbing, he slipped and fell more than 10 feet to the pavement, suffering severe leg injuries that led to his death eight months later. His family sued the chemical plant owner, alleging premises liability and an unreasonably dangerous condition due to a lack of fall protection and safety policies. The jury awarded $10.5 million.
Motorists carpooling to work were injured when an 18-wheeler struck seven cars on a Texas highway, pushing their pickup into another truck. The plaintiffs required multiple surgeries and hospital stays. The jury found the truck driver's employer liable for negligence and awarded damages for injuries, pain, and suffering.
A train struck a car crossing railroad tracks, resulting in the death of one occupant and severe injuries to another. The plaintiffs alleged the crossing was extra-hazardous due to poor visibility and lack of warning devices. The defendants argued the driver was at fault for running a stop sign and using a cell phone. The jury found both the railway company and the driver 50 percent responsible for the accident.
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
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.