How Much Is a Truck Accident Settlement in Houston?

A few Texas rules can raise or lower what you receive.

Deadline to File (Statute of Limitations)

In most Texas injury cases, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. If you miss that deadline, you can lose your right to recover anything. Some cases, such as claims for a child or claims against a government agency, follow different timelines. You can read the rule in the Texas statute of limitations. The safest move is to talk to a lawyer early.

Comparative Fault

Texas follows a 51 percent rule. If you were partly to blame, your payment drops by your share of the fault. If you were more than 50 percent at fault, you cannot recover at all. So if a jury finds you 20 percent at fault, you receive 80 percent of the award.

Defense Tactics

Expect the trucking company and its insurer to fight back. They often try to shift the blame onto you. Our job is to counter those moves with solid evidence from a fast truck accident investigation.

Do Truck Accident Settlement Calculators Work?

You may find online calculators that promise a settlement estimate. Be careful with them. These tools rely on averages, and your case is not average. They cannot weigh the details that truly drive value, like the strength of your evidence or your future medical needs. A calculator can give you a rough starting point, but only an experienced attorney who reviews your facts can give you a real estimate. If a lawyer hands you a firm number before learning the facts, be skeptical.

Why Truck Cases Often Settle for More Than Car Cases

Truck crashes usually cause worse injuries than car crashes, and more parties can share the blame, including the driver, the trucking company, and the maintenance provider. That combination tends to raise settlement value. We break this down on our page about why truck crash settlements are larger.

Garbage Truck and Other Commercial Vehicle Crashes

We handle every type of commercial vehicle case, not just 18-wheelers. A garbage truck accident can be especially serious because of the size and weight of the truck and the stop-and-go routes it runs. The same rules apply: serious injuries, clear fault, and safety violations all raise the value of these claims.

What Damages Can You Recover?

Texas law splits your possible compensation into two groups.

Economic damages cover money losses you can add up, such as:

• Medical bills, both past and future
• Lost wages and lost earning ability
• Property damage to your vehicle

Non-economic damages cover harm that is real but harder to price, such as:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life

In a wrongful death case, the family may also recover for their loss.

How Our Houston Truck Accident Lawyers Help

Greg Baumgartner founded our firm in 1985, and he is recognized as one of the top personal injury attorneys in the country. We limit our practice to serious injury and wrongful death cases, and we are undefeated in truck accident cases. You can learn about our team on our about us page.

When you hire us, we get to work right away. We investigate the crash, gather evidence, talk to experts, and build a strong case for full payment. Then we stand up to the insurance company so you can focus on healing.

We also handle related cases, including car accidents and catastrophic injuries, across the Houston area.

Ready to find out what your case is worth? Call (281) 587-1111 or schedule your free consultation today. You pay nothing unless we win.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the average truck accident settlement in Texas?

There is no fixed average. Serious injury cases often settle between $500,000 and several million dollars, while minor injury cases may settle for $25,000 to $100,000. Your result depends on your injuries, the fault involved, and your evidence.

How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in Texas?

In most cases, you have two years from the date of the crash. Claims for children or against government agencies can follow different deadlines, so it is smart to talk to a lawyer early.

What if I was partly at fault for the crash?

You may still recover money. Under Texas law, your payment drops by your share of the fault, and you recover nothing only if you were more than 50 percent at fault.

How much does a truck accident lawyer cost?

We work on a contingency fee. That means you pay nothing upfront, and we only get paid if we win. You can learn more on our page about what it costs to hire a truck accident lawyer.

Should I accept the insurance company’s first offer?

Usually not. First offers are often low. Talk to a lawyer before you sign anything, because once you accept an offer, you typically cannot ask for more.