Average Car Accident Settlement in Texas (2026)

If you have been searching for the "average car accident settlement in Texas," you have probably seen numbers all over the map. Some sources say $15,000. Others say $100,000. A few throw out numbers north of $300,000. The truth is that the word "average" is doing a lot of heavy lifting, and without context, a single number can be more misleading than helpful.

At Verdictly, we maintain a database of over 10,000 verified car accident settlements and verdicts from Texas courts. This data gives us a far more granular picture of what accident victims in Texas actually receive, broken down by injury type, county, case complexity, and whether an attorney was involved. This guide shares what that data shows for 2026.

Why the "Average" Settlement Number Is Misleading

The average (mean) car accident settlement in Texas across all injury types falls in the range of $80,000 to $120,000. But that number is heavily skewed by a relatively small number of catastrophic injury cases that settle for $1 million or more. Those high-value cases pull the average upward, making it look like a typical settlement is much higher than what most people actually receive.

The median settlement, which represents the middle value where half of all cases settle for more and half settle for less, tells a more useful story. The median car accident settlement in Texas is closer to $30,000 to $45,000. This means that the typical accident victim with moderate injuries receives significantly less than the "average" figure that gets thrown around online.

Neither number is wrong, but the median gives you a more realistic picture of what to expect if your case falls somewhere in the middle of the severity spectrum.

Texas Car Accident Settlement Data Overview

Drawing from Verdictly's database of verified Texas cases, here is a high-level snapshot of car accident settlement values across the state:

• Overall median settlement: $32,000 -- $45,000
• Overall average (mean) settlement: $85,000 -- $115,000
• 25th percentile: $10,000 -- $18,000 (minor injuries, soft tissue, short recovery)
• 75th percentile: $125,000 -- $200,000 (surgical cases, longer recovery, clear liability)
• Top 10% of cases: $350,000+ (catastrophic injuries, permanent impairment, high policy limits)

These numbers reflect settlements only, not jury verdicts. Verdict amounts tend to be higher on average but carry significantly more risk and uncertainty. You can explore this data in more detail on the Texas car accident settlement page.

Average and Median Settlements by Injury Type in Texas

Injury type is the single most important factor in determining settlement value. Here is what the Texas data shows for the most common car accident injuries:

Whiplash and Soft Tissue Injuries

• Median settlement: $8,000 -- $15,000
• Average settlement: $12,000 -- $22,000
• Typical range: $5,000 -- $30,000

Whiplash and soft tissue cases represent the highest volume of car accident claims in Texas. Most resolve within three to six months. Settlements are lower because these injuries generally heal fully and involve modest medical costs. However, cases where soft tissue symptoms persist beyond six months or require injections can push into the $20,000 to $40,000 range.

Herniated and Bulging Discs

• Median settlement: $45,000 -- $75,000
• Average settlement: $65,000 -- $120,000
• Typical range: $25,000 -- $350,000

Disc injuries are among the most common and most contested car accident claims in Texas. The wide range reflects the enormous difference between a herniated disc treated conservatively with physical therapy (lower end) and one requiring surgical intervention like a discectomy, laminectomy, or spinal fusion (upper end). Cases involving surgery consistently settle for $100,000 or more when liability is clear.

Broken Bones and Fractures

• Median settlement: $35,000 -- $65,000
• Average settlement: $55,000 -- $100,000
• Typical range: $15,000 -- $250,000

Settlement value for fractures depends heavily on which bone was broken, whether surgery was required, and whether any permanent hardware (plates, screws, rods) was implanted. A simple wrist fracture that heals in six weeks will settle very differently from a comminuted femur fracture requiring open reduction and internal fixation with months of rehabilitation.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

• Median settlement: $125,000 -- $225,000
• Average settlement: $200,000 -- $450,000
• Typical range: $50,000 -- $2,000,000+

TBI cases in Texas produce some of the widest settlement ranges. A mild concussion with full recovery might settle for $25,000 to $75,000. A moderate TBI with documented cognitive deficits can push well into six figures. Severe TBIs with permanent impairment routinely settle for $500,000 or more, particularly when the victim is young and the impact on lifetime earning capacity is substantial.

Knee, Shoulder, and Joint Injuries

• Median settlement: $40,000 -- $70,000
• Average settlement: $55,000 -- $95,000
• Typical range: $20,000 -- $200,000

Torn ACLs, meniscus tears, rotator cuff tears, and labrum injuries are common in side-impact and T-bone collisions. Surgical repair pushes these cases into the $75,000 to $200,000 range, while cases managed with physical therapy alone tend to settle between $20,000 and $50,000.

Spinal Cord Injuries

• Median settlement: $450,000 -- $750,000
• Average settlement: $750,000 -- $1,500,000
• Typical range: $250,000 -- $5,000,000+

Spinal cord injuries represent the highest-value car accident claims in Texas. Cases involving partial or complete paralysis regularly exceed $1 million. The primary drivers of value are the level of permanent impairment, the victim's age, lifetime care costs, and lost earning capacity.

DFW Metro Area Settlement Specifics

The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex generates more car accident claims than any other region in Texas due to its population density, heavy traffic volume, and extensive highway system. Settlement trends in DFW differ from the statewide numbers in several important ways.

Dallas County

Dallas County has one of the most plaintiff-friendly jury pools in Texas, which directly affects settlement negotiations. Insurance companies are more willing to offer higher settlements in Dallas County because they know that if the case goes to trial, juries tend to award generously. The median car accident settlement in Dallas County runs approximately 15% to 25% higher than the statewide median for comparable injuries.

The county's large volume of cases also means more data points and more predictable outcomes. You can review Dallas-specific settlement data on the Dallas car accident settlement page.

Tarrant County

Tarrant County (Fort Worth) produces settlement values that closely track the statewide median. The jury pool is generally considered moderate, neither strongly plaintiff-friendly nor defense-oriented. Insurance companies treat Tarrant County claims as middle-of-the-road, which means settlement negotiations tend to be more straightforward and rely heavily on the documented damages.

Collin County

Collin County (Plano, McKinney, Frisco) has experienced rapid population growth and a corresponding increase in car accident filings. The county's jury pool trends slightly more conservative than Dallas County but is becoming more balanced as demographics shift. Settlements in Collin County tend to fall within 5% to 10% of statewide medians for similar injury types.

Denton County

Denton County sees a mix of urban and suburban cases, with settlement values generally aligning with or slightly below statewide averages. Cases involving accidents on I-35E and I-35W corridors make up a significant portion of claims, and the county's growing population is producing more data year over year.

Texas Laws That Directly Affect Your Settlement

Several Texas-specific laws have a significant impact on how much your car accident settlement is worth. Understanding these rules is essential for setting realistic expectations.

Modified Comparative Fault (51% Bar Rule)

Texas follows a modified comparative fault system under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001. This means your settlement is reduced by your percentage of fault, and if you are found 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing.

In practice, insurance companies routinely argue that the claimant shares some fault to reduce the settlement. If an adjuster claims you were 30% at fault, they are attempting to reduce your payout by 30%. This is one of the most common negotiation tactics in Texas car accident claims, and it is often used even when the evidence does not strongly support shared fault.

Two-Year Statute of Limitations

Texas has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, running from the date of the accident. If you do not file a lawsuit within two years, you permanently lose the right to pursue your claim. While most settlements are reached well before the deadline, the statute of limitations creates urgency and affects negotiation dynamics. Insurance companies sometimes delay in hopes that the claimant will miss the deadline or settle cheaply as it approaches.

Texas Minimum Insurance Requirements

Texas requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance of:

• $30,000 per person for bodily injury
• $60,000 per accident for bodily injury (when multiple people are injured)
• $25,000 per accident for property damage

These limits are often referred to as 30/60/25 coverage. The problem is that these minimums are extremely low relative to the cost of serious injuries. A single broken bone with surgery can easily exceed $30,000 in medical bills alone, before accounting for lost wages or pain and suffering.

When the at-fault driver only carries minimum coverage, your settlement is effectively capped at $30,000 regardless of how much your claim is actually worth. This makes your own underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage critical. If you carry UIM coverage, it kicks in to cover the gap between the at-fault driver's policy limit and your actual damages.

No Cap on Non-Economic Damages for Car Accidents

Unlike medical malpractice cases, Texas does not impose a statutory cap on non-economic damages (pain and suffering) in car accident cases. This means there is no legislative ceiling on what you can recover for pain, emotional distress, or loss of enjoyment of life. This is significant because it allows high-value claims involving severe injuries to settle at amounts that truly reflect the harm done.

Urban vs. Rural County Differences

Where your accident occurred in Texas matters more than most people realize. Settlement values and litigation dynamics differ substantially between urban and rural counties.

Urban Counties (Dallas, Harris, Bexar, Travis, Tarrant)

• Higher settlement values on average due to plaintiff-friendly jury pools
• More attorneys competing for cases, which can be both beneficial (more options) and challenging (more advertising noise)
• Larger medical provider networks, which means more thorough documentation and higher medical costs
• Insurance companies account for higher expected jury verdicts when making settlement offers

Rural Counties

• Generally lower settlement values for comparable injuries
• More conservative jury pools, which make insurance companies less willing to offer high settlements
• Fewer medical specialists, which can result in less thorough documentation
• Cases may take longer to resolve due to smaller court dockets and fewer available attorneys

The gap between urban and rural settlement values in Texas can be significant. For the same herniated disc injury with surgery, a case in Dallas County might settle for 20% to 40% more than an identical case in a rural West Texas county. This is not because the injury is worth less in a rural area but because the insurance company's risk calculation, driven by expected jury verdicts, differs by jurisdiction.

How to Use This Data for Your Case

Settlement data is a starting point, not a final answer. Here is how to use the information in this guide effectively:

1. Identify Your Injury Category

Find the injury type that most closely matches yours in the tables above. If you have multiple injuries, the most severe one typically drives the bulk of your settlement value, with additional injuries adding incremental value.

2. Consider Your Specific Facts

Adjust the ranges based on your circumstances:

• Clear liability (other driver 100% at fault): Your case is worth more. Move toward the upper end of the range.
• Shared fault: Reduce the expected value by your percentage of responsibility.
• Surgical treatment: Cases involving surgery consistently settle higher than conservative treatment cases.
• Young victim with permanent impairment: Future damages (lost earning capacity, ongoing medical care) increase value significantly.
• Low policy limits: If the at-fault driver has minimum coverage, your recovery may be capped regardless of injury severity.

3. Compare to Real Cases

Use Verdictly's Texas settlement data to find cases with facts similar to yours. Look at the same injury type, similar treatment, and comparable counties to get the most relevant comparisons.

4. Factor in Attorney Representation

Across the Texas data, cases with attorney representation settle for significantly more than those handled without a lawyer. The median settlement for represented claimants is approximately 2.5 to 3.5 times higher than for unrepresented claimants, even after accounting for attorney fees. Understanding how personal injury attorney fees work can help you evaluate whether representation makes financial sense for your case.

5. Do Not Rush

The strongest settlements come from cases where the claimant has reached maximum medical improvement (MMI) before settling, has thorough documentation of all damages, and has been patient through the negotiation process. Settling too early, before you know the full extent of your injuries, almost always results in leaving money on the table.

What Is Different About Texas Settlements in 2026

Several trends are shaping the Texas car accident settlement landscape this year:

• Rising medical costs continue to push settlement values upward. Hospital charges, surgical fees, and rehabilitation costs have increased year over year, which directly increases the economic damages component of claims.
• Increased traffic volume in DFW and other metro areas has led to more accidents and more claims, which creates a higher caseload for insurance adjusters and can affect processing times.
• Insurance company profitability pressure has led some carriers to take harder negotiating positions on mid-range claims, particularly in the $50,000 to $150,000 range. Being prepared with strong documentation and comparable case data is more important than ever.
• Litigation funding has become more prevalent, allowing claimants to hold out for better offers without the financial pressure to settle early. This has contributed to modest upward pressure on settlement values across the state.

The Bottom Line

The average car accident settlement in Texas depends far more on your specific injuries, medical treatment, and case facts than on any single statewide number. Use the data in this guide as a benchmark, but recognize that your case has its own unique value based on its own unique facts.

Start by exploring real settlement data for your injury type and county on Verdictly's Texas car accident settlement page. The more you understand about what similar cases have actually settled for, the better equipped you will be to evaluate offers, negotiate effectively, and make an informed decision about your claim.