Wanting to know how much a settlement for your car accident may be worth is a fair and often very necessary question.
Medical bills, car repairs, and lost income can pile up quickly after a collision. And you will want to know what kind of settlement you can realistically expect and whether it will truly cover your costs.
The truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all number when it comes to car accident settlements. Some cases resolve for a few thousand dollars. Others are worth millions. The settlement amount depends on many factors, including the severity of the injuries, insurance policy limits, and the strength of your legal representation.
However, there are national averages and industry data that can give you a general idea of what car accident settlements might look like and why some cases are worth far more than others.
In this article, we’ll cover:
- National average settlement amounts for car accidents
- Crosley Law’s average settlement values
- The key factors that determine settlement amounts in Texas car accident claims
- Why working with an experienced personal injury attorney can make a major difference
National average settlement for car accidents
According to data from the Insurance Information Institute and national claims studies, the average settlement for a car accident in the U.S. is between $20,000 and $25,000. This number reflects claims involving bodily injury and property damage combined, across all types of crashes—from fender benders to catastrophic collisions.
Here are a few key statistics:
- The average bodily injury liability claim in the U.S. is roughly $26,500.
- The average property damage claim is much lower, at around $6,500.
- Most car accident settlements fall between $15,000 and $30,000, but the range can swing dramatically depending on the facts of each case.
Keep in mind: these figures include a lot of minor claims that bring the average down. Many injury victims with serious trauma or permanent impairments settle for far more than the national average. On the other hand, minor injury claims or soft tissue cases with limited treatment may settle for less.
RELATED: Airbag deployment injuries: What to do if you’re seeking a settlement
How Crosley Law’s Results and Process Compare
At Crosley Law, we don’t treat car crash cases like cookie-cutter claims. We routinely handle complex, catastrophic injuries across Texas—including San Antonio and Bexar County—and we’ve built a reputation for recovering well above national averages when the facts and coverage allow.
Our average in litigated car accident cases
While every case is different and no outcome can be guaranteed, the average settlement in our litigated car accident cases (where we have filed suit) is approximately $375,000. This figure reflects cases in which we’ve moved beyond pre-suit negotiations because the injuries, liability disputes, or insurance issues warranted aggressive litigation.
As a strategic choice, we tend to file suit earlier on larger cases. This is especially true when liability is contested or injuries are life changing. For smaller claims, we often push for a faster, out-of-court settlement when it serves the client’s goals.
Why Early Involvement Matters
Settlement values tend to be higher when we are retained early and can conduct a front-loaded investigation. Early actions that often move the needle:
- Electronic Data Recorder (EDR) downloads and vehicle inspections before data is lost or overwritten
- Scene work: photos, measurements, skid marks, debris fields, and line-of-sight analysis
- Witness outreach while memories are fresh
- Preservation letters to keep critical evidence (vehicle, event data, camera footage) from disappearing
- Medical trajectory: coordinating care so your records accurately reflect symptoms, objective findings, and functional limits
Your Role: Follow the Medical Advice
Insurance carriers scrutinize gaps in care and missed appointments. Clients who follow their doctor’s recommendations, attend therapy, and communicate changes in symptoms help us build a stronger link between the crash and their injuries. The result is often better settlement offers.
Bottom line: Early retention, disciplined medical follow-through, and a trial-ready workup tend to produce stronger results.
A few examples (names withheld for privacy)
- A client received an initial low six-figure offer after suffering severe spine and hip injuries from an intersection crash. After expert depositions and medical testimony, we secured a $1.25 million settlement.
- We proved long-term cognitive and functional impacts and countered defense arguments in a traumatic brain injury (TBI) case, securing a $900,000 settlement for our client.
Note: Results depend on the facts, venue, coverage, and evidence. Past results don’t guarantee future outcomes.
RELATED: See more case studies and results
How car accident settlement amounts are determined
The value of a car accident settlement isn’t arbitrary. It’s based on damages.
Damages is the legal term for the losses you’ve suffered because of someone else’s negligence. They fall into three main categories: economic damages, non-economic damages, and (in rare cases) punitive damages.
1. Economic Damages: The Measurable Costs
Economic damages are the easiest to calculate because they have a clear dollar value. These include:
- Medical expenses (past and future): ER visits, surgeries, hospital stays, doctor appointments, medications, physical therapy, assistive devices, and more.
- Lost income: Wages you lost while recovering.
- Loss of earning capacity: If your injury affects the ability to work long-term, future earnings are factored in.
- Property damage: Repairs or replacement of your vehicle and other damaged property.
- Household services: Costs for help with tasks you can no longer perform (e.g., cleaning, childcare, lawn care).
For example, a spinal cord injury requiring surgery and rehabilitation can easily lead to medical bills in the six or seven figures, especially when factoring in future care costs. That’s why it is so important not to settle early before you understand the full scope of your injuries.
2. Non-Economic Damages: The Human Impact
Not every loss shows up on a bill or receipt. Non-economic damages compensate you for the pain, suffering, and life changes caused by the accident. This can include:
- Physical pain and discomfort
- Emotional distress, anxiety, or PTSD
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Loss of companionship or consortium
Insurance companies often use formulas to estimate non-economic damages. One common method is the multiplier method, where economic damages are multiplied by a number between 1 and 5 (or higher), depending on the severity of the injury. For example, if your economic damages are $100,000 and the insurer uses a multiplier of 3, they might value your non-economic damages at $300,000.
However, these formulas are not binding. Experienced attorneys often build a far more persuasive case using witness testimony, medical evidence, and expert reports to fully capture the true impact of the injury.
3. Punitive damages: rare but significant
Punitive damages are designed to punish egregious conduct like drunk driving, reckless behavior, or intentional wrongdoing. While not available in every case, they can dramatically increase settlement value when applicable.
RELATED: What happens if insurance policy limits are exhausted in a personal injury case?
Factors that can affect your car accident settlement
Beyond the types of damages, several practical factors can significantly impact your final settlement:
- Severity and permanence of injuries: Catastrophic injuries lead to higher settlements than temporary soft tissue injuries.
- Liability disputes: If the insurance company can argue you were partly at fault, they can reduce your payout under Texas’s comparative fault rules.
- Insurance policy limits: If the at-fault driver only carries minimum coverage ($30,000 per person in Texas), your recovery may be limited unless other policies apply (such as underinsured motorist coverage or commercial policies).
- Quality of evidence: Strong documentation—medical records, witness statements, crash reconstruction, black box data—makes a big difference.
- Legal representation: Insurance companies are far more likely to offer fair settlements to experienced attorneys who are ready to go to trial if necessary.
Why you shouldn’t rely on “average” numbers
While national averages provide a starting point, your case is unique. Two people in similar crashes can have completely different outcomes depending on their injuries, insurance coverage, and legal strategy.
Insurance companies often use these “average settlement” numbers to lowball victims early in the process. They may offer a quick settlement that seems reasonable at first. But then medical bills keep coming, complications arise, or you realize the long-term impact of your injuries.
Before accepting any offer, it’s critical to talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer who can fully evaluate your case and fight for the compensation you truly deserve.
Crosley Law: fighting for full and fair settlements
At Crosley Law, we’ve spent decades helping crash victims in Texas get justice. Tom Crosley and his team know how insurance companies operate. We also know how to build strong, evidence-driven cases that get results. Whether your claim involves minor injuries or life-changing trauma, we treat every case with the attention and determination it deserves.
We don’t settle for “average.” We fight for maximum compensation, so our clients can focus on healing and rebuilding their lives.
Contact Crosley Law for a free consultation
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, don’t guess what your case is worth—get answers from experienced attorneys who know how to maximize your recovery. To schedule your free consultation, call us at (210) 529-3000 or fill out the online contact form here on our website.
The information in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For personalized guidance, speak to a qualified attorney.
