One of the first questions injury victims ask is: "How much is my case worth?" While every case is different, Texas law recognizes several categories of damages that injured parties may be entitled to recover. Understanding these categories can help you evaluate your situation and make informed decisions about pursuing a claim.

Economic Damages: Your Quantifiable Losses

Economic damages are the concrete, calculable financial losses you suffered as a result of the injury. These include medical expenses — both current bills and future treatment costs — lost wages for time you missed from work, lost earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to earn income in the future, property damage, and out-of-pocket expenses related to your injury.

In serious injury cases, future medical expenses and lost earning capacity can be the largest components of an award. These are typically established through expert testimony from medical professionals and economists. Our personal injury attorneys work with these experts to build the strongest possible case for your damages.

Medical Expenses: Past and Future

You may recover all reasonable and necessary medical costs caused by the accident. This includes emergency room treatment, surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, prescription medications, medical devices, and anticipated future medical needs. If your injuries require ongoing care, a medical expert will project the lifetime cost of that care.

Non-Economic Damages: Pain, Suffering, and Quality of Life

Non-economic damages compensate for losses that do not have a precise dollar value but are very real. In Texas, you may recover for pain and suffering — both past and future — emotional distress, mental anguish, physical disfigurement, physical impairment, and loss of consortium (the impact on your relationship with your spouse).

Texas does not cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases. In wrongful death cases, surviving family members may recover for loss of companionship and society, mental anguish, and loss of inheritance.

Punitive Damages in Texas

Texas calls these "exemplary damages." They are awarded in addition to actual damages when the defendant's conduct was grossly negligent, malicious, or fraudulent. Texas law caps exemplary damages at the greater of $200,000 or twice the amount of economic damages plus non-economic damages up to $750,000. These damages are rare but available in the most egregious cases.

Maritime Maintenance and Cure: A Separate Category

For offshore workers who qualify under maritime law, maintenance and cure represents an additional category of recovery separate from personal injury damages. Maintenance is a daily living allowance paid while the seaman recovers, and cure covers all reasonable medical treatment until maximum medical improvement. Visit our maritime law page to learn more about these special maritime remedies.

How Damages Are Calculated and Why Representation Matters

Insurance companies routinely undervalue claims by disputing medical necessity, minimizing injury severity, or arguing that pre-existing conditions caused your symptoms. Studies consistently show that injury victims represented by an attorney recover significantly more than those who negotiate directly with insurers.

At Anderson Alexander PLLC, we handle all aspects of building and presenting your damages case — from gathering records to working with medical and economic experts to presenting your damages persuasively to insurers, mediators, or juries.

Free Consultation — Anderson Alexander PLLC

If you have been injured in South Texas, contact Anderson Alexander PLLC for a free consultation. Attorneys Austin Anderson and Clif Alexander are Super Lawyers rated and handle personal injury and maritime claims throughout the region.

Call us today:Anderson Alexander PLLC101 N Shoreline Blvd Suite 420, Corpus Christi TX 78401Phone: (361) 452-1279Contact us online — No fee unless we win.