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If you’ve been hurt in an accident in El Paso, you’re probably asking: “How much is my injury case worth?” Every case is different, but there are clear factors that help the personal injury lawyers at Michael Gopin estimate compensation. Understanding these can guide you toward fair compensation and help you work with an El Paso accident lawyer at Michael Gopin to get what you deserve.
In this post, we’ll cover the top 10 factors that impact your case value in El Paso.
The seriousness of your injury is often the biggest factor. Minor bruises or soft-tissue pain usually bring limited value. But major injuries like broken bones, spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or fractures often mean higher compensation. More severe injuries usually require longer recovery and more medical care, and that raises the case value.
For example, someone injured in a high-speed crash on I-10 near downtown El Paso with a spinal injury would likely have a significantly higher case value than someone with a sprain from a low-speed parking lot bump in East El Paso.
Tip: Keep all medical records and ask your doctor about long-term impacts.
All past medical bills matter from ER visits, hospital stays, surgeries, rehab, prescriptions, and doctor appointments. But injury case value often goes beyond bills to cover future medical costs if you need ongoing care, therapy, or adaptive equipment.
Let’s say you were hit in a pedestrian accident on Mesa Street and now need six months of physical therapy. These future expenses matter just as much as your original ER bill.
Tip: Save receipts, invoices, and get estimates for future treatment.
If you missed work due to your injury, you can claim lost wages. If your ability to earn in the future is affected, like a permanent disability, that increases your injury claim value. A warehouse worker in El Paso who can no longer lift heavy items due to a back injury may be entitled to future lost earnings for years.
These damages cover physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, lost enjoyment of life, or PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). They can be harder to calculate, but often add significantly to your case value. Texas juries and insurers evaluate pain and suffering based on injury severity, disruption to your life, and permanence.
Someone with chronic pain who can no longer play with their children at Ascarate Park or participate in local community events may be entitled to substantial non-economic damages.
Cases with clear fault, like drunk drivers, reckless behavior, or unsafe premises, typically result in higher case values. If the fault is unclear or insurance companies argue you were partly to blame, your case value drops. Texas applies comparative negligence, meaning your case value could be lowered in proportion to your fault.
For example, if you were T-boned by a red-light runner near UTEP but your brake lights were out, you may be assigned partial fault.
Insurance companies may try to blame injuries on pre-existing conditions. But if you can show the accident made the condition worse, the full value can still be recovered. Detailed medical records are crucial.
An El Paso resident with a history of back problems who suffers a worsening of their condition due to a rear-end collision still has a strong case if medical evidence supports the worsening.
Does your injury stop you from working, calling for help, playing with your kids, or doing hobbies? Injuries that change daily life, like mobility loss or chronic pain, can boost the value of the compensation. This ties into both pain and suffering and mental health.
If you used to volunteer at a local food bank or attend events at the El Paso Zoo but can no longer do so, those lifestyle changes should be considered.
Short recovery time typically means lower compensation. Severe or long-lasting effects, like rehab, surgery, therapy, or long-term disability, all add to case value.
Someone recovering for a few weeks from minor injuries from a slip and fall on a wet grocery store floor will likely receive less than someone who spends six months recovering from surgery.
Sometimes the available insurance policy limits set a ceiling on what you can recover. If the at-fault party’s insurance has low coverage, even a strong case can be capped. If they have large limits or umbrella policies, case value can go higher.
An uninsured motorist accident on I-10 can be more complicated and may require accessing your own underinsured motorist coverage.
Your case value is higher when handled by a lawyer who knows local Texas law, understands how to gather strong evidence, build fair claims, and negotiate with insurers. People who work with experienced attorneys tend to receive larger settlements than those who try to go it alone.
The personal injury lawyers at Michael Gopin know El Paso, understand Texas law, and have helped thousands of clients just like you.
Texas law imposes caps on punitive damages and limits on certain insurance-based damages. While non-economic damages generally have no flat caps, malpractice or insurance law changes can affect future awards. It’s key to work with a firm familiar with Texas rules.
Texas uses a modified comparative negligence rule. If you are found to be partially at fault for your accident, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are 20% at fault, your total compensation will be reduced by 20%. However, if you are found to be more than 50% at fault, you may not recover anything at all. That’s why strong legal guidance is key.
Crashes on Loop 375 often involve high speeds and serious injuries. If another driver was distracted, speeding, or violated traffic laws, you may have a strong claim. It helps to gather police reports, witness statements, and medical documentation. An El Paso car accident lawyer at Michael Gopin can assist you with collecting this evidence and dealing with insurance companies.
If you don’t have health insurance, you can still pursue a claim. In many cases, doctors may agree to treat you with the understanding that they’ll be paid from your settlement later. Personal injury lawyers can help coordinate this as part of your case.
You should contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after an accident. Early legal help ensures important evidence is preserved, witnesses are contacted while memories are fresh, and deadlines (like the statute of limitations) are not missed. The sooner you reach out, the stronger your case can be.
Most personal injury cases settle out of court. However, if the insurance company won’t offer a fair settlement, your lawyer may recommend filing a lawsuit. The personal injury lawyers at Michael Gopin are fully prepared to take cases to trial if needed, but they’ll always try to get you a fair result as efficiently as possible.
In most cases, you have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in Texas. If you miss this deadline, you may lose your right to compensation forever. This is why it’s important to consult a lawyer right away after an accident.
If you’ve been injured in an accident in El Paso, don’t try to figure everything out on your own. You deserve answers, support, and fair compensation. The personal injury lawyers at Michael Gopin are here to help. Whether you were in a car crash on I-10, a slip and fall at a store, or hurt on the job, we’re ready to guide you every step of the way.
When you work with the personal injury lawyers at Michael Gopin, they take care to:
We offer free consultations, so let us help you understand how much your injury case may be worth. Call today and take the first step toward recovery and justice.
Michael J. Gopin has practiced law in El Paso since 1987. Even after more than 30 years, he still remembers his first jury case. It was two weeks after receiving his license, when he represented a person whose life had been forever changed after being blinded in a work-related incident...
We are experienced El Paso personal injury lawyers. Give us a call and you’ll be taken care of! (915) 333-3333
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