In Texas, injuries are handled through a fault-based system. This means it is possible to receive compensation for any wounds you incur through assault, car accidents or falling down the stairs, so long as you can prove that your injuries are the result of another person’s negligence or intent to harm you.
What counts as a serious injury?
The Texas penal code defines “serious bodily injuries” as potentially life-threatening or capable of permanently disfiguring you. This definition also includes injuries that result in the loss or impairment of any body part or organ. This term matters most in criminal cases. Examples commonly include:
- Brain and spinal injuries: Brain and spinal cord damage, paraplegia, quadriplegia and concussions that permanently affect your brain capacity.
- Structural and organ damage: Broken bones that risk permanent impairment, compound fractures, organ ruptures and fatal internal bleeding.
- Severe trauma: Dismemberment, limbs requiring amputation, damage to vital organs, lacerations and puncture wounds.
- Disfiguration and impairment: Permanent scars, severe burns and loss of sight, hearing and limb function.
However, if you get into an accident, there is no general threshold your injuries must cross to be “serious.” Instead, the gravity of the injury relative to how significantly it affects your life affects the damages you can recover.
Serious injuries can alter your life forever. Despite the dangers they pose, there is no foolproof way to prevent accidents or assault from happening completely. Similarly, whether you are working in a factory, driving, or walking down the street, another person’s negligence can potentially cause you harm even if you are extremely cautious.
What should you do if you suffer a serious injury?
To receive compensation for a serious injury after an accident or an attack, you must gather as much proof as possible. It is difficult to file personal injury claims and win without submitting any evidence. Collecting photographs, videos, eyewitness reports, medical records and documents detailing the location and time of the incident can give your claim validity.
Dealing with serious bodily injuries is not just extremely physically painful, but it can also be emotionally distressing. It is important to receive compensation to cover costly medical bills and make up for lost wages, potentially giving you some peace of mind.