At Carabin Shaw, we’ve proudly represented injured Texans for over 33 years, offering trusted legal support when they need it most.

Types of Compensation Available in a Personal Injury Claim

Carabin Shaw Explains Your Rights in Midland & Odessa

If you’ve been injured in an accident in Midland or Odessa, you may be dealing with physical pain, financial hardship, and emotional trauma. Whether your injury was caused by a car accident, 18-wheeler crash, oilfield explosion, or slip and fall, Texas law allows victims to seek compensation from the at-fault party. But what exactly can you recover in a personal injury claim?

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At Carabin Shaw, our experienced attorneys have helped injury victims across West Texas for over 33 years, securing justice and maximum compensation. In this blog, we’ll break down the damages available in a personal injury case and how our team can help you fight for the full recovery you deserve.

Find more information about Personal Injury Claims here

Understanding Personal Injury Damages

In legal terms, “damages” are the monetary compensation awarded to an injured party to make them whole again. There are two primary types of damages in Texas personal injury law:

Compensatory Damages
Punitive Damages

Let’s explore both in detail and explain how Carabin Shaw’s attorneys in Midland-Odessa work to recover every type of damage to which you may be entitled.

1. Medical Expenses

This is typically the most immediate and significant cost following an injury. Victims are entitled to compensation for all reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to the accident, including:

Emergency room visits
Hospital stays
Surgeries
Physical therapy
Diagnostic tests
Prescription medications
Medical equipment (crutches, braces, wheelchairs)

If your injuries are ongoing or permanent, Carabin Shaw will also work to recover future medical costs that may span months or even years.

2. Lost Wages

If you’ve missed time from work while recovering from an injury, you can claim lost wages. This includes:

Salary or hourly pay
Bonuses
Commissions
Vacation or sick leave used during recovery

More seriously injured victims may lose the ability to return to their job altogether. In those cases, Carabin Shaw’s legal team will calculate the loss of earning capacity to ensure you are compensated for your long-term financial losses.

3. Pain and Suffering

Not all injuries are visible. Pain and suffering damages cover the physical pain and emotional distress caused by your injury. These damages are subjective and often require experienced legal representation to quantify properly.

Carabin Shaw works with medical experts and mental health professionals to illustrate:

Chronic pain
Emotional trauma (anxiety, depression, PTSD)
Loss of enjoyment of life
Inability to participate in hobbies or daily activities

We believe your pain has value—and we’ll fight to make sure the court or insurance company does too.

4. Mental Anguish and Emotional Distress

Separate from pain and suffering, mental anguish damages account for the emotional toll the injury has taken on your life. For example:

Fear of driving after a car accident
Trauma after an oilfield explosion
Sleep disturbances, panic attacks, or grief

Carabin Shaw attorneys understand how to present the emotional impact of your injuries in a compelling and legally sound way.

5. Disfigurement or Physical Impairment

Some injuries leave visible scars or permanent disabilities. Texas allows injury victims to recover damages for:

Scarring and burns
Amputation or limb loss
Loss of mobility
Paralysis or neurological impairments

At Carabin Shaw, we ensure these long-term effects are factored into your claim. Whether the result of a catastrophic truck accident or a defective product injury, we’ll seek fair compensation for the permanent impact on your appearance and function.

6. Loss of Consortium

This type of damage applies to the spouse or family of the injured party. When an injury affects a marriage or relationship—emotionally, physically, or otherwise—Texas law permits the injured person’s spouse or family to seek compensation for:

Loss of companionship
Emotional support
Sexual intimacy
Household contributions

Carabin Shaw approaches these sensitive matters with compassion, ensuring your family’s losses are recognized in your injury claim.

7. Property Damage

In many personal injury cases—particularly car, truck, or motorcycle accidents—property is also damaged. Victims can recover compensation for:

Repair or replacement of vehicles
Damaged personal belongings (phones, tools, etc.)

Carabin Shaw’s attorneys in Midland and Odessa will ensure all property losses are fully documented and included in your claim.

8. Punitive Damages (Exemplary Damages)

While most damages are meant to compensate, punitive damages are designed to punish the at-fault party for especially reckless or intentional behavior. These are awarded in rare cases involving:

Drunk driving
Reckless driving
Gross negligence (e.g., ignoring safety violations in oilfield operations)
Intentional harm

Carabin Shaw has a proven track record of pursuing punitive damages when appropriate—especially in cases involving egregious misconduct by corporations, employers, or commercial drivers.

9. Wrongful Death Damages

When a loved one dies due to another’s negligence, certain surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim. Damages in these cases include:

Funeral and burial expenses
Loss of financial support
Loss of companionship and guidance
Mental anguish

Carabin Shaw has been a trusted advocate for grieving families across Texas. If you’ve lost someone in a fatal accident in Midland or Odessa, we’re here to help you pursue justice and closure.

How Are Damages Calculated?

At Carabin Shaw, we take a detailed approach to case valuation. Our team uses:

Medical records and expert testimony
Wage statements and economic projections
Testimony from family, coworkers, and therapists
Accident reconstruction and insurance data

Our goal is always to pursue maximum compensation—not just what covers your current bills but what secures your future.

Why Choose Carabin Shaw in Midland-Odessa?

With over 33 years of experience, Carabin Shaw has become one of the most trusted personal injury law firms in Texas. Clients in Midland and Odessa choose us because:

✅ We offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win.
✅ We are available 24/7, so help is always just a call away.
✅ We fight for every type of compensation you’re entitled to—medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
✅ We know the local landscape—from oilfield employers to trucking companies and their insurers.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Leave Money on the Table

After an accident, it’s easy to underestimate the full value of your claim—especially when insurance companies are pushing fast, low offers. At Carabin Shaw, we make sure you understand every type of compensation available and fight to recover all that you’re owed.

If you or a loved one has been injured in Midland or Odessa, don’t wait. Call us now and let our dedicated legal team get to work for you.

📞 Call Carabin Shaw at 1-800-862-1260
Your recovery is our priority. We’re here to fight for justice—one case at a time.

This Blog was posted By The South Texas Legal Group – Your personal Injury Lawyer San Antonio. principal Office in San Antonio, Texas

Challenges Encountered by Unrepresented Accident Victims

Have you been in an accident with a truck?
If you fail to secure the help of an experienced truck accident attorney, there are several hurdles that you will have to surmount in order to obtain the just compensation that you deserve. A seasoned attorney is familiar with what needs to be done in order for you to overcome the obstacles that can put your case at risk. Some of the issues that you will need to be aware of concerning litigation involving a truck accident include:

Determining the source of the cargo.
Dealing with truck drivers who lie.
The policies of big insurance companies.
Trucking companies that are self-insured.
The burden of proof the plaintiff bears.

Here is some detailed information on each of these potential hurdles.

Did You Know?
Our Texas attorneys have won hundreds of 18 wheeler accident cases. Call us today to discuss your case.

Determining the source of the cargo

It is possible that the cause of your accident was the cargo that was left lying in the road long after the truck that was hauling it had left the scene. When this takes place, it can be incredibly challenging for inexperienced attorneys to determine the source of the cargo, and basically impossible for someone with no legal background. In order to determine the source of that cargo, or to identify who to take legal action against, you have to first be able to track down the truck that dropped the cargo.More on this website about “Car Accident Lawyer San Antonio”
These kinds of cases occur frequently. Cargo often comes loose from a flatbed trailer without a driver even knowing what happened. There are other times that the driver is well aware that the cargo has fallen, but chose not to take the time nor make the effort to try and make sure the cargo was cleaned up, either by calling the police or taking some other action. A flatbed trailer accident attorney, however, can help you determine the source of the cargo that caused the accident that injured you.

Dealing with Truck Drivers who Lie

Truck drivers who lie concerning the cause of an accident can be just as formidable a threat to your case as flatbed trailers can be to other motorists on the road. If a driver is found to have caused a flatbed trailer accident, he or she will likely be fired. With that kind of black mark on his or her record, that driver will find it very difficult to find another job. Considering the state of the economy, it is easy to see why an otherwise trustworthy person would stoop to this kind of desperate act. However, this lie, if successful, will come at the expense of your case, because the blame will shift from the driver to you. More here about car accident Lawyer

But there are many ways that a seasoned and skilled flatbed trailer accident attorney can uncover the lies of a truck driver and ensure that your case is saved. The first way is through collecting vital evidence that can prove the trucker is lying. For instance, in one of our recent cases, we were able to secure surveillance footage from a nearby business’ security camera in order to prove our client, contrary to what the trucker claimed, was driving with his headlights on. Secondly, our attorneys can often reveal the truth through a deposition. In a deposition, an attorney is allowed to ask questions of the other side’s witnesses prior to the trial commencing. A skilled attorney can, by asking the correct questions, compel a witness to tell the truth or expose a witnesses’ attempt at telling a lie. The flatbed trailer accident attorneys with our Law Office have taken thousands of depositions. We will do whatever is necessary to ensure that the judge, jury, and insurance company completely know your side of the story.

Category: Personal Injury Law