09/01/2026
The first settlement offer after a Houston car accident usually arrives before the injured person knows what's actually wrong with them.
That timing isn't an accident. An insurance adjuster is working with what's in the file on day three — a police report and a set of vitals taken at the scene. What isn't in the file yet is the MRI, the specialist referral, the weeks of physical therapy, or the wages lost while someone waits to be cleared to work.
A Texas personal injury claim gets valued once. A signed release closes it permanently, including for injuries that surface later.
The practical guidance we give anyone in this position, whether or not they hire us:
— Get evaluated before responding to any settlement offer
— Decline the recorded statement until you understand your diagnosis
— Keep every medical record, bill, and time-off document
— Know that Texas generally allows two years to file suit, but evidence starts disappearing well before that
Jonathan H. Cox and Troy J. Pradia have practiced personal injury law in Houston for a combined 40+ years — auto collisions, 18-wheeler and commercial truck crashes, and catastrophic injury cases across Harris County and the greater Houston area.
If you or someone you know is weighing an offer, it costs nothing to understand what the claim is worth first.
The Cox Pradia Law Firm, P.L.L.C. — Houston, TX
📞 1-888-COX-PRADIA | coxpradialaw.com
