Arlington Wrongful Death Settles for $4.03 Million in Multi-Vehicle Crash
One vehicle lost control and hit a barrier, becoming disabled in a traffic lane. Another vehicle then rear-ended the disabled vehicle. One person died, and others sustained injuries. The police report cited contributing factors against both drivers involved in the collision.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Head/Brain Injury Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) range from mild concussions to severe brain damage. Car accidents are a leading cause of TBI, with effects ranging from temporary symptoms to permanent cognitive impairment.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Settlement
- Amount
- $4,123,500
- County
- Dallas County, TX
- Resolved
- 2017
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Head/Brain Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This settlement of $4,123,500 is near the median of $4,800,000 for head/brain injury cases resolved by settlement. The typical range is $50,000 to $13,478,106, based on 17 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On December 20, 2015, a multi-vehicle collision occurred on Interstate 30 in Arlington. An SUV, driven by one plaintiff, lost control and struck a concrete barrier before coming to rest in a traffic lane. A Greyhound bus then rear-ended the disabled SUV. The incident resulted in the death of a 28-year-old claims adjuster who was a passenger in the SUV, and severe brain injuries to the SUV driver. Two passengers on the bus also claimed multiple injuries. A police report indicated contributing factors against the bus driver for faulty evasive action and against the SUV driver for being stopped in a traffic lane.
Multiple lawsuits were filed and later consolidated. The deceased passenger's estate and family, along with an injured bus passenger, alleged the bus driver and Greyhound were negligent, citing faulty evasive action, failure to brake, failure to keep a proper lookout, and excessive speed. They also accused the SUV driver of negligently losing control and the SUV owner of negligent entrustment and failure to maintain the vehicle. Greyhound and its driver countered, asserting fault lay with the SUV driver and owner. They also claimed the deceased passenger was standing outside the SUV at the time of impact, a claim disputed by the plaintiffs' accident reconstruction expert, who opined the passenger was ejected from inside the vehicle.
The cases ultimately concluded with multiple settlements. One bus passenger settled for a confidential amount, and the SUV driver also settled confidentially. The primary injured bus passenger settled for $93,500. The family of the deceased passenger settled for a total of $4.03 million. This amount included $30,000 from the SUV driver and owner's insurance policy and $4 million from Greyhound's insurer.
Understanding This Case
- Most mild TBIs resolve within weeks to months. Moderate to severe TBI often results in permanent impairment affecting cognition, behavior, and physical function.
- This case was resolved through a settlement, avoiding the uncertainty and expense of a trial. Settlements typically resolve faster and provide guaranteed compensation.
- This case was resolved in Dallas County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2017, this case reflects the legal and economic conditions of that period, including medical costs, insurance practices, and jury award trends at the time.
VerdictlyTM Score
This outcome is within expected ranges
This score is calculated by analyzing injury type, accident details, geographic location, temporal trends, and comparing against 2,000+ similar cases in our database.
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