Austin Jury Finds Negligence, Awards $671,000 in Vehicle Collision
One driver was exiting a private driveway and turned left into the path of another vehicle. The driver who exited the driveway did not check for approaching traffic. The collision caused the injured driver to lose consciousness. The injured driver was diagnosed with a concussion and later a traumatic brain injury, experiencing headaches and cognitive issues.
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
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $671,000
- County
- Travis County, TX
- Resolved
- 2020
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Head/Brain Injury
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Driveway Exit Collsion
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $671,000 is near the median of $1,893,000 for head/brain injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $93,169 to $9,140,000, based on 45 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A driver sustained serious injuries, including a mild traumatic brain injury, after a collision in Austin, Texas, on July 23, 2016. The incident occurred when a vehicle, operated by the defendant driver and owned by the defendant car owner, pulled out of a private driveway onto Duval Road into the path of the plaintiff's northbound vehicle. The plaintiff briefly lost consciousness and was diagnosed with a concussion, neck, and back pain, later experiencing ongoing headaches, sleep problems, and cognitive issues.
The plaintiff filed a motor vehicle negligence action, alleging the defendant driver failed to yield the right-of-way, keep a proper lookout, and apply brakes. Claims against the defendant car owner included negligent maintenance, failure to warn of known mechanical problems, and allowing the vehicle to be operated with these defects. The defendants denied all allegations of negligence and disputed the nature and extent of the plaintiff's injuries.
The court granted summary judgment, dismissing the claims against the defendant car owner. A jury subsequently found the defendant driver negligent and determined that this negligence caused harm to the plaintiff. The jury awarded the plaintiff $308,500 for past pain and suffering, $262,500 for future pain and suffering, and $100,000 for future medical expenses, totaling $671,000.
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 went to trial and resulted in a jury verdict. Verdicts can yield higher awards but carry the risk of receiving nothing if the jury rules against the plaintiff.
- This case was resolved in Travis County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2020, 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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