Clint, Texas Jury Awards $13 Million in Train Collision
A train struck a vehicle carrying four occupants at a railroad crossing. The collision occurred because a parked train blocked the view of the approaching train, and the crossing gates were down. The occupants sustained various injuries, and one occupant died as a result of the crash. The jury found the railroad company, the vehicle's driver, and the driver's employer negligent.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Back Strain / Soft Tissue Injuries
Back strain and soft tissue injuries are among the most common injuries sustained in car accidents. These injuries affect muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the back, often resulting from the sudden impact forces experienced during a collision.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $13,000,000
- County
- El Paso County, TX
- Resolved
- 2023
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Truck/Commercial
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $13,000,000 is above the median of $13,021 for back strain / soft tissue cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $5,408 to $31,445, based on 800 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On September 13, 2019, an 80-year-old passenger died after the car he was riding in, driven by his caregiver, was struck broadside by a Union Pacific train at a dual-track crossing in Clint. The man's 81-year-old wife and 83-year-old sister-in-law were also passengers and sustained significant injuries. The collision occurred when the driver proceeded through activated crossing gates, which had reportedly been down for about 30 minutes due to another Union Pacific train parked nearby, allegedly blocking the view of the approaching train.
The estate of the deceased passenger, his son, his wife's estate, and the sister-in-law filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific Railroad Co. and New Mission Home Care LLC, the caregiver's employer. They alleged Union Pacific was negligent for parking a train too close to the crossing, obstructing visibility and causing extended gate closures. They also claimed New Mission negligently hired, trained, supervised, and retained the driver, who they alleged was negligent in operating the vehicle. The driver was later nonsuited from the case after her liability insurance carrier tendered its policy limit of $60,000. Union Pacific and New Mission argued the driver was solely at fault for bypassing the gates, and that this action was unforeseeable. New Mission further asserted that the driver was not authorized to drive and was not acting within the scope of her employment.
Following a six-day trial and 18 hours of deliberation, the jury found negligence and proximate cause on the part of the driver, New Mission, and Union Pacific, determining no fault for the plaintiffs. The jury assigned comparative responsibility as 52 percent to the driver, 40 percent to New Mission, and 8 percent to Union Pacific. The jury also found the driver was acting within the course and scope of her employment, making New Mission liable for both its own 40 percent responsibility and the driver's 52 percent. The plaintiffs were awarded a total of $13 million in damages.
Understanding This Case
- The majority of soft tissue injuries resolve within 6-12 weeks with proper treatment. However, approximately 10-20% of cases may develop into chronic conditions requiring ongoing care.
- 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 El Paso County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2023, 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 significantly deviates from similar cases
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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