Dallas County Jury Awards $19,000,000 in DWI Rollover Crash
A woman sued after she was paralyzed in a rollover crash. The driver was intoxicated and lost control of the vehicle. The woman was ejected and sustained paralysis. The defense argued the woman was at fault and that her family could provide care. A jury found for the woman and awarded damages.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Spinal Cord Injury Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are among the most catastrophic outcomes of car accidents, potentially resulting in partial or complete paralysis. These injuries require extensive medical care and significantly impact quality of life.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $19,000,000
- County
- Dallas County, TX
- Resolved
- 2015
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Accident Type
- Rollover
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Single Vehicle Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $19,000,000 is near the median of $18,745,001 for spinal cord injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $4,500,000 to $42,900,000, based on 37 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A passenger filed a lawsuit after sustaining permanent injuries in a rollover vehicle accident in Dallas County, Texas. The incident occurred when a vehicle, driven by the defendant, rolled over. The defendant driver had a blood alcohol level of .135, exceeding the state's legal limit of .08. The 23-year-old plaintiff was ejected from the vehicle and suffered paraplegia. The plaintiff sought recovery for past and future medical damages, as well as pain and suffering, alleging motor vehicle negligence.
The defendant denied liability and disputed the plaintiff's damages. During the trial, the defense contended that the plaintiff was partly at fault, claiming she distracted the driver and had prior knowledge of his intoxication. The defendant also argued that the plaintiff was not entitled to future home healthcare, suggesting her family could provide care. The plaintiff presented witness testimony from the scene of the wreck, which reportedly contradicted the defendant's trial defense.
After a week-long jury trial in the 95th Judicial District Court, the jury deliberated for two days. The jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, awarding $19,000,000 in past and future damages.
Understanding This Case
- Spinal cord injuries are typically permanent, though some incomplete injuries may see partial recovery. Life expectancy may be reduced, and quality of life is significantly impacted.
- 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 Dallas County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2015, 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 aligns very well with 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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