Dallas County Jury Awards $42 Million in Auto Repair Negligence
One driver was operating a vehicle that had previously been repaired by an auto maintenance company. The vehicle was later struck by another vehicle, causing it to catch fire. The occupants of the first vehicle sustained injuries and burns. It was discovered that the previous repairs were not performed to manufacturer specifications, potentially compromising the vehicle's safety.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $42,000,000
- County
- Dallas County, TX
- Resolved
- 2017
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Burns / Lacerations
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Auto Repair Negligence, Vehicle negligence, Negligent repair, Orthopedic negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $42,000,000 is above the median of $36,240,000 for burns / lacerations cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $9,605,000 to $41,936,423, based on 5 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On December 21, 2013, a driver and passenger were involved in a collision on US 281 in Burnet County, Texas, when their 2010 Honda Fit was struck by another vehicle. The plaintiffs, who had purchased the used vehicle four months prior, sustained orthopedic injuries and burns after their vehicle caught fire. They later discovered the vehicle had undergone undisclosed repairs and body work by the defendant.
The plaintiffs filed suit in District Court of Dallas County, alleging negligence against the auto maintenance company. They claimed the defendant failed to disclose prior repairs, made dangerous and illegal modifications to the vehicle, and was negligent in its installations, repairs, and supervision of employees. The plaintiffs contended these negligent repairs resulted in structural failures, contributing to their orthopedic injuries and the vehicle fire.
At trial, the plaintiffs argued the defendant's alterations compromised the vehicle's structural and fuel system crash protection. They specifically cited a defectively attached roof, lacking welds, and a failed door beam that allowed fire into the occupant compartment. The defendant admitted under oath that a body shop is responsible if repairs not meeting manufacturer specifications lead to serious injury or death, and acknowledged their repairs to the plaintiffs' vehicle did not meet these specifications.
The jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs, awarding $42 million in damages. The outcome occurred following the defendant's admissions regarding responsibility and its failure to adhere to manufacturer repair specifications.
Understanding This Case
- 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 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 aligns very well with similar cases
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