Harris County Jury Awards $410,000 in DWI Collision
One driver was traveling on a road when another driver ran a red light and struck their vehicle. The driver who ran the red light was under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The injured driver sued for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The defense argued the injured driver was also negligent and that the accident was unavoidable. A jury awarded the injured driver damages.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $410,000
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2023
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Other
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $410,000 is above the median of $14,473 for other cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $4,770 to $42,056, based on 190 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On December 24, 2018, a motor vehicle accident occurred on Harwin Road in Harris County, Texas. The defendant driver, operating a company vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and narcotics, failed to control speed, ran a red light, and struck the plaintiff's vehicle. The plaintiff subsequently filed a lawsuit, alleging the driver's actions constituted intoxication assault and negligence, including failing to obey traffic signals.
The plaintiff further claimed the defendant company was liable for negligently entrusting the vehicle to the driver, providing it without proper use restrictions, and for negligent hiring, training, and supervision. The lawsuit sought damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and exemplary damages. In response, the defendants denied liability, asserting defenses such as the plaintiff's own negligence, proportionate responsibility, and that the incident was an unavoidable accident.
During litigation, the court granted the plaintiff's motions to strike certain counter-affidavits and compel discovery responses from the defendants. On March 24, 2023, a Harris County jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, awarding $410,000 in total damages. A final judgment was entered on May 15, 2023, awarding the plaintiff $126,437.26 in general damages and $7,454.92 in attorneys' fees and costs against both the defendant driver and the defendant company.
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 Harris 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 differs from typical 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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