Houston Judge Awards $653,967 in Vehicular Negligence
One driver was helping another move items when a repo driver arrived. The second driver got into his truck and reversed at a high speed, running over the first driver's foot and ankle. The injured driver suffered a fractured tibia and fibula, requiring surgery and causing ongoing pain.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $653,968
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2015
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Leg / Foot Injury
- Accident Type
- Pedestrian
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Auto/Pedestrian Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $653,968 is near the median of $335,000 for leg / foot injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $233,863 to $1,950,000, based on 16 cases in our database.
Case Overview
In September 2011 in Houston, Texas, a plaintiff sustained serious injuries when assisting the defendant. The plaintiff was helping to move items from the defendant's pickup truck when a repossession driver arrived. The defendant then entered the truck and rapidly reversed the vehicle, driving over the plaintiff's lower right extremity. The incident caused a compound fracture of the plaintiff's right tibia and fibula, which required open reduction and internal fixation surgery, and resulted in ongoing pain.
The plaintiff subsequently filed a vehicular negligence lawsuit. The complaint alleged the defendant was negligent in failing to maintain a proper lookout, accelerating at an excessive speed, and operating the vehicle imprudently. The defendant issued a general denial of all allegations of negligence and injury.
Following a court trial, the judge found in favor of the plaintiff. The plaintiff was awarded a total of $653,967. This amount included $153,967 for past medical expenses, $300,000 for pain and suffering, $100,000 for past physical impairment, and $100,000 for future physical impairment.
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 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 differs from typical similar cases
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