Houston Jury Awards $167,119 in Tractor-Trailer Crash
One driver ran a red light at an intersection and hit the other driver's vehicle. The injured driver claimed the collision caused PTSD and other injuries. The other driver's company denied fault, stating the light was yellow and the injured driver had a history of trauma. The court found the defendant negligent.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Head/Brain Injury Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) range from mild concussions to severe brain damage. Car accidents are a leading cause of TBI, with effects ranging from temporary symptoms to permanent cognitive impairment.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $167,119
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2016
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Head/Brain Injury
- Accident Type
- Truck/Commercial
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Auto/Truck Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $167,119 is near the median of $510,805 for head/brain injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $52,650 to $4,929,085, based on 77 cases in our database.
Case Overview
In January 2014, a collision occurred at the intersection of Wyoming Street and SH146 in Houston, Texas. The plaintiff, who was driving lawfully with a green light, had their vehicle struck on the driver's side by a tractor-trailer. The truck's driver, employed by a transportation company, allegedly entered the intersection against a red light. The plaintiff subsequently filed a personal injury lawsuit, claiming the defendant driver's negligence caused the accident.
The plaintiff asserted the collision resulted in various orthopedic injuries, a brain injury, and permanent Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which affected their employment. The defendants denied all allegations of negligence, arguing that the traffic light was yellow when the defendant driver entered the intersection and that the plaintiff was at fault. The defendants also contended that the plaintiff's PTSD was not a result of the accident but stemmed from a history of prior traumatic events.
A court found the defendant negligent in causing the accident. The plaintiff was awarded $167,119 in damages. This total included $56,053 for past medical expenses, $50,000 for pain and suffering, $50,000 for impairment, and $11,067 for past lost wages.
Understanding This Case
- Most mild TBIs resolve within weeks to months. Moderate to severe TBI often results in permanent impairment affecting cognition, behavior, and physical function.
- 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 2016, 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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