Houston Jury Awards $6.7M for Brain Injury in Tractor-Trailer Crash
One driver alleged that a trailer extended into the roadway, causing a collision. The other driver claimed the first driver was speeding and not paying attention. The jury found both parties partially at fault.
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
- $6,758,159
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2015
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Head/Brain Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Auto/Truck Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $6,758,159 is near the median of $1,893,000 for head/brain injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $93,169 to $9,140,000, based on 45 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A jury in Houston, Texas, found both sides negligent in a vehicular collision that left a minor passenger with a serious brain injury. The incident occurred on October 22, 2013, on the northbound frontage road of Interstate 45 when a vehicle, operated by the plaintiff driver, struck the rear corner of a tractor-trailer. The defendant tractor-trailer operator, employed by the defendant company, had pulled into the company's storage lot, but a closed access gate prevented the trailer from fully clearing the travel lane, leaving it partially on the roadway.
The plaintiffs alleged that the defendant driver negligently operated the tractor-trailer, failed to place safety cones, and did not pull the vehicle off the roadway safely. They also claimed the defendant company was negligent in installing a gate that created a hazardous condition by not allowing vehicles to fully exit the travel lane. The plaintiffs maintained that the accident resulted in the male minor suffering an open skull fracture and a serious brain injury. The defendants denied negligence, asserting that the truck's warning lights were activated and that the plaintiff driver was speeding and failed to maintain a proper lookout.
Following a trial, the jury found the defendants 55% negligent and the plaintiff driver 45% negligent. The jury awarded the plaintiff $6,758,159 in damages. Motions for a final judgment were pending.
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 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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