Irving Jury Awards Over $10.9M in Fatal Bus Accident Negligence
A charter bus carrying passengers to a casino lost control on a highway. The bus struck safety barriers, crossed multiple lanes, and hit the center concrete barrier before rolling over. Two passengers sustained fatal injuries. The estates and families of the deceased passengers sued the casino, alleging negligence and vicarious liability for the actions of the bus driver and tour coordinator. The lawsuit also named the bus driver and bus company, who settled before trial. The jury found the casino partially responsible for the accident.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Wrongful Death Injuries
Wrongful death claims arise when a car accident fatality is caused by another party's negligence. These cases compensate surviving family members for their losses and the decedent's pain and suffering.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $10,942,912
- County
- Dallas County, TX
- Resolved
- 2016
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Wrongful Death
- Accident Type
- Multi-vehicle
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $10,942,912 is near the median of $6,500,000 for wrongful death cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $800,000 to $15,000,000, based on 34 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On April 11, 2013, a charter bus carrying senior citizens from Bedford to a casino resort in Durant, Oklahoma, lost control on the George Bush Turnpike in Irving. The bus struck crash attenuators, crossed multiple lanes, hit a concrete barrier, and rolled over. Two passengers, an 83-year-old master seamstress and a 69-year-old retiree, sustained fatal injuries. The group tour coordinator also died in the incident.
The estates and families of the deceased passengers, along with an injured passenger, filed a lawsuit against the bus driver, the bus owner, and the casino. The plaintiffs alleged that the driver's negligence, including a failure to pay attention and loss of control, caused the accident. They also claimed the driver was distracted by the tour coordinator discussing routes and tolls, a discussion the investigating officer agreed contributed to the inattention. The bus driver and bus owner settled their claims before trial for undisclosed amounts. The case proceeded against the casino, with the injured passenger settling before trial as well.
Against the casino, the plaintiffs argued it was vicariously liable for the actions of the bus company, the driver, and the tour coordinator. They contended these parties were acting in furtherance of the casino's mission, subject to its control, or were its borrowed employees or ostensible agents, noting the casino derived substantial income from such trips. Plaintiffs also alleged the casino negligently retained the bus company and driver, highlighting the driver's history of multiple accidents, including a fatality, license suspension, and prior firings, which the casino allegedly failed to uncover through a background check. The casino denied negligence, asserting the driver and bus company were solely responsible and that no agency or employment relationship existed with the driver, bus company, or tour coordinator. The court denied the casino's pre-trial motions challenging vicarious liability.
After a two-week trial and four days of deliberation, a jury found that the bus company, driver, and tour coordinator were acting for the casino's benefit and under its control. The jury determined the driver was a borrowed employee of the casino and the tour coordinator was an ostensible agent of the casino. The jury assigned comparative responsibility: 58 percent to the driver, 25 percent to the casino, and 17 percent to the bus company. The jury did not find the casino negligently retained the bus company or driver. The jury awarded the plaintiffs over $10.9 million in damages. The casino had waived sovereign immunity up to the limits of its applicable insurance policies.
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 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
This score is calculated by analyzing injury type, accident details, geographic location, temporal trends, and comparing against 2,000+ similar cases in our database.
Want to check your case value?
Get a free case evaluation to understand what your motor vehicle accident case might be worth based on cases like this in Dallas County.
Similar cases you may find useful
Handpicked by matching injury type, accident details, and outcome to this case.
One driver was traveling on a tollway when their vehicle ran out of gas and became disabled. The other driver, who was following behind, struck the disabled vehicle. The first driver claimed injuries to their neck and back. The jury found the second driver 80% liable and the first driver 20% liable.
One driver stopped in traffic due to construction. The other driver rear-ended the stopped vehicle. The injured driver claimed ankle and back injuries. The defense argued the accident was unavoidable or that the driver acted as an ordinary and prudent driver. The jury found the second driver liable but awarded no damages.
One driver was traveling on Interstate 10 when his pickup truck was struck from behind by another pickup truck. That second pickup truck had been propelled forward after being struck by a tractor-trailer. The driver of the first pickup truck claimed injuries to his back and neck. The case involved multiple defendants and allegations of negligence in vehicle operation and employer liability.
One driver's pickup truck was struck from behind by another pickup truck. This happened shortly after the first pickup truck was struck by a third vehicle. The driver of the first pickup truck claimed an injury. The second pickup truck sustained significant damage.
One driver sued another for failing to maintain a safe distance and avoid a collision. The defendant claimed the plaintiff was also at fault. The incident occurred when the defendant's vehicle struck the plaintiffs' vehicle from behind. The minor passenger complained of neck, mid-back, and rib pain, diagnosed as muscle sprain and cervicalgia. Further treatment included visits for headaches and pain in the neck and upper back.
Explore More Cases Like This
Browse similar cases by injury type and location to get a better understanding of case values in your area.