Lubbock Jury Awards $13.4M in Modified Golf Cart Injury
A 9-year-old boy was injured when a modified golf cart he was driving tipped over. The boy's parents sued the golf cart manufacturer and the homeowners for alleged design defects, warning deficiencies, and negligent supervision. The jury found the manufacturer liable for design and warning defects but also found the homeowner partially responsible. The case resulted in a jury award.
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
- $33,500,000
- County
- Dallas County, TX
- Resolved
- 2019
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Head/Brain Injury
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Accident
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $33,500,000 is above 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
In July 2015, a nine-year-old boy in Lubbock, Texas, suffered severe head and brain injuries when a modified golf cart he was driving tipped over at a friend's home. The cart, a Yamaha model, had been equipped with an aftermarket lift kit. The boy sustained permanent neurological and physical deficits, rendering him unable to communicate or mobilize. His parents filed a lawsuit alleging negligence against the homeowner for allowing unsupervised child operation of the modified cart. They also sued Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America and Yamaha Golf-Car Co., claiming product liability due to warning deficiencies and design defects, such as the absence of warnings against child operation and the cart's instability after modification. Several other parties involved in the cart's modification and distribution settled confidentially before trial.
At trial, plaintiffs argued Yamaha knew about aftermarket modifications and associated risks, and had removed prior warnings against child operation. Yamaha countered that the incident stemmed from third-party modifications, not its design, and from the homeowner's decision to allow unsupervised child use, stressing it was not responsible for carts after they left its possession. A jury awarded total damages of $33.5 million. It found the homeowner 40 percent negligent. The jury also assigned 40 percent comparative responsibility to the cart's modifier and 20 percent to the lift kit manufacturer for design and warning defects, though these entities had settled prior to trial. Yamaha and the homeowner's realty company were not found liable. Based on the homeowner's 40 percent comparative negligence, the plaintiffs' net recovery totaled $13.4 million.
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 Dallas County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2019, 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 slowing down in traffic when their vehicle was hit from behind by another car. The driver who was hit claimed injuries to their back, head, and neck. The other driver's insurance paid some of its policy limit. The injured driver then sued their own insurance company for underinsured motorist benefits, claiming their damages exceeded the amount recovered. The defense conceded fault for the accident, and the trial focused on the extent of the injuries.
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 their vehicle on a highway when the other driver struck them from behind at a high speed. The impact caused the driver to hit their head and briefly lose consciousness. The injured driver claimed the accident caused a brain injury, preventing them from completing college studies, and also affected their ability to care for their young son. The other driver admitted to the collision but disputed the extent and cause of the injuries.
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 proceeding through an intersection when their vehicle collided with another vehicle making a left turn. The injured driver claimed injuries to their back and neck. The case involved a claim against the injured driver's own insurer for underinsured motorist benefits after an initial settlement with the at-fault driver's insurer.
Explore More Cases Like This
Browse similar cases by injury type and location to get a better understanding of case values in your area.