Verdictly
Settlement
Harrison County • 2015

Marshall Commercial Truck Collision Settles for $1,000,000

One driver was traveling southbound when another driver in a tractor-trailer changed lanes and collided with their vehicle. The first vehicle left the road and flipped over. The injured person sustained broken ribs and a lacerated spleen. Medical bills totaled about $52,000.

Case Information Updated: October 2025

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Chest / Rib Injury
Truck/Commercial
Spleen

Case Outcome

Outcome
Settlement
Amount
$1,000,000
County
Harrison County, TX
Resolved
2015

Injury & Accident Details

Injury Type
Chest / Rib Injury
Accident Type
Truck/Commercial
Case Type
Spleen, Laceration, Fracture

Case Overview

On May 25, 2013, a 75-year-old plaintiff was driving a sedan in Marshall when a tractor-trailer, operated by a defendant driver for a defendant company, changed lanes and collided with the plaintiff's vehicle. The impact caused the plaintiff's vehicle to leave the road and flip. The plaintiff sustained five broken ribs, a small hemothorax, and minimal atelectasis. A CT scan revealed a lacerated spleen, which doctors noted might have been pre-existing. Following hospitalization, three weeks of inpatient rehabilitation, and continued home physical therapy, the plaintiff sought chiropractic and pain management care for ongoing neck, shoulder, back, and leg pain, incurring approximately $52,000 in medical bills.

The plaintiff sued the defendant driver for an unsafe lane change and the defendant company for negligent hiring and training. The defense denied the claims, arguing that the plaintiff, not the defendant driver, was responsible for the collision. A defense expert, an orthopedic surgeon, testified that the plaintiff's rib fractures had healed. The expert also asserted that other reported pain stemmed from age-related degenerative conditions and that a nerve block procedure was neither reasonable nor necessary.

After extensive discovery, including depositions, the case settled for $1,000,000. This amount represented the policy limit and was tendered in response to a Stowers demand.

Understanding This Case

  • This case was resolved through a settlement, avoiding the uncertainty and expense of a trial. Settlements typically resolve faster and provide guaranteed compensation.
  • This case was resolved in Harrison 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

55
/100
Questionable

This outcome differs from typical similar cases

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