Stephenville, Texas Jury Awards $90,000 in Stop Sign Collision
One driver ran a stop sign and struck another driver's trailer. The injured driver claimed multiple injuries, including a head injury, neck and back sprains, and a cervical disc injury. The case involved allegations of driving under the influence of drugs.
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
- $90,000
- County
- Erath County, TX
- Resolved
- 2017
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Head/Brain Injury
- Accident Type
- Truck/Commercial
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $90,000 is below 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
On September 21, 2014, a collision occurred in Stephenville, Texas, when a pickup truck driven by the defendant ran a stop sign at the intersection of U.S. Highway 67 and Farm to Market Road 2481, striking a trailer towed by the plaintiff’s pickup truck. The plaintiff, an electrician, sued for negligence, including driving under the influence of drugs and failing to yield, and sought damages for gross negligence.
The plaintiff claimed multiple injuries, including a closed head injury, neck, back, and shoulder sprains, and a cervical disc injury, incurring nearly $40,000 in past medical bills. A neurologist for the plaintiff opined the injuries were accident-related and required ongoing treatment. The plaintiff sought damages for lost earnings, ongoing pain, and punitive damages.
The defendant denied intoxication at the time of the collision, attributing disorientation to age and shock. He acknowledged prescribed morphine and prior methamphetamine use, but denied drug use on the accident day, stating preoccupation caused him to miss the stop sign. The defense argued the plaintiff's significant injuries resulted from prior incidents, and a defense neurologist challenged the necessity and relatedness of some treatments.
After a three-day trial, the jury deliberated for two hours, finding the defendant negligent and grossly negligent. The jury awarded the plaintiff $90,000, including $40,000 for past medical costs, $20,000 for future medical costs, $25,000 in punitive damages, and $5,000 for past physical pain and mental anguish. During the punitive phase, plaintiff’s counsel highlighted the defendant’s admission of being under the influence of methamphetamine during a separate arrest three weeks after the collision.
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 Erath County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2017, 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 significantly deviates from similar cases
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