Texas Court Awards $1,098,650 in Trucking Negligence
One driver's truck struck a power cable, causing it to fall onto another driver's vehicle. The injured driver sued, alleging negligence in the operation of the truck and in the transport of an oversized load. The case involved multiple defendants and complex legal arguments regarding liability and damages. Ultimately, one company was found solely liable for the incident.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $1,098,650
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2019
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Other
- Accident Type
- Truck/Commercial
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Accident
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $1,098,650 is above the median of $22,000 for other cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $8,200 to $102,285, based on 304 cases in our database.
Case Overview
In October 2015, a plaintiff sustained personal injuries and property damage in Texas when a power cable fell onto their vehicle. The incident occurred after a truck, operated by an employee of Bennett Motor Express, LLC, and involved in moving an oversized load, crashed into the cable. The plaintiff filed a lawsuit against Bennett Motor Express, LLC, and other companies involved in the oversized transport, including Sapphire Rose Pilot Car, Inc., VersaBucket, LLC, and Gator Gone Safety Pilots. The plaintiff alleged negligence, including failure to maintain a proper lookout, failure to inspect the route, and negligent hiring and supervision by Bennett Motor Express, LLC.
The defendants filed general denials and asserted defenses such as unavoidable accident, intervening causation, and sudden emergency. During the proceedings, CenterPoint Energy, initially designated as a responsible third party, was later non-suited. The court granted a motion for directed verdict in favor of Sapphire Rose Pilot Car, Inc., and the plaintiff non-suited other parties, including the truck driver. A jury ultimately found Gator Gone Safety Pilots (15%), Bennett Motor Express, LLC (70%), and VersaBucket, LLC (15%) proximately caused the incident.
However, the court later granted the plaintiff's Motion for Judgment Non Obstante Veredicto, overriding the jury's allocation. In June 2019, the court found Gator Gone Safety Pilots solely liable. The court awarded the plaintiff $1,098,650.86 in damages, including past and future physical pain, impairment, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment, loss of earning capacity, medical expenses, property damage, and prejudgment interest. A subsequent motion to modify the judgment by Gator Gone Safety Pilots was denied.
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 Harris 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
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