Texas Court Awards Insurer $19,441 in Motor Vehicle Negligence
One driver's vehicle was damaged in a collision caused by another driver. The injured party's insurer paid for the damages and then filed a complaint against the at-fault driver and the vehicle owner. The insurer alleged negligence and wrongful entrustment. Following a bench trial, the court ruled in favor of the insurer, awarding damages, interest, and costs.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $19,441
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2019
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Other
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $19,441 is near the median of $14,473 for other cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $4,770 to $42,056, based on 190 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On July 30, 2016, a motor vehicle sustained damage in a collision caused by a driver operating a vehicle owned by another individual. The plaintiff insurer, which had compensated its policyholder for the $19,441.17 loss, subsequently sought to recover these funds.
On July 21, 2017, the plaintiff insurer filed a complaint against both the driver and the vehicle owner. The plaintiff alleged the driver's negligence proximately caused the collision and damages. It further claimed the vehicle owner negligently entrusted the vehicle to an allegedly incompetent, reckless, unlicensed, and uninsured driver, and was vicariously liable for the driver's actions. Neither defendant filed any defenses or counterclaims in response to these allegations.
Following a bench trial on January 30, 2019, the court ruled in favor of the plaintiff insurer. The court awarded damages of $19,441.17, along with prejudgment interest from the filing date, court costs, and post-judgment interest at 5.00% per year until the judgment was paid. The judgment was entered against both the driver and the vehicle owner, holding them liable for the damages resulting from the collision.
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
This outcome is within expected ranges
This score is calculated by analyzing injury type, accident details, geographic location, temporal trends, and comparing against 2,000+ similar cases in our database.
Curious about 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 Harris County.
Similar cases you may find useful
Handpicked by matching injury type, accident details, and outcome to this case.
One driver rear-ended another vehicle stopped at a red light. The driver who was hit filed a lawsuit seeking damages for medical expenses and pain and suffering. The parties reached a settlement agreement.
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 was stopped in traffic on a highway when their vehicle was struck from behind by a bus. The driver claimed the collision caused permanent injuries, forcing them to change to a less physically demanding job. The bus company denied negligence. The jury found the bus company at fault.
One driver was stopped at an intersection preparing to turn left when their vehicle was struck from behind by another vehicle. The driver claimed neck injuries. The other driver's insurer offered its policy limit. The injured driver sued their own insurer for underinsured motorist benefits, alleging the other driver was negligent. The defense questioned the extent of injuries and suggested they were pre-existing.
One driver was stopped in traffic when their vehicle was hit from behind by another vehicle. The driver who was hit claimed serious injuries to their neck and back, including paralysis in one arm, requiring surgery. The other driver argued that a third vehicle caused the accident or that the injured driver's own actions contributed. The jury found the second driver fully at fault.
Explore More Cases Like This
Browse similar cases by injury type and location to get a better understanding of case values in your area.