Texas Judge Awards $23,477.94 in Motor Vehicle Negligence
One driver allegedly operated a vehicle negligently, causing damage to another vehicle. The owner of the negligent driver's vehicle was accused of wrongfully entrusting it to an incompetent driver. The case involved claims for property damage, interest, and attorney's fees. A default judgment was entered against one driver, and claims against another were dropped.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Settlement
- Amount
- $22,977
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2023
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Other
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This settlement of $22,977 is near the median of $11,429 for other cases resolved by settlement. The typical range is $4,710 to $30,000, based on 82 cases in our database.
Case Overview
GEICO County Mutual Insurance Company filed a lawsuit in Texas following a motor vehicle collision that occurred on September 23, 2022. The insurer alleged that the defendant driver negligently operated a vehicle, causing damage to property owned by GEICO's insured. GEICO further claimed the vehicle owner wrongfully entrusted the vehicle to the driver, described as an incompetent, reckless, unlicensed, and uninsured individual, and sought to hold the owner vicariously liable. The lawsuit sought $22,977.94 in damages, along with interest, costs, and attorney's fees, supported by submitted documentation detailing property damage and deductible costs.
The defendant driver was served with the lawsuit but failed to file an answer or appear in court. GEICO subsequently filed a motion for default judgment against the driver, while later filing a notice of partial nonsuit without prejudice, effectively dropping all claims against the vehicle owner. The court granted the default judgment against the defendant driver, awarding GEICO $22,977.94 for damages, $500 in attorney's fees, court costs, and interest at 5% per annum from the date of filing until paid. The judgment was issued due to the defendant driver's failure to respond to the lawsuit.
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 Harris County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2023, 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.
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