Texas Jury Awards $7,765,000 in Fatal Commercial Truck Crash

On January 29, 2016, a head-on collision occurred on Interstate 69 near Zavalla, resulting in two fatalities. A fully loaded tanker truck, driven by the plaintiff's decedent, a 58-year-old truck driver, was traveling southbound when it was struck by a northbound pickup truck. The pickup, owned by the defendant company and driven by its employee, crossed the center line. Both drivers died, and the tanker truck subsequently caught fire. An autopsy report indicated the truck driver's death was primarily caused by carbon monoxide poisoning and secondarily by severe third-degree burns, with a biomechanical expert testifying the decedent was alive and conscious during the fire.

The decedent's survivors filed a lawsuit against the defendant company, alleging its employee was negligent by driving without a license, while fatigued, and by falling asleep at the wheel, causing him to cross the center line. They further claimed the defendant company was negligent and grossly negligent in its hiring, retention, training, and supervision practices. The plaintiffs presented evidence that the defendant company's driver had worked for over 24 hours prior to the accident, driving from Fort Worth to Beaumont for another shift before heading back to Fort Worth, and alleged the company knew about its employees driving company vehicles without licenses and failed to address fatigued driving risks.

The defendant company largely did not dispute its driver's negligence but challenged claims of its own negligence. The company's owner denied knowledge of any employee driving company vehicles without a license, stating it was against company policy. A supervisor testified that instructions were given for the crew to rest in Beaumont before returning to Fort Worth, suggesting the driver disregarded these orders and was therefore outside the course and scope of employment. A defense economist also contested the plaintiffs' calculation of pecuniary losses.

After an eight-day trial and 3.5 hours of deliberation, the jury found both the defendant company and its driver negligent, determining that their actions proximately caused the accident. The jury also concluded that the defendant company was grossly negligent and that its driver was acting within the course and scope of his employment. The jury awarded the plaintiffs $9,605,000. Following the verdict, punitive damages were capped by statute, reducing the final judgment to $7,765,000. The defense indicated an intent to file a motion for a new trial.