Texas Jury Awards $993,000 in Bus Accident Negligence
A charter bus carrying passengers veered off a highway and struck a barrier before rolling over. The passengers claimed multiple injuries from the crash. The driver was found negligent in operating the vehicle. One passenger sustained a fractured cervical disc requiring surgery and claimed pain, limitations, and emotional distress. The other passenger suffered bruising and lacerations and also claimed emotional distress.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Cervical Disc Injury Injuries
Cervical disc injuries involve damage to the intervertebral discs in the neck region (C1-C7). These injuries can include herniated discs, bulging discs, and disc degeneration accelerated by trauma.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $993,000
- County
- Tarrant County, TX
- Resolved
- 2017
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Cervical Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Arm, Bruise, Fracture
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $993,000 is above the median of $40,000 for cervical disc injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $18,000 to $100,000, based on 250 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On April 11, 2013, a Cardinal Coach Line Inc. charter bus veered off the George Bush Freeway in Irving, Texas, struck a concrete barrier, and rolled over. The incident resulted in four fatalities and multiple passenger injuries. Two passengers, a husband and wife, subsequently sued the bus driver and company, alleging the driver's negligence and the company's vicarious liability. The accident report indicated the driver failed to stay in his lane; the driver claimed he might have blacked out.
The defense stipulated the driver's negligence before trial. The plaintiff husband claimed a fractured cervical disc requiring two fusion surgeries, reporting residual pain and emotional distress. His treating neurosurgeon supported the injury's causation. The plaintiff wife sustained bruising and lacerations, claiming emotional distress and anxiety, and sought damages including for loss of consortium. The defense argued the husband made a good recovery without permanent residuals, and contended the wife had not sought further medical care or counseling for her claimed anxiety after one month.
After a three-day trial, a jury deliberated for two hours before awarding the plaintiffs a total of $993,000. Damages included compensation for past and future pain and suffering, disfigurement, loss of services, loss of consortium, and punitive damages against the driver.
Understanding This Case
- Many cervical disc injuries improve with conservative treatment. However, about 30% of cases may require surgical intervention, with varying degrees of permanent impairment.
- 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 Tarrant 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
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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