Texas Jury Issues Defense Verdict in Commercial Vehicle Negligence

On June 18, 2018, a motor vehicle accident occurred involving the plaintiff and a commercial driver operating a vehicle for a defendant carrier corporation. The plaintiff filed a lawsuit, alleging the defendant driver unsafely changed lanes and crashed into her vehicle at high speed, causing severe injuries to her head, neck, and back. The plaintiff claimed the driver was negligent and grossly negligent, and that the carrier corporation was negligent in hiring, training, supervising, retaining, monitoring, and entrusting a vehicle to the driver.

The court partially granted and denied the defendants' motion for summary judgment, dismissing some negligence claims. The case proceeded to trial, where expert testimony was presented. The jury received instructions regarding negligence, ordinary care, proximate cause, and the assignment of comparative responsibility if both parties were found negligent.

On March 10, 2021, the jury found in favor of the defendant driver and the defendant carrier corporation. The jury determined that the plaintiff's contributory negligence was a factor in the accident. The court entered judgment against the plaintiff, and costs totaling $35,283.03 were subsequently awarded to the defendants.