Victoria County Motor Vehicle Negligence Settles for $78,500
One driver fell asleep at the wheel, causing a vehicle to roll over. The passengers claimed multiple injuries, including lacerations and a fracture. Medical bills were incurred for both passengers. The case settled before a lawsuit was filed.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Settlement
- Amount
- $78,500
- County
- Refugio County, TX
- Resolved
- 2017
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Burns / Lacerations
- Accident Type
- Rollover
- Case Type
- Laceration, Contusion, Hand
Settlement Context
This settlement of $78,500 is below the median of $500,000 for burns / lacerations cases resolved by settlement. The typical range is $78,500 to $41,935,624, based on 3 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On November 27, 2015, a vehicle carrying an adult restaurant owner and her minor daughter rolled over in Refugio County. The driver, returning to Victoria, reportedly fell asleep at the wheel, causing the accident. Both passengers sustained injuries.
The adult passenger and her daughter filed liability claims against the driver's primary and secondary insurers. They alleged the driver was negligent by falling asleep, failing to keep a proper lookout, and failing to maintain control of the vehicle and its speed. The adult passenger sustained wrist lacerations and a mild spinal compression fracture, later claiming permanent hand issues and occasional back pain. The minor passenger sustained bruises and soreness, with all injuries resolving shortly after emergency room treatment.
For settlement purposes, the insurers did not dispute liability for the accident but initially questioned the extent of the adult passenger's claimed wrist and hand problems. The case settled pre-suit for a total of $78,500. The adult passenger received $50,000, comprising $30,000 from the primary insurer and $20,000 from the secondary insurer. The minor passenger received $28,500 from the primary insurer. A friendly suit was subsequently filed in Victoria County Court at Law No. 2 to obtain approval for the minor's settlement, which the court granted on January 3, 2018. Each insurer had a per-person liability policy limit of $30,000.
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 Refugio 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 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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