Bexar County Jury Awards $45.3 Million in Rear-End Collision
One driver was stopped in traffic when another driver rear-ended their vehicle. The collision pushed the first vehicle off the road. The injured driver sustained serious injuries to their neck, back, and shoulder, requiring surgery. The case involved claims of negligence related to cell phone use by the defendant driver and company policies. The jury found the defendants negligent and awarded damages.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $45,300,000
- County
- Bexar County, TX
- Resolved
- 2017
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Neck Injury (Whiplash)
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Rear End Collision
Case Overview
In 2015, a motor vehicle collision occurred on I-35 in San Antonio, Texas. The plaintiff, then 35, was in stop-and-go traffic when a company SUV, driven by an employee, rear-ended her vehicle and pushed it into the median. The plaintiff sustained severe injuries to her neck, back, and shoulder, later undergoing surgery to treat her neck injury.
The plaintiff filed a negligence lawsuit in Bexar County against the driver and his employer, an oilfield services company. The suit alleged motor vehicle negligence and sought damages for medical expenses, past and future physical pain and suffering, disfigurement, lost earning capacity, and physical impairment. The defendants denied liability, asserting that abrupt traffic conditions caused the collision.
At trial, the plaintiff contended the defendant driver was using a cell phone immediately before and frequently in the months leading up to the collision. The plaintiff also argued the employer was negligent for maintaining conflicting cell phone policies, which allegedly allowed executives to use phones while driving despite awareness of studies linking such use to impaired driving levels. Regarding damages, the plaintiff presented testimony indicating a need for future surgeries and potential difficulties with future employment due to her injuries.
After nearly three weeks of trial, a Bexar County jury returned a unanimous finding of negligence and gross negligence against the defendants. The jury awarded the plaintiff $45.3 million in damages, which included $7.25 million for past and future physical pain and mental anguish, and $32.5 million in punitive damages.
VerdictlyTM Score
This outcome differs from typical 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.
Need better results for your case?
Share your situation and we'll connect you with experienced motor vehicle accident attorneys who have handled cases like this in Bexar County.
Similar cases you may find useful
Handpicked by matching injury type, accident details, and outcome to this case.
One driver alleged another driver was negligent in striking their vehicle. A second driver then struck the first driver's vehicle, causing it to hit the plaintiff's vehicle a second time. The plaintiff suffered injuries to their neck, back, and shoulder. The parties resolved the claim for $60,750.
One driver was stopped to make a left turn when the other driver, who admitted to being distracted, rear-ended them at high speed. The injured driver was taken to the emergency room with neck pain and a head laceration. Later, they underwent a cervical fusion surgery and experienced symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury and seizure-like symptoms. Medical bills exceeded $400,000.
One driver was stopped in traffic when their vehicle was hit from behind by another vehicle. The driver who was hit claimed serious injuries to their neck and back, including paralysis in one arm, requiring surgery. The other driver argued that a third vehicle caused the accident or that the injured driver's own actions contributed. The jury found the second driver fully at fault.
One driver was stopped at a stop sign when their pickup truck was struck from behind by another pickup truck. The driver and a passenger in the first truck claimed injuries. The passenger's claim was settled before trial. The driver's claim proceeded to trial, where the jury found the second driver liable for the accident.
A passenger in a sport utility vehicle was injured when the vehicle she was in was rear-ended by another car. The passenger claimed injuries to her back and neck, including bulging discs. The driver of the other vehicle claimed his brakes failed. The jury found that the driver's negligence did not cause the accident.