Fayette County Fatal Rear-End Collision Settles for $3,797,105
One driver stopped a tractor-trailer on the highway just over a hill. The other driver crested the hill and struck the trailer. The collision resulted in injuries to the driver and her two sons, and tragically, the death of the younger son. The driver and the father of the deceased child sued the tractor-trailer driver and his employers, alleging negligence for stopping on the highway. The defense claimed the driver stopped due to a trailer light issue and was returning to the truck when the crash occurred.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Settlement
- Amount
- $3,797,105
- County
- Fayette County, TX
- Resolved
- 2022
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Wrongful Death
- Accident Type
- Truck/Commercial
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, death
Case Overview
On December 14, 2020, a plaintiff driver was transporting her two sons in Fayette County when her vehicle struck the rear of a stopped tractor-trailer. The incident occurred on a highway, just past the crest of a hill. The collision resulted in injuries to the plaintiff driver and her older son, and the younger son sustained fatal injuries.
Two plaintiffs, the driver and the father of the deceased son, subsequently filed suit against the tractor-trailer operator and his employer entities. The plaintiffs alleged the operator was negligent for stopping his vehicle in the middle of the highway for no discernible reason. The plaintiff driver also filed a cross-claim against the operator and the employer entities. The defendants denied the allegations, with the operator testifying that he had stopped to fix a malfunctioning trailer light, pulling onto a narrow shoulder, and was re-entering his truck when the crash occurred.
The plaintiff driver sought damages for her own physical pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, and medical expenses. Both plaintiffs sought damages for past and future loss of companionship and society, and mental anguish for the loss of their son. Damages for the older son's physical pain, mental anguish, and medical expenses were also sought.
The parties reached a settlement prior to trial. The insurance carrier for the tractor-trailer operator and one of the employer entities paid $3,797,105, which represented the policy limit.
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