Motor Vehicle Verdicts Over $30 Million

$247 Million Verdict

After a fatal collision involving a van that struck a tractor trailer that was blocking the road as it backed into a driveway, the parents of the deceased sued the trucking company and the vehicle operators, alleging negligent operation of a vehicle and inadequate driver training. The plaintiffs sought recovery of damages for past and future loss of companionship, loss of society and mental anguish.

The jury found that the tractor trailer driver was acting within the scope of his employment and bore responsibility for 65% of the incident, with the trucking company bearing 20% responsibility and an additional 10% on the company owner. As a result, the $260 million verdict was reduced to $247 million.

$101 Million Verdict

Following a rear-end collision, the driver of the struck vehicle claimed neck and back injuries. The rear vehicle, a commercial truck, was operated by a driver with marijuana and methamphetamine in his system, as well as three traffic violations on his record in the preceding 36 months.

The injured party sued the truck driver and the trucking company, claiming the organization did not follow its own hiring and training policies. Despite the plaintiff's statement on the scene that he was not injured, the jury found the trucking company liable for all damages, including punitive awards. The driver was also found liable for 30% of damages, per the jury.

$95 Million Verdict

A brother and sister were struck head-on by a sedan driving in the wrong direction on the highway. The woman was killed, and her brother suffered severe injuries requiring full-time care. The driver’s blood alcohol content was found to be twice the legal limit. He pleaded guilty to several charges, including vehicular homicide, and was sentenced to jail time.

The siblings’ father filed suit against the driver and the bar that served him drinks that night. The jury determined that the brother suffered damages totaling $58,527,108 and that his sister’s estate was entitled to damages totaling $37 million, for a total of $95,527,108.

$70.6 Million Verdict

While driving through an intersection, an SUV was broadsided by a tractor trailer. The driver of the SUV and her son both suffered multiple traumas from the incident, including traumatic brain injuries. The driver’s daughter sustained scratches from the incident as well as post-traumatic stress disorder from seeing her mother and brother injured. A lawsuit was filed against the driver of the tractor trailer and the owner of the truck, claiming the company negligently entrusted the truck to the driver and was therefore vicariously liable.

The jury award included $24 million in past pain and suffering and an additional $36 million in future pain and suffering.

$53 Million Verdict

While driving northbound in a construction zone with a single lane of traffic in each direction, a vehicle was struck by a commercial truck traveling southbound in the northbound lane. The collision caused severe damage to the northbound vehicle and significant injuries to both occupants.

The injured parties filed suit against the trucking company and driver of the commercial vehicle, alleging the operator was driving angrily, the company had not followed its own driver training protocols and the vehicle telematics data was hidden or destroyed. The driver and trucking company stipulated to liability and vicarious liability, leaving the jury to determine compensatory and punitive damages, a $53 million verdict.

$50 Million Verdict

A 17-year-old boy was seriously injured after the car he rode in was struck by a tractor trailer. The accident resulted in a hospital stay for many months to treat a traumatic brain injury and ongoing outpatient medical care. A suit was filed against the driver and the transportation company for the recovery of past and future medical costs, future loss of earnings and damages for past and future pain and suffering.

$43.1 Million Verdict

One early spring day as a nurse was traveling in northwestern Indiana, her vehicle was rear-ended by a truck driver. The collision caused multiple injuries and permanent disability that effectively ended the victim’s 25-year nursing career, restricted her daily living and impaired both her and her husband emotionally.  

The plaintiff sought remuneration for past and future medical costs and lost wages. The court found the tractor trailer operator and the trucking company that employed him guilty.

$36.5 Million Verdict

A collision between a school bus and a passenger vehicle carrying four high school students resulted in serious injuries for the occupants of the car. The three passengers filed suit against the driver of the vehicle they were in as well as the driver of the bus and the bus company. The case proceeded to trial with the car’s driver and the bus company as sole defendants.

Defense argued that the accident happened because the plaintiff’s vehicle crossed the center line. Lawyers for the plaintiffs countered that the bus driver was driving 3.9 mph above the posted speed limit and was drinking coffee at the time of the collision. The jury found that both the driver of the vehicle and the owner of the bus were negligent.

$32.1 Million Verdict

To avoid a collision with a stopped vehicle, the driver of a dump truck swerved into the path of a minivan. The two vehicles collided head-on, with the minivan driver suffering a fatal injury. The deceased’s spouse filed suit against the driver of the dump truck for negligent operation, as well as the truck’s owner for negligently hiring the driver since he had marijuana in his system at the time of the crash and the trucking company did not test him for drug use prior to employment or subject him to an ongoing drug-testing program.

In addition to finding the driver negligent, the jury found that the trucking company failed to exercise the degree of ordinary care expected and that failure was a significant cause of the minivan driver’s death.

$30 Million Verdict

A truck driver was only a year and a half away from retirement when his rig, traveling on a Texas highway, was struck head-on by a second truck driver attempting to avoid a fallen branch, killing the first driver. He claimed his employer, a global freight company, had been negligent in supervising and training him, which implicated the freight company in the lawsuit.

The victim’s sons sought recovery of wrongful-death damages. The jury returned a guilty verdict, the majority of which was assigned to the freight company.