$3.8M Texas Bicycle Accident Verdict

A cyclist riding to work was struck on a Texas highway shoulder. Here is how the case was tried.

On a stretch of U.S. Highway 90 in Liberty, Texas, a cyclist was riding to work on the paved shoulder when a car struck him. The driver had pulled onto the highway in front of an oncoming truck and, according to the cyclist, kept driving on the shoulder for about one-eighth of a mile before the impact. Joe Stephens represented the injured cyclist in the personal injury lawsuit against the driver, alongside co-counsel.

Bicycle Accident Claims Against a Texas Driver

The lawsuit alleged that the driver negligently drove along the shoulder, where she struck the cyclist and narrowly missed another cyclist riding nearby. The cyclist’s claims focused on the serious spinal injuries the crash caused and the long-term effects on his health, finances, and ability to work.

Spinal Cord Injury and Paralysis From a Car Accident

The cyclist suffered a fractured T12 vertebra, which left him paralyzed in his lower body. He also developed gangrene in his feet, a serious medical complication that added to his care needs. His injuries created substantial medical expenses, ongoing care requirements, and a loss of earning capacity.

Disputed Evidence in a Liberty County Bicycle Lawsuit

The driver denied negligence and argued that the crash was an unforeseeable accident. She also disputed the cyclist’s account of where he was riding and where the impact occurred. Her position was that photographs showed the point of impact on the left front of her car, and that if she had been near the grass line, as the cyclist testified, she would have struck the other cyclist riding just ahead of him.

The case required the jury to weigh that evidence about the driver’s actions, the location of the impact, and responsibility for the crash.

From a $25,000 Insurance Offer to a $3.8 Million Jury Verdict

Before trial, the driver’s insurance carrier offered its $25,000 policy limit. The cyclist rejected the offer. In 2002, a Liberty County jury found in his favor and awarded $3,803,094 in damages, more than 150 times the amount the insurer had offered.

Breakdown of the $3.8 Million Bicycle Accident Jury Award

The jury’s award included compensation for:

$138,594 in past medical expenses
$1,500,000 in future medical expenses
$30,000 in past lost wages
$300,000 in future lost earning capacity
$36,500 in past physical pain and suffering, and $575,000 in future physical pain and suffering
$36,500 in past disfigurement, and $575,000 in future disfigurement
$36,500 in past physical impairment, and $575,000 in future physical impairment

Lessons From a Texas Bicycle Accident Verdict

Bicycle accident cases often turn on disputed facts about road position, the location of impact, and fault, and insurers may make early offers that do not reflect the full cost of a serious injury. This case shows how a jury can weigh those questions when a cyclist’s injuries are permanent.

Injured in a Bicycle or Car Accident in Texas? Contact Joe Stephens

A collision between a motor vehicle and a bicyclist can cause life-changing injuries, including spinal cord damage, paralysis, and permanent disability. If you or someone you love has been seriously hurt by a negligent driver, you deserve an attorney who understands how an accident affects your health, finances, and future.

Joe Stephens is a double board-certified personal injury attorney with over 40 years of experience representing injured Texans. He provides personal attention to every case and prepares thoroughly to pursue the compensation his clients deserve.

Whether your accident happened in Houston, Katy, Marshall, Liberty County, or elsewhere in Texas, The Stephens Law Firm is ready to discuss your options. Contact us today for a free consultation. No legal fees unless Joe wins your case.

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case depends on its own facts and circumstances.