Defense-Favorable Verdict in Semi-Trailer Injury Case
In a recent case arising from a commercial motor vehicle collision in Laredo, Texas, WWHGD Attorneys Chaz Klaes, and Hugo Diaz achieved a defense-favorable outcome, following a jury trial involving claims of negligence. The plaintiff alleged that the truck driver, while backing a 2002 Freightliner tractor, struck the driver’s side of her tractor-cabin. At the time, the plaintiff was inside her trailer-container and fell forward upon impact, sustaining injuries to her neck and lower back.
Following extensive medical treatment—including multiple rounds of therapy, injections, and a neck surgery (anterior cervical discectomy and fusion at C4/C5 and C5/C6)—the plaintiff sought over $1 million in damages.
At trial, WWHGD defense, asserted that the plaintiff’s own negligence, pre-existing conditions, and failure to mitigate her injuries contributed to or exacerbated the alleged damages and emphasized the limited nature of the impact and challenged the extent and causation of the claimed injuries.
After hearing the evidence, the jury awarded the plaintiff $500,000 - less than half of the amount sought at trial. The verdict reflects a significant reduction from the plaintiff’s demand and underscores the effectiveness of the defense’s strategy in narrowing the scope of recoverable damages.