The verdict is nearly 18x the defendant’s insurance policy limits, carrier now faces Stowers exposure for failing to settle.

HOUSTON, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A Dallas County jury awarded $905,521 on September 17, 2026, to two water-filtration technicians struck by a driver who ran a stop sign, nearly 18 times the defendant’s $50,000-per-person policy limit. The 11-1 verdict found the defendant fully liable after four hours of deliberation. The case was tried in the 162nd District Court of Dallas County. Plaintiffs were represented by Houston car accident lawyer Joe B. Stephens of The Stephens Law Firm in Houston, Texas.

On June 11, 2024, the plaintiffs were driving a work van on Las Villas Avenue when the defendant ran a stop sign and struck them broadside. She admitted fault at the scene, saying she failed to stop and was rushing to take her mother to the airport, and that she was on her phone and didn’t see the sign. At trial, her story changed: she claimed she had stopped and that parked cars blocked her view, although evidence showed no parked cars, and her own deposition confirmed she’d never seen the van and that the crash would not have happened if she had yielded.

Both plaintiffs sustained herniated discs requiring surgery. The second plaintiff also suffered a torn knee cartilage, cannot return to work, and testified that he can no longer play sports with his family. Together, they claimed over $360,000 in past and future medical expenses.

The jury awarded $513,725 to our client Felipe H. and $391,796 to Humberto C. Following the verdict, plaintiffs’ counsel notified the defendant’s carrier that failure to satisfy the full judgment will result in Stowers and Texas Insurance Code claims against the insurer.

“This verdict reflects what the evidence made clear from the beginning,” said Joe B. Stephens, founder of The Stephens Law Firm. “Our clients were doing their jobs, following the law, and were struck by a driver who admitted at the scene that she wasn’t paying attention. The jury saw through the shifting accounts and delivered a just result.”

About The Stephens Law Firm

The Stephens Law Firm, with offices in Houston, Katy, and Marshall, Texas, represents individuals and families in personal injury cases throughout the state, with a focus on motor vehicle accidents, workplace injuries, and catastrophic harm. As an experienced Houston car accident law firm, attorney Joe B. Stephens is known for taking difficult cases to trial. For more information, visit the full case result on joestephenslaw.com.

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SOURCE The Stephens Law Firm