A Webb County jury has returned a verdict exceeding $20 million against Wisconsin-based motor carrier Marten Transport, LTD the largest reported personal injury jury verdict in Webb County history.
The verdict came after a five-day trial and approximately five hours of deliberation in the 341st District Court of Webb County, presided over by the Honorable Judge Beckie Palomo. The plaintiff suffered catastrophic, life-altering injuries after a Marten Transport driver made an illegal left turn from the far-right lane at an industrial intersection in Laredo, Texas.
From Zero Offer to $20 Million: How the Case Unfolded
Before litigation was filed, Marten Transport and its defense team denied liability entirely and offered zero dollars to resolve the claim.
As the trial date approached, the defense raised its offer to $750,000. The jury's answer was $20 million.
The trial team was led by Will Clark, founding attorney of The Injury Law Guides (TILG), who is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Clark, who launched his legal career practicing in Laredo, described the result as personally significant.
"Having launched my legal career practicing personal injury law in Laredo, returning to Webb County to secure justice for a client who endured such catastrophic loss felt like coming home," Clark stated.
What Happened on February 3, 2022
The crash occurred at an industrial intersection in Laredo on February 3, 2022, when a commercial truck driver employed by Marten Transport attempted a left turn from the far-right lane.
An independent eyewitness, a CDL-licensed driver, testified that the truck activated a right turn signal before turning left. The witness observed the plaintiff traveling approximately 30 to 40 mph as he approached the intersection, leaving no time to avoid the collision.
The investigating officer's crash report placed sole responsibility on the Marten Transport driver, who was cited at the scene. Marten Transport terminated the driver the same day the crash occurred and assessed internal penalty points, including points for failure to yield the right of way.
The Defense Theory the Jury Rejected
The defense argued the plaintiff was traveling 65 mph in a 35-mph zone and failed to react appropriately to avoid the collision.
The jury rejected that reconstruction analysis entirely. Instead, jurors credited the crash report, dash camera footage, and eyewitness testimony, all of which supported a speed consistent with the plaintiff's account roughly half what the defense claimed.
Defense-retained medical and psychological experts also testified but conceded key points regarding the plaintiff's injuries and his mental health condition following the crash.
Catastrophic Injuries With Lasting Consequences
The plaintiff sustained multiple serious injuries in the collision, including:
- Nasal bone fracture
- Right inferior orbital rim fracture
- Right femoral fracture
- Right greater trochanter fracture
- Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)
- Neck injury requiring ongoing pain management
- Lumbar injury requiring laminectomy surgery
In the months following the crash, the plaintiff experienced significant mental duress. The defense attempted to attribute his psychological condition to preexisting factors. The plaintiff's legal team presented expert testimony connecting his ongoing suffering directly to the crash and its physical, emotional, and financial consequences.
Family members testified about the profound impact on the household, including financial strain and drastic lifestyle changes caused by the plaintiff's inability to function as he had before the crash.
Why This Webb County Trucking Verdict Matters
Laredo is no ordinary Texas city. The Port of Laredo handled $354 billion in total trade with the world in 2025, ranking it the number one port among all U.S. border crossings. Commercial truck traffic is constant and heavy, and the risks to passenger vehicle drivers sharing those industrial corridors are real.
This verdict signals that Webb County juries hold commercial carriers to a high standard of care. When a trucking company's driver causes a catastrophic crash through an illegal maneuver, and the company responds with denial and low-ball offers, the community's assessment of accountability can look very different from the defense's.
Plaintiff attorneys who handle commercial trucking cases in Texas and across the border region should take note of both the result and the trial strategy: eyewitness testimony, dash cam footage, the crash report, and the trucking company's own post-crash conduct combined to make a compelling case that the jury accepted in full.
If you are a plaintiff attorney with significant trucking verdicts or settlements on your record, Major Verdict is the only platform where you can publicly display those results and let your trial record speak for itself. Create your free profile today.
