Houston jurors awarded $56 million to Ezekiel Hernandez, a 22-year-old man who sustained severe brain injuries after a truck hit him when he was riding his bicycle as a child in 2016…propertycasualty360, Jury awards $56M to bicyclist who suffered brain injury in hit-and-run, By Laura Lorek, Mar 2025
A Harris County jury has awarded $56 million to Ezekiel Hernandez, a now 22-year-old man who suffered a permanent traumatic brain injury after being struck by a truck while riding his bicycle as a child. The incident occurred in 2016, when Hernandez was only 13 years old.
According to the lawsuit, the defendant, John Loftin III, accelerated from a stop and hit Hernandez as he began to cross Harris Avenue. Loftin then fled the scene, leaving the minor critically injured. Following extensive hospitalization and inpatient rehabilitation, Hernandez was diagnosed with irreversible brain damage.
Despite the jury’s substantial award following a brief two-day trial and just two and a half hours of deliberation, collecting the damages remains uncertain. Loftin is currently incarcerated, and his insurer has since filed for bankruptcy protection.