Why So Few Lubbock Injury Cases Ever Reach a Jury

A look at Lubbock County district court filings, backlogs and outcomes from 2011 to 2026

16 years of data. 

Lubbock has seen a lot of lawsuits in 16 years. If you were injured in a crash on the Marsha Sharp Freeway or Loop 289, you might wonder how many injury cases actually are handled in Lubbock—is yours unique, or just one of many like it? As it happens, you don’t have to guess or wonder about any of this; every Texas district clerk reports monthly case activity to the state’s Office of Court Administration (OCA). The data is publicly searchable through the OCA Court Activity Reporting and Directory system (CARD). 

But we did the work, so you don’t have to. 

We looked at case data from September 2010 through August 2026 for Lubbock County and five West Texas neighbors: Potter and Randall (Amarillo), Midland, Ector (Odessa), and Taylor (Abilene). Here’s what the numbers show, and what they mean if you or a family member has been injured.

What’s considered an “injury or damage” case?

The OCA sorts civil lawsuits into standard categories. For instance, “Injury or Damage – Motor Vehicle” is pretty self-explanatory; it’s any lawsuit that seeks damages that arise from a vehicle crash. This includes personal injury, property damage and wrongful death claims. “Other Injury or Damage” captures injury claims that don’t involve a vehicle, such as premises liability cases like slips-and-falls. Lubbock medical malpractice and product liability are tracked separately. 

However, it’s worth noting that these figures cover only district courts. Some smaller injury claims in Lubbock County are filed in the county courts, so the true number of injury lawsuits is somewhat higher.

What types of cases are most prevalent in Lubbock?

Motor vehicle cases dominate the Lubbock injury court system. Over 16 years, there were 5,824 motor vehicle cases filed in Lubbock County district courts—about 80% of the total 7,264 injury or damage cases filed. Annually, the motor vehicle filings have stayed relatively level, with a low of 318 in fiscal year 2020 and a high in fiscal year 2015 with 426. Of note: There were fewer motor vehicle accidents nationwide in 2020 because fewer people were on the roads at the start of the pandemic. Lubbock recorded 358 filings in fiscal year 2026, ending August 31.

Other injury categories are much smaller. The “Other Injury or Damage” filings ranged from 53 to 91 per year; with medical malpractice ranging from seven to 21 filings per year. These numbers partly reflect Texas’s 2003 tort reform caps and expert-report filings for health care claims.

What has changed is everything around injury cases. Total civil filings in Lubbock climbed to 2,514 in FY2026, the highest in the dataset. As a result, injury cases fell from 27.6% of the civil docket in FY2011 to 18.5% in FY2026. Injury claims now compete for courtroom time with a growing volume of debt, contract, and other civil matters.

How does Lubbock compare to the rest of West Texas?

Raw totals can be misleading because the counties have vastly different population sizes. In order to draw a reasonable comparison, we averaged motor vehicle filings over the last five fiscal years (FY2022-FY2026) and divided by each county’s 2020 Census population. These are the results per 10,000 residents per year:

The Permian Basin is the clear outlier. Motor vehicle filings in Midland County increased from 71 in FY2011 to 359 in FY2026. Its five-year total increased 252%, as compared with FY2011-2015.

These increases track the oilfield traffic boom—heavy trucks, long commutes, and crowded two-lane highways. By contrast, Lubbock’s filings were about seven percent lower in the most recent five years than the previous five years. 

State crash data puts this in context. According to TxDOT, Lubbock County recorded 5,958 reportable crashes in 2024. Those crashes killed 51 people and caused 119 suspected serious injuries. The 358 district court motor vehicle filings in Lubbock that fiscal year show that only a fraction of injury crashes ever become lawsuits; most claims resolve with insurers before they make it to the courtroom.

The Lubbock court backlog

The most striking trend in Lubbock court cases is growth. At the end of FY2019, the Lubbock district courts had 206 active motor vehicle cases pending. By the end of FY2026, that number reached 773, more than 3.5 times higher. The jump began in FY2021, when COVID-19 disruptions halted jury trials statewide, and the inventory hasn’t yet receded. 

Surrounding counties show a mixed picture of the same metrics. Midland’s pending motor vehicle cases more than doubled over the same period, from 226 to 496. Ector’s increased from 442 to 634. Potter, Randall, and Taylor counties, on the other hand, closed FY2026 with fewer pending cases than in FY2019. 

If you’re an injured Lubbock resident, your practical takeaway is that a filed lawsuit could take some time to move through a busy docket—be prepared for a timeline that might be lengthier than anticipated.

What is the likelihood of a Lubbock jury verdict?

When you’re considering filing a lawsuit, you probably picture a dramatic courtroom trial like you see on TV. The reality is substantially different. 

In fact, the data demonstrates that this is actually pretty rare. 

Of the nearly 6,000 Lubbock motor vehicle cases disposed of over 16 years, only 36 ended in a jury verdict—that’s 0.6%. Far more cases end through a “non-suit or dismissal by plaintiff.” This is the step that happens after a settlement is reached. From FY2023-FY2026, it accounted for 1,189 of Lubbock’s 1,551 motor vehicle dispositions, or roughly 77%. That share is much higher than in earlier years, which might partly reflect changes in how dispositions are recorded. Either way, the pattern is clear: Most injury cases are resolved by negotiation. 

This doesn’t mean preparing for trial isn’t important, though. Insurers know which cases are ready for a jury, and they prepare claims accordingly.

A case built to be tried is usually the case that settles for its full value.

What to know if you’ve been in an accident in Lubbock

1. Deadlines matter. Texas typically provides two years from the date of your injury in which to file a personal injury lawsuit. This is also the statute of limitations for Lubbock courts.
2. Fault matters. Under the Texas modified comparative fault rule, you may recover damages only if you’re 50% or less responsible for your own injury. Your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. Early evidence, such as crash reports, photos, witness statements and vehicle data can help protect your claim. 
3. Settlement is the norm, but leverage comes from readiness. With fewer than 1% of cases reaching a verdict, the outcome of most claims turns on documentation, medical evidence, and credible trial preparation. 
4. Local knowledge counts. Lubbock’s injury caseload, backlog, and disposition patterns differ meaningfully from Amarillo, Abilene, and the Permian Basin. Hiring a Lubbock personal injury lawyer with experience in the courts where your case will be heard helps to set realistic expectations.