Texas Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. v. Sturrock

Justice OWEN,

joined by Justice HECHT, Justice WAINWRIGHT, and Justice BRISTER, dissenting.

The average person would not think that tripping over the threshold of a pickup truck’s door while exiting is a “motor vehicle accident.” Because the Court does not give these words their commonly understood meaning, I respectfully dissent.

I

This case was submitted to the trial court on stipulated facts. Sturrock had been driving his truck. He stopped the vehicle, parked, and turned off the ignition. The parties’ agreed statement of facts says, “Sturrock then turned and opened the door, and as he was…