Texas Transportation Code 601.003 – Judgment; Satisfied Judgment
(a) For purposes of this chapter, judgment refers only to a final judgment that is no longer appealable or has been finally affirmed on appeal and that was rendered by a court of any state, a province of Canada, or the United States on a cause of action:
(1) for damages for bodily injury, death, or damage to or destruction of property arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle; or
(2) on an agreement of settlement for damages for bodily injury, death, or damage to or destruction of property arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle.
(b) For purposes of this chapter, a judgment is considered to be satisfied as to the appropriate part of the judgment set out by this subsection if:
(1) the total amount credited on one or more judgments for bodily injury to or death of one person resulting from one collision equals or exceeds the amount required under § 601.072(a-1)(1) to establish financial responsibility;
(2) the total amount credited on one or more judgments for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons resulting from one collision equals or exceeds the amount required under § 601.072(a-1)(2) to establish financial responsibility; or
(3) the total amount credited on one or more judgments for damage to or destruction of property of another resulting from one collision equals or exceeds the amount required under § 601.072(a-1)(3) to establish financial responsibility.
Terms Used In Texas Transportation Code 601.003
- Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
- Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- Property: means real and personal property. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
- United States: includes a department, bureau, or other agency of the United States of America. See Texas Government Code 311.005
(c) In determining whether a judgment is satisfied under Subsection (b), a payment made in settlement of a claim for damages for bodily injury, death, or damage to or destruction of property is considered to be an amount credited on a judgment.
(d) For purposes of this section:
(1) damages for bodily injury or death include damages for care and loss of services; and
(2) damages for damage to or destruction of property include damages for loss of use.