Dallas Jury Finds Negligence, Awards $28,871 in Collision

On August 26, 2015, a collision occurred on Beltline Road in Dallas, Texas. The plaintiff was driving northbound when the southbound defendant attempted a left turn onto the U.S. Route 175 service road, striking the driver's side of the plaintiff's vehicle. The plaintiff subsequently sued the defendant, alleging negligent failure to yield the right-of-way, and claimed to have sustained neck and back injuries.

The plaintiff's medical care included four months of chiropractic treatment for diagnosed soft-tissue injuries to the neck and back, beginning two days after the accident. The plaintiff sought damages for past medical costs totaling $11,271, covering chiropractic care and MRI billing, and also requested compensation for future medical expenses, physical impairment, and pain and suffering. The defendant denied negligence, asserting that a green arrow permitted the left turn and that the plaintiff had run a red light.

The defense disputed the severity and causation of the plaintiff's injuries, arguing they were not permanent and were minor due to minimal damage to the plaintiff's vehicle. The defendant also noted the plaintiff drove away from the scene and did not immediately seek emergency medical care. The defense further contended that the plaintiff had a history of similar motor vehicle collision injuries in 2010 and had not received medical care for over a year prior to trial, suggesting no need for future treatment.

Following a two-day trial and two hours of jury deliberation, the jury determined the defendant was 100 percent negligent. The jury awarded the plaintiff $28,871 in damages.