Dallas Jury Finds Split Negligence, Awards No Damages in Collision
One driver was stopped at a red light in downtown Dallas. The other driver was in the lane to their left. Both drivers turned right when the light turned green, and their vehicles collided. The injured driver claimed neck and back sprains and strains. The jury found both drivers negligent and equally responsible for the accident but awarded no damages.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Defense
- Amount
- Undisclosed
- County
- Dallas County, TX
- Resolved
- 2015
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- T-bone
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Case Overview
On March 21, 2011, a collision occurred in downtown Dallas, Texas, involving a 2004 Ford E-350 van and a 2004 Ford F-250 pickup truck. The plaintiff, a 51-year-old transportation provider, was driving the van north on Market Street. Both vehicles came to a stop at a red light at Commerce Street. When the light turned green, both drivers attempted a right turn, resulting in the collision. The pickup truck had been in a right-turn-only lane, while the van was in an adjacent lane allowing both right turns and straight movement.
The plaintiff sued the pickup truck's driver, alleging negligence for making too wide a turn. The defendant contended that he remained in his lane during the turn and argued that the plaintiff did not prove his negligence.
Following the accident, the plaintiff claimed neck and back sprains and strains, incurring approximately $5,900 in medical bills and seeking damages for past and future pain, suffering, and physical impairment. The defendant disputed the extent of the plaintiff's injuries, citing emergency room records that described initial symptoms as mild and observing no apparent pain at the scene. The defense also questioned the plaintiff's credibility, noting her claim of significant pain at trial, several years after her last treatment.
After a one-day trial, the jury found both the plaintiff and the defendant equally negligent, assigning 50 percent responsibility to each for the accident. However, the jury awarded no damages. The plaintiff subsequently filed a motion for a new trial.
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