Fort Worth, Texas Jury Awards No Damages in Left Turn Collision

In January 2012, a collision occurred in Fort Worth, Texas, when the defendant, driving a sedan, attempted a left turn and struck the plaintiff's SUV. The plaintiff filed a lawsuit alleging the defendant's negligence, including failure to yield the right of way and making an unsafe turn. The defendant later stipulated to liability for the accident and causation of injury, but the extent of those injuries became a central dispute.

The plaintiff, a 61-year-old disabled individual, claimed the accident aggravated pre-existing neck and back problems, including lumbar disc bulges. The plaintiff underwent extensive chiropractic and physical therapy treatments, followed by treatment from a pain management specialist. Imaging showed disc bulges, and a spinal surgeon recommended a two-level lumbar laminectomy and fusion. A chiropractor testified for the plaintiff, asserting the accident caused the plaintiff's symptoms. The plaintiff sought over $44,000 in past medical bills, as well as damages for future medical expenses, pain, mental anguish, and physical impairment.

The defense denied that the accident caused the severity of the plaintiff's symptoms. The defense argued that the plaintiff's HIV-positive status and related medications caused neurological damage, which was the true source of the pain. Medical records introduced by the defense showed the plaintiff had reported neck and back pain prior to the accident, contradicting the plaintiff's denial. Defense experts, including a chiropractor and an orthopedic surgeon, testified that the delay in treatment, the plaintiff's pre-existing conditions, and degenerative changes, not trauma from the minor collision, were the likely causes of the symptoms.

After a three-day trial, the jury deliberated for one hour and returned a verdict awarding no damages to the plaintiff. The outcome indicated the jury likely sided with the defense's arguments that the plaintiff's claimed injuries were either pre-existing, degenerative, or otherwise unrelated to the motor vehicle collision.