Gregg County Jury Awards $9,908.67 in Intersection Collision

A collision occurred on September 22, 2018, in Gregg County, when a northbound sport utility vehicle, operated by the plaintiff, broadsided a westbound pickup truck, operated by the defendant, at an intersection. The plaintiff did not have a stop sign, while the defendant did. The plaintiff sustained injuries to her hand, neck, and back, including a fractured metacarpal, cervical and lumbar sprains and strains, and nerve root compression. She subsequently filed a lawsuit alleging the defendant's negligent operation of his vehicle. The defendant stipulated to liability, focusing the trial on the extent of the plaintiff's damages.

During the trial, the plaintiff sought approximately $13,900 for past medical expenses, along with additional compensation for past and future physical pain, mental anguish, and physical impairment. She testified that the hand injury impacted her work as a phlebotomist and caused pain in certain weather conditions. The defense countered that the plaintiff's injuries were not severe and that she had recovered well. Defense counsel presented arguments that the plaintiff's testimony on pain duration conflicted with her medical records and suggested her neck and back injuries were pre-existing, noting prior treatment for similar issues following a different collision.

After a one-day trial, the jury deliberated for two hours and returned a unanimous 6-0 verdict, awarding the plaintiff $9,908.67. The award included $6,409 for past medical costs, $500 for past physical impairment, and $3,000 for past physical pain and mental anguish. This trial was notably one of the first in-person jury trials held in a Texas state court since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with jury selection conducted at a convention center.