Harris County Jury Awards $410,000 in Multiple-Vehicle Collision

One driver was slowing for a stop light when the other driver, who was trying to retrieve a dropped cell phone, rear-ended their vehicle. The injured driver sustained a neck injury, a bulging disc, and neck pain. They also incurred medical expenses, lost wages, and vehicle damage.

In Dallas County, a plaintiff filed a lawsuit after experiencing neck and back injuries in a rear-end collision. The plaintiff alleged the defendant's negligence caused the incident and sought damages for physical pain, impairment, and medical expenses. Prior to trial, the parties engaged in mediation, but the case proceeded to a jury. During the trial, the plaintiff presented testimony from an orthopedic medical expert regarding the injuries sustained. The defendant did not present any expert testimony. The jury ultimately returned a unanimous verdict in favor of the plaintiff. The jury awarded total damages of $7,131. This amount included $1,000 for past physical pain and suffering, $2,000 for past physical impairment, and $4,131 for past medical care. The jury awarded no damages for future pain and suffering, future physical impairment, or past and future mental anguish.

On August 14, 2014, a vehicular collision occurred in Houston, Texas, when the defendant's vehicle struck the rear of the plaintiff's vehicle. The plaintiff alleged the defendant, operating a company vehicle within the scope of employment, was traveling at an excessive rate of speed, failed to maintain a proper lookout, and did not keep a safe distance, causing severe injuries to the plaintiff's cervical and lumbar spine. The plaintiff filed a negligence lawsuit, claiming the defendant's actions led to significant neck and back disc injuries. The defendant failed to answer the complaint, resulting in a default judgment entered by the court. The court awarded the plaintiff $364,305 in damages. This included $200,000 for pain and suffering, $14,305 for past medical expenses, and $150,000 for future medical expenses. The judgment was granted due to the defendant's failure to respond to the legal complaint.

On January 4, 2013, a pick-up truck towing a trailer was involved in a rear-end collision with an armored vehicle on a highway. The plaintiff, driving the pick-up, sustained injuries to their back and knee. The armored vehicle was operated by a defendant driver and owned by a defendant employer. The plaintiff filed a petition against the defendants in the District Court for Harris County, Texas, on September 27, 2015. The lawsuit alleged that the defendant driver's negligence caused the accident and the plaintiff's injuries. The defendants countered, claiming the plaintiff was negligent by veering into the armored vehicle's lane of travel. Following a trial, a jury on December 9, 2015, found the defendant driver negligent and determined that the plaintiff was not negligent. A judgment was entered on December 30, 2015, awarding the plaintiff $92,000 for past medical expenses, $40,000 for past lost earnings, and $160,000 for past pain and suffering, totaling $292,000. An appellate court later affirmed the trial court's decision.

On June 6, 2013, a rear-end collision occurred in Houston, TX, involving two vehicles traveling northbound. The plaintiff driver alleged that the defendant driver, operating a vehicle owned by the defendant owner, negligently collided into the rear of the plaintiff's vehicle. As a result, the plaintiff claimed to have suffered neck, back, and shoulder injuries, with the shoulder injuries requiring acromionectomy surgery. The plaintiff filed a lawsuit against the defendants, alleging negligence. The defendants admitted liability for the collision itself but disputed the nature, extent, and causation of the plaintiff's claimed injuries and damages. Specifically, the defense argued that the plaintiff had a pre-existing shoulder injury and that the shoulder issues were not causally related to the crash. The matter proceeded to a bench trial. The court found in favor of the plaintiff and awarded total damages of $130,842. This amount included $103,842 for medical expenses, $2,500 for past impairment, and $20,000 for future medical expenses.