Verdictly
Verdict-Plaintiff
Travis County • 2018

Hays County Jury Awards $19,931.26 in Rear-End Collision

One driver was test-driving a sport utility vehicle with a passenger when they stopped in a U-turn lane. The other driver rear-ended them. The occupants claimed injuries to their backs, necks, shoulders, and elbows. The driver of the other vehicle did not attend trial, but his deposition was read. He testified that the plaintiffs were moving forward and he thought they were entering a feeder road, so he looked for traffic and started moving forward, estimating he was going about 1 mph at impact. The defense did not strongly dispute that the driver's negligence caused the accident but denied negligent entrustment by the vehicle owner.

Case Information Updated: October 2025

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Neck Injury (Whiplash)
Rear-end
Motor Vehicle Negligence

Case Outcome

Outcome
Verdict-Plaintiff
Amount
$19,931
County
Travis County, TX
Resolved
2018

Injury & Accident Details

Injury Type
Neck Injury (Whiplash)
Accident Type
Rear-end
Case Type
Motor Vehicle Negligence

Case Overview

On November 8, 2015, a rear-end collision occurred in Hays County, Texas, when a defendant's SUV struck a vehicle occupied by two plaintiffs in a U-turn lane under Interstate 35. The plaintiffs claimed injuries including sprains, strains, headaches, and a disc bulge, which necessitated medical treatment.

The plaintiffs sued the striking vehicle's driver for negligence and his father, the vehicle owner, for negligent entrustment and vicarious liability, alleging the owner made the vehicle accessible to his son. The driver-defendant, who did not attend trial, largely admitted his fault but testified he believed the plaintiffs' vehicle was in motion. The vehicle owner denied negligent entrustment, contending his son took the vehicle without permission. The defense also disputed the plaintiffs' injury claims, citing treatment delays and inconsistencies in their medical records.

After a one-day trial, a Hays County jury deliberated for 112 minutes. The jury found only the driver-defendant negligent, rejecting the negligent entrustment claim against the vehicle owner. The plaintiffs were awarded a total of $19,931.26 for past medical costs, with $12,297 allocated to the driver-plaintiff and $7,634 to the passenger-plaintiff.

VerdictlyTM Score

57
/100
Questionable

This outcome differs from typical similar cases

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