Houston Jury Awards $300,000 in Commercial Truck Negligence

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 October 10, 2012, a vehicular collision occurred on West 34th Street in Houston, Texas. The plaintiff was driving eastbound when she slowed for traffic, and her vehicle was struck from the rear by a defendant's vehicle. The force of the impact pushed the plaintiff's car into the automobile in front of hers. The plaintiff filed a negligence lawsuit, asserting the defendant failed to maintain a proper lookout, apply brakes in a timely manner, and manage an assured clear distance. As a result of the accident, the plaintiff claimed to have suffered a blow to the head, lost consciousness, and was diagnosed with a concussion, a hematoma of the head, broken ribs, a collarbone, and a pelvis. She further alleged permanent brain injury affecting memory, balance, and causing tremors, in addition to depression. The defendant denied all allegations of negligence, contending the plaintiff caused the accident by making a right turn from a driveway into traffic and then suddenly braking. The defendant also disputed the extent of the plaintiff's injuries, maintaining that some were unrelated to the collision and resulted from pre-existing illness, disease, or another accident. After hearing the arguments, a jury found the defendant 100% liable for the accident. The plaintiff was awarded $70,000 in past damages.

One driver alleged another driver was negligent in striking their vehicle. A second driver then struck the first driver's vehicle, causing it to hit the plaintiff's vehicle a second time. The plaintiff suffered injuries to their neck, back, and shoulder. The parties resolved the claim for $60,750.

On March 13, 2012, a plaintiff was injured in a multi-vehicle collision while driving in slow traffic near Highway 59 in Houston, Texas. The defendant driver reportedly swerved into the plaintiff's lane, striking a vehicle behind the plaintiff, which then collided with the rear of the plaintiff's slowing car. The plaintiff subsequently filed a vehicular negligence action. The plaintiff alleged the defendant was negligent in failing to maintain a proper lookout, operating a vehicle unsafely, and failing to apply brakes in a timely manner, which led to injuries including to the chest, neck, back, and a partial to full thickness tear of the right rotator cuff. The defendant denied all allegations of negligence and injury. Following the proceedings, the court found the defendant negligent and that this negligence caused harm to the plaintiff. The plaintiff was awarded $10,000 for past pain and suffering, $10,000 for past disfigurement, and $10,003 for past medical expenses, totaling $30,003.