San Antonio, Texas Left-Turn Collision Settles for $115,000

On January 15, 2019, in San Antonio, Texas, two pickup trucks collided nearly head-on when a defendant driver made a left turn onto a service road against an oncoming plaintiff whose light was green. An investigating police officer attributed a contributing factor to the defendant driver for failing to yield the right of way. The plaintiff, an off-duty police officer, reported head, neck, leg, and abdomen injuries.

The plaintiff filed a lawsuit against the defendant driver, his employer, and its parent company, alleging negligence in the operation of a company vehicle within the scope of employment. The plaintiff claimed cervical disc herniations, nerve impingement, and sleep disturbance. Medical treatment included an emergency room visit, pain management, cervical epidural steroid injections, and physical therapy, with most complaints largely resolving by the end of treatment. The plaintiff sought compensation for past medical expenses totaling over $41,000, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

The defendants generally denied the allegations but did not strongly dispute liability for the collision. They contested the extent of the plaintiff's claimed medical damages, arguing that some bills were excessive, certain CT scans unnecessary, and highlighted a two-week gap in treatment after the initial emergency room visit. The defendants also suggested physical therapy should have been attempted before injections and requested evidence of the plaintiff's activities following the accident. The parties reached a settlement of $115,000 prior to trial.