Texas Jury Awards $75,000 in Motor Vehicle Negligence

On October 26, 2018, a plaintiff sustained injuries in a motor vehicle collision involving a vehicle driven by a defendant. The plaintiff filed a negligence action on August 22, 2019, alleging the defendant's negligence was the sole cause of the incident. The initial complaint included claims for negligence, negligence per se, and attorney fees, with a claim for punitive damages added later on August 10, 2020.

The defendant filed a defense on October 22, 2019, arguing that the plaintiff's failure to specifically state items of special damages barred their recovery. On June 19, 2020, the defendant admitted negligence but disputed that the collision caused the entirety of the damages claimed by the plaintiff. The court denied the defendant's motion for partial summary judgment on the plaintiff's claim for attorney fees in August 2020 and similarly denied the defendant's motion regarding punitive damages in March 2021. Prior to trial, the court granted the defendant's motion to exclude evidence of criminal history but denied the plaintiff's motion to exclude photographs and testimony about vehicle condition.

The case proceeded to a jury trial, which concluded on December 17, 2021. The jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendant, awarding $75,000 in general damages. The court subsequently entered judgment based on the jury's findings.