Arlington, Texas Jury Awards $3,039 in Rear-End Collision

On April 4, 2014, a driver and her 4-year-old daughter, acting as plaintiffs, were stopped at a red light on Sublett Road in Arlington, Texas, when their vehicle was rear-ended by a defendant driver. The impact reportedly pushed the plaintiffs' vehicle into the car ahead. The defendant later indicated he had glanced down at driving directions. The adult plaintiff claimed neck, back, and shoulder injuries, while the minor plaintiff reported abdominal pain from the seat belt. The plaintiffs filed a lawsuit alleging the defendant was negligent in failing to maintain a proper lookout, control speed, and brake effectively.

The adult plaintiff testified that her neck and back complaints resolved with chiropractic treatment, but her right shoulder pain persisted. She had a prior work-related shoulder injury from 2012 but contended the symptoms had fully resolved. Her chiropractor opined the current injuries were caused by the accident, acknowledging that any pre-existing conditions were accelerated or exacerbated. The minor plaintiff's abdominal pain resolved soon after the accident following an emergency room visit. The plaintiffs sought over $30,000 in damages. The defense argued the adult plaintiff's shoulder problems were pre-existing, citing a prior injury or degenerative conditions, and questioned the duration of her treatment.

Following a one-day trial, the jury found the defendant negligent. The adult plaintiff was awarded $2,789 for past medical costs and $250 for past physical pain and mental anguish, totaling $3,039. The minor plaintiff received no award. The outcome suggested the jury acknowledged the defendant's negligence and some of the adult plaintiff's related medical expenses and initial pain, while likely discounting claims tied to the more complex shoulder injury due to its pre-existing nature and the limited duration of other injury treatments.