Beaumont, Texas Jury Awards $10,000 in Rear-End Collision

On November 19, 2016, a compact car driven by a college student assistant, with a homemaker as a passenger, was rear-ended by a sport utility vehicle in the parking lot of a large retailer in Beaumont, Texas. The plaintiffs had stopped to yield to another vehicle when the defendant's SUV struck their car. The plaintiffs subsequently filed a lawsuit alleging that the defendant was negligent in the operation of her vehicle and that they suffered back and neck injuries as a result. The court granted the plaintiffs a directed verdict on the issue of liability, and the trial proceeded solely on the issues of causation and damages.

Following the incident, the plaintiffs did not seek immediate medical attention but began physical therapy with a chiropractor on December 5, 2016, for neck and back sprains and strains. The male plaintiff completed treatment and reported resolved pain, seeking $2,750 for past medical expenses and damages for past pain and suffering. The female plaintiff continued home exercises and claimed ongoing pain, seeking $2,750 for past medical expenses and damages for past and future pain and suffering. Plaintiffs' counsel argued for a combined total award of $49,500.

The defense questioned the causation of the injuries, citing the delay in treatment, minor visible damage to the vehicle, and the absence of police or an ambulance at the scene. The defense also highlighted the similar nature of both plaintiffs' treatments and their referral to a chiropractor by an attorney, suggesting an award of zero or only for medical bills. After a two-day trial, the jury awarded the plaintiffs a total of $10,000. This amount was allocated as $5,000 to the male plaintiff ($2,750 for past medical costs and $2,250 for past pain and suffering) and $5,000 to the female plaintiff ($2,750 for past medical costs and $2,250 for past pain and suffering).