Dallas County Jury Awards $5,258 in Rear-End Collision, Judge Rules Take-Nothing
One driver was exiting a highway when the other driver rear-ended her. The first driver claimed neck, shoulder, and elbow injuries, including a torn rotator cuff requiring surgery. The second driver did not dispute fault but contested the extent of the injuries, suggesting the collision speed was too low to cause them and that prior injuries were being misrepresented. The case resulted in a settlement.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Settlement
- Amount
- $5,258
- County
- Dallas County, TX
- Resolved
- 2015
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Shoulder Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This settlement of $5,258 is near the median of $5,258 for shoulder injury cases resolved by settlement. The typical range is Undisclosed to $91,200, based on 3 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On April 4, 2012, a plaintiff property manager was involved in a vehicle collision with a defendant driver on an exit ramp from Highway 635 in Balch Springs, Texas. The plaintiff claimed neck, shoulder, and elbow injuries, subsequently filing a lawsuit against the defendant for failing to keep a proper lookout and control speed, leading to a rear-end collision. The defendant did not dispute negligence regarding the collision itself.
The plaintiff sought emergency room treatment and later underwent surgical repair for a torn rotator cuff in her left shoulder, also claiming an ulnar nerve injury in her left elbow and cervical strains. Plaintiff's counsel contended the plaintiff was terminated from her employment due to an inability to perform job duties after the collision. The plaintiff sought $114,000 for past medical expenses, $95,000 for past and future lost income, and unspecified amounts for past and future pain and suffering and physical impairment.
Defense counsel disputed the extent of damages and causation. The defense argued that photographs showing minimal vehicle damage indicated a low-speed impact, insufficient to cause the claimed injuries. A defense biomechanical expert testified the collision angle would not have caused the elbow injury, and a defense medical expert stated neither the shoulder nor elbow injury was caused by the collision. The defense also introduced evidence of the plaintiff sustaining a prior shoulder tear from a fall two years before the collision.
A jury found the defendant liable and awarded the plaintiff $5,258.38. However, the presiding judge subsequently entered a take-nothing judgment, as the jury award was less than the defendant's final pre-trial settlement offer.
Understanding This Case
- This case was resolved through a settlement, avoiding the uncertainty and expense of a trial. Settlements typically resolve faster and provide guaranteed compensation.
- This case was resolved in Dallas County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2015, this case reflects the legal and economic conditions of that period, including medical costs, insurance practices, and jury award trends at the time.
VerdictlyTM Score
This outcome is within expected ranges
This score is calculated by analyzing injury type, accident details, geographic location, temporal trends, and comparing against 2,000+ similar cases in our database.
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