Dallas Jury Awards $125,108 in Intersection Collision

On October 3, 2014, a collision occurred at an intersection in Dallas where the traffic light was non-operational due to a prior storm. The plaintiff, a 19-year-old junior college student, was driving south and attempting to make a left turn when the defendant driver, traveling west, entered the intersection without stopping and collided with the plaintiff's vehicle. A police report indicated fault on the defendant driver. The plaintiff alleged the defendant driver negligently failed to yield the right of way and maintain a proper lookout. The vehicle owner was initially named as a defendant for negligent entrustment but was nonsuited before trial.

The plaintiff claimed he stopped at the intersection and proceeded when it was his turn, while the defendant driver testified she believed she had a green light, which she later attributed to a sun reflection. The plaintiff reported multiple injuries, including neck and back sprains, herniated cervical discs, and headaches, seeking treatment from a chiropractor, a pain management specialist who administered several epidural steroid injections, and a neurologist. The plaintiff asserted ongoing pain prevented him from playing basketball. The defense expert, an orthopedic surgeon, contended that only abdominal complaints were related to the accident and that most of the plaintiff's subsequent treatment was unrelated. The defense also noted the plaintiff had dropped out of school before the accident, contrary to his testimony.

After a three-day trial, the jury deliberated for two hours. The judge denied the defendant driver's request for an unavoidable accident instruction. The jury found the defendant driver negligent and awarded the plaintiff $125,108 for personal injuries, which included past physical impairment, past physical pain, and past mental anguish.