Dallas Jury Awards $16,848.46 in Parking Lot Collision

On September 4, 2016, a collision occurred in Dallas when a full-size pickup truck, backing out of a parking lot onto Spring Avenue, struck the right rear quarter panel of a Dodge Challenger. The occupants of the Challenger, an over-the-road truck driver and a passenger, later claimed back and neck injuries. They subsequently sued the driver of the pickup truck, alleging negligence for failing to keep a proper lookout, failing to yield the right of way, and backing unsafely.

The defendant driver stipulated to liability, and the case proceeded to trial to determine damages. The plaintiffs claimed various injuries, including neck and back sprains, and for the passenger, a lumbar disc bulge and chronic back pain. They sought over $15,000 in past medical expenses, alongside compensation for past and future pain, mental anguish, and future medical needs. The defense disputed causation and the extent of injuries, presenting photos of minimal vehicle damage and highlighting delays in the plaintiffs seeking medical treatment. The defense also questioned the appropriateness of one plaintiff's emergency room visit two weeks post-accident and the efficacy of the other plaintiff's prolonged chiropractic treatment given her reported ongoing pain.

After a one-day trial in Dallas, a jury deliberated for 45 minutes. The jury awarded the plaintiffs a total of $16,848.46. This amount included past medical costs for both plaintiffs and $1,000 for one plaintiff's past physical pain and mental anguish. The award was significantly less than the more than $23,000 requested by the plaintiffs' counsel, reflecting the jury's assessment in light of the defense's arguments concerning causation and the severity of the claimed injuries.