Dallas Jury Awards $18,082 in Rear-End Collision Injuries

On November 14, 2012, a plaintiff was driving on the Northwest Highway near Dallas. While stopped to yield to traffic, preparing to make a right turn onto the Interstate 30 service road, the plaintiff's vehicle was rear-ended by a vehicle operated by the defendant. The plaintiff subsequently filed a negligence lawsuit, alleging the defendant was negligent in the operation of a vehicle, and claimed soft-tissue injuries to the neck, back, and shoulder.

The defendant initially denied liability but conceded it at the start of the trial, allowing proceedings to focus solely on damages. The plaintiff sought approximately $47,000, including $24,000 for past medical expenses, citing strains and sprains of the cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left shoulder, which required chiropractic treatment and epidural steroid injections. The plaintiff's fiancée testified that the plaintiff's complaints about the injuries began after the collision. The defense disputed the extent of the injuries, arguing the shoulder injury was unrelated to the incident due to delayed pain management treatment and that the neck and back injuries were not serious.

After a two-day trial, a Dallas jury deliberated for 75 minutes. The jury returned a unanimous verdict, awarding the plaintiff $18,082. The award included $16,082 for past medical expenses, $1,000 for past pain and suffering, and $1,000 for past physical impairment.