Dallas Jury Awards $3,075 in Red-Light Collision

In April 2014, a Dallas Area Rapid Transit bus, carrying a passenger, collided with another vehicle on Forest Lane near Jupiter Road in Dallas, Texas. The plaintiff, a passenger on the bus, claimed to have sustained neck and back injuries as a result of the collision. The plaintiff subsequently filed a lawsuit against the driver of the other vehicle, alleging negligence for failing to stop at a red light.

The defendant admitted negligence, leading the trial to focus solely on the extent of the plaintiff's claimed injuries and damages. The plaintiff presented evidence of an emergency room visit the day after the incident, followed by chiropractic treatment for diagnosed cervical and lumbar soft-tissue injuries. She sought approximately $16,500 for past medical expenses, along with future medical costs and compensation for pain and mental anguish.

The defense contended that the plaintiff's injuries were minor strains, if any, and did not warrant the extensive treatment received. The defense also highlighted inconsistencies in the plaintiff's account of the incident and obtained a partial directed verdict reducing the plaintiff's claimed past medical expenses to $3,130. This reduction occurred because the plaintiff's treating chiropractor did not testify regarding his interpretation of an MRI. Defense experts, including a chiropractor and a biomechanical engineer, testified that the impact involved minimal forces, was below the threshold for serious injury, and caused no damage to the bus.

After a two-day trial, a Dallas jury found that the defendant's negligence proximately caused the plaintiff's injuries. However, the jury awarded the plaintiff $3,075 for past medical costs, a figure significantly less than the plaintiff's initial claims.