Dallas Jury Awards $3,076 After Split Liability in Left Turn Crash

On May 25, 2017, at approximately 3 a.m. in North Dallas, an SUV attempting a left turn was struck by a westbound sedan at the intersection of Wycliff Avenue and the North Dallas Tollway. The SUV's driver and passenger, who were returning from an emergency room visit, subsequently filed a lawsuit against the sedan's driver, alleging negligence and claiming neck and back sprains and strains, along with headaches for the driver. During the two-day trial, the plaintiffs testified they had a green left-turn arrow, while the defendant asserted he had a green light and denied consuming alcohol. Defense counsel argued the plaintiff driver failed to yield, noting her unfamiliarity with the area and questioning navigation. Plaintiffs sought damages for medical expenses, pain, and impairment.

After two hours of deliberation, the jury returned a 10-2 verdict. The jury found both drivers negligent and assigned 50 percent comparative responsibility to each. An initial award of $6,152 was determined, including $1,546 for the plaintiff driver's medical expenses, and $3,106 for the plaintiff passenger's medical expenses along with $1,500 for past physical pain. However, due to the comparative negligence finding, the total damages awarded to the plaintiffs were reduced to $3,076.