Dallas Jury Awards $42,002.98 in Rear-End Collision

On January 28, 2014, a four-vehicle rear-end collision occurred on Interstate 35 in Dallas, Texas. The plaintiff, an interior designer driving a Ford Mustang, braked, leading to a chain-reaction crash involving a Geo Metro, a Nissan Altima, and a Honda Accord. The police report indicated the Accord rear-ended the Altima, which then struck the Metro, pushing it into the plaintiff's vehicle, and faulted the Altima and Accord drivers. The plaintiff, however, testified to experiencing three impacts and attributed the initial braking to an unidentified 18-wheeler that had cut off a driver in front of her. The plaintiff subsequently sued the drivers of the Geo Metro, Nissan Altima, and Honda Accord, alleging negligence, including failure to maintain a proper lookout, excessive speed, and following too closely. The owner of the Altima was also named as a defendant for negligent entrustment, but this claim was not pursued at trial. The Altima's driver and owner did not file an answer or attend the trial.

At trial, the plaintiff's counsel proposed that the jury assign one-third responsibility to each defendant or, alternatively, 50 percent to the Altima driver and 50 percent to the Accord driver. Defense counsel for the Geo Metro and Honda Accord drivers disputed the existence of the 18-wheeler, noting its absence from other drivers' accounts despite clear visibility. They presented evidence, including significant damage to the Altima and its airbag deployment, to suggest the Altima's driver was speeding. The Geo Metro driver, in a deposition read to the jury, maintained he had stopped before being struck. Defense attorneys also questioned the plaintiff's injury claims, citing gaps in her chiropractic treatment.

After a one-day trial and 2.25 hours of deliberation, the Dallas jury found only the driver of the Nissan Altima negligent for the collision. The jury awarded the plaintiff $42,002.98, covering past medical costs, past physical impairment, and past lost earnings capability. The final judgment, including prejudgment interest and taxable costs, was expected to total $48,595.09.