Dallas Jury Awards $671 in Motor Vehicle Collision

On March 17, 2012, in Dallas, Texas, a motor vehicle collision occurred when the defendant, driving on Glasgow Avenue, attempted to turn left onto Gaston Avenue. Perceiving a traffic hazard, the defendant decided to back up and collided with the plaintiff's vehicle, which had pulled up behind. Neither party reported immediate injuries at the scene, and police or emergency services were not called.

The plaintiff, a construction worker, later alleged negligence, claiming the defendant failed to see his vehicle before backing up. The plaintiff asserted he sustained low back pain following the accident and began chiropractic treatment approximately three weeks later. An MRI later revealed disc herniations. The plaintiff sought compensation for past medical expenses, totaling $19,621, and lost wages, arguing he suffered permanent injuries.

The defendant denied negligence, asserting a "sudden emergency" defense. The defendant testified to looking in the rearview mirror and not seeing the plaintiff's smaller vehicle behind his larger truck. The defense also presented evidence of no damage to the defendant's vehicle and cross-examined the plaintiff regarding prior damage and rust on his vehicle. Defense experts challenged the medical necessity of the plaintiff's treatment and attributed the plaintiff's pain to a pre-existing condition, osteoarthritis, rather than the accident.

The case proceeded to trial in Dallas, Texas, beginning on June 22, 2015. After deliberations, a jury returned a 10-2 verdict on the same day, awarding the plaintiff $671. This amount included $471 for past medical damages and $200 for lost wages, significantly less than the plaintiff's claimed damages. The outcome suggested the jury largely found the accident contributed to some medical expenses and lost income but questioned the extent of the defendant's responsibility for the plaintiff's claimed injuries and total damages.