Dallas Jury Awards $79,237 in Motor Vehicle Negligence

In August 2014, a vehicle collision occurred on Harwood Street near Pacific Avenue in Dallas. A driver, accompanied by two passengers, was involved in a crash with a vehicle operated by the defendant. The plaintiffs contended they had a green light when entering the intersection, while the defendant, traveling on Pacific Avenue, allegedly entered without a traffic signal. The defendant later conceded negligence, as dashboard camera footage from a parcel delivery vehicle behind the plaintiffs' car captured the incident.

The driver sustained a concussion and a soft-tissue neck injury, undergoing six months of physical therapy. This plaintiff claimed permanent cognitive impairment, memory loss, and a resulting inability to complete law school studies. A treating neurologist opined that the head injury caused cognitive impairment. One passenger suffered a medial meniscus tear in the right knee, requiring arthroscopic surgery, and claimed residual pain, limitations, and a permanent injury that affected a career aspiration. The other passenger sustained neck and back soft-tissue injuries and also underwent six months of physical therapy, claiming residual pain and activity limitations. All three plaintiffs sought damages for past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and impairment.

The defense argued that the evidence and treatment timelines did not support the claims of permanent head or knee injuries, noting that the driver and the passenger with the knee injury had not received treatment for approximately six months following the accident. The defense also contested the permanence of the second passenger's injuries. After a six-day trial and three hours of jury deliberation, the jury awarded a total of $79,237. The driver received $25,762, the first passenger received $24,905, and the second passenger received $28,570. These awards primarily covered past medical costs, past pain and suffering, and some past disfigurement and impairment.