Dallas Jury Awards $9,443 for Rear-End Collision Injuries

On March 24, 2016, a driver and her passenger were stopped on a feeder road of Highway 75 in Dallas when their sport utility vehicle was rear-ended by a trailing pickup truck. The occupants of the SUV, a woman in her 40s and a woman in her 20s, claimed they sustained neck and back injuries. They subsequently filed a lawsuit against the pickup truck's driver, alleging negligence in the operation of his vehicle. The defendant conceded negligence, and liability was determined by a directed verdict, leading the trial to proceed solely on the issue of damages.

The plaintiff driver sought damages for past medical expenses, physical pain, physical impairment, and mental anguish, testifying to ongoing treatment including chiropractic care, acupuncture, massages, and Pilates classes, and difficulty with household chores. The plaintiff passenger also sought damages for past medical expenses, pain, and anguish, reporting three months of chiropractic treatment and ongoing pain. Defense counsel challenged the extent of the plaintiffs' injuries and damages, highlighting the driver's claimed active lifestyle and noting the passenger had not received treatment for the past three years. The defense argued that the jury should award only past medical expenses for both plaintiffs.

After a one-day trial and one hour of deliberation, the jury awarded the plaintiffs a total of $9,443. This included $5,153 for the driver's past medical expenses and an additional $2,000 for her past physical impairment. The passenger received $2,290 for her past medical expenses. The jury's verdict largely aligned with the defense's position regarding the scope of recoverable damages beyond immediate medical costs.