Dallas Jury Finds Negligence in Minivan Crash, Awards $15,318

On May 13, 2015, a disabled passenger was injured when the minivan he was traveling in lost control on Interstate 35 in Dallas, Texas. The vehicle, driven by the defendant, was heading north in wet, drizzling conditions when it struck both the left and right concrete barriers. The passenger claimed to have sustained a right leg contusion and a disc protrusion at L4-5, leading to ongoing lower back pain.

The plaintiff passenger sued the driver, alleging negligence through speeding, driving too fast for the conditions, and failing to control the vehicle. The plaintiff claimed the vehicle was traveling at 100 mph before the collision, and noted that a police report cited the defendant's failure to control speed as a contributing factor. The defense denied negligence, asserting that a failure of one or both of the vehicle's right-side tire rims caused the loss of control. The plaintiff countered that the rims likely broke as a result of the severe impact. The defendant did not appear at trial.

Regarding injuries, the plaintiff sought over $14,000 for past medical bills, and additional amounts for past and future physical pain and mental anguish. The treating chiropractor testified that the injuries were directly caused by the accident. The defense contended that the disc protrusion was age-related and questioned the necessity and reasonableness of the plaintiff's chiropractic treatment, noting a referral from an attorney and a potential financial interest from the clinic. The defense also challenged the plaintiff's claim of ongoing pain, citing a lack of further treatment after August 2015.

After a two-day trial, the jury deliberated for 47 minutes and found the defendant negligent. The jury awarded the plaintiff $15,318.94 for his injuries and damages.