Edinburg Jury Awards $76,689 in Vehicle-Into-Building Crash

In October 2014, a plaintiff was inside an Edinburg, Texas, credit union when a vehicle crashed through the building's glass front wall. The plaintiff, an event planner, was struck by the glass and knocked to the ground, claiming injuries to her back and a knee. She subsequently filed a lawsuit against the driver for alleged negligence and against the credit union for vicarious liability. The plaintiff reached a settlement agreement with the credit union before trial, and the case proceeded solely against the driver.

During the trial, the plaintiff testified that she did not see what struck her but believed it was part of the glass wall. The defendant driver testified that she had been upset after receiving devastating news at a hospital and was driving to relieve stress but could not recall the collision. Defense counsel conceded liability for the incident. The plaintiff claimed to have suffered sprains and strains to her back and right knee, requiring extensive chiropractic treatment and steroid injections. A later MRI revealed a partial meniscus tear in her right knee, for which surgery was recommended. An orthopedic surgeon testified that the tear could have been present and exacerbated since the initial incident. The plaintiff sought compensation for past and future medical bills, and past pain and suffering.

The defense argued that a time gap in diagnosing the meniscus tear indicated it was not causally related to the crash. They also contended that the plaintiff was seeking excessive damages. After a two-day trial and 3.5 hours of deliberation, the jury found the defendant liable for the plaintiff's past medical bills and past pain and suffering. However, the jury found the defendant not liable for future medical bills. The plaintiff was awarded $41,689 for past medical bills and $35,000 for past pain and suffering, totaling $76,689.