Flint, Texas Jury Awards $603,000 in Rear-End Collision

On May 29, 2013, a mover was driving a full-size pickup on Farm to Market 344 in Flint, Texas. As he attempted a right turn, his vehicle was rear-ended by another pickup driven by an employee of Chandler Drug LLC. The front right of the defendant driver's vehicle collided with the left rear of the plaintiff's vehicle.

The plaintiff sued the driver for negligence and the employer under *respondeat superior*. The plaintiff claimed injuries, including a cervical disc bulge and a thoracic disc bulge, which required extensive treatment, including multiple injections and a spinal fusion surgery. Treating physicians opined on the causation of the thoracic injury despite initial negative scans and projected the need for future cervical fusions. The plaintiff sought compensation for past and future medical expenses, pain, physical impairment, and disfigurement.

The defendant driver denied negligence, contending he almost avoided the collision and that the plaintiff's brake lights were not working and a turn signal was not observed. The defense also argued that the impact was a glancing blow, citing minimal damage to the plaintiff's vehicle, and disputed the necessity of future surgeries and the claimed extent of damages.

After a three-day trial, the jury deliberated for nearly two hours before finding the defendant driver negligent. The jury awarded the plaintiff $603,000 in damages.