Grand Prairie Jury Finds Negligence, Awards $26,500 in Motorcycle Crash

On September 3, 2015, a collision occurred on West Tarrant Road in Grand Prairie, Texas. A deliveryman, operating a motorcycle, was traveling east in the left lane when a driver, heading west, attempted a left turn into an apartment complex. The motorcyclist struck the car's right rear quarter panel and was thrown onto the pavement. The driver received a ticket for failure to yield the right of way.

The motorcyclist subsequently filed a lawsuit against the driver, alleging negligence for making an unsafe left turn, failing to yield the right of way, and failing to maintain a proper lookout. The plaintiff claimed multiple injuries, including knee contusions, an ankle sprain, hand abrasions, a lumbar disc bulge, and ongoing pain in the hip, neck, and shoulder, along with anxiety. The plaintiff underwent various treatments, including emergency room visits, chiropractic care, physical therapy, and steroid injections, and claimed lost work time and persistent pain. The investigating officer testified that the defendant failed to yield.

The defendant testified that she stopped and looked for oncoming traffic before initiating her turn and denied negligence, asserting she acted as a reasonably prudent driver. While the defense did not dispute the reasonableness of the plaintiff's medical bills, it contested the amount sought for non-economic damages. The defense highlighted that the plaintiff ceased treatment seven weeks post-accident and that chiropractic records indicated decreasing pain and full range of motion at the last evaluation.

After a one-day trial, the jury found the defendant negligent. The jury, in a 10-2 verdict, awarded the plaintiff $26,500 in damages. The two dissenting jurors had voted against finding liability.