Harris County Jury Awards $1,560,000 in Truck Rear-End Collision

On April 23, 2015, in Jersey Village, Harris County, Texas, a plaintiff's vehicle was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer on the N.W. Freeway. The collision occurred after a lead vehicle slowed due to a flat tire, causing the plaintiff to slow and activate hazard lights. A defendant truck driver, employed by a defendant trucking company, then struck the plaintiff's vehicle, which in turn impacted the lead vehicle. The plaintiff was extricated, received initial hospital treatment, and later diagnosed with cervical and lumbar disc bulges, a traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and chronic pain syndrome.

The plaintiff alleged the truck driver's negligence in lookout, attention, and speed control, and the trucking company's negligence in hiring, training, and supervision. An initial claim was also filed against the lead vehicle's driver. The defendants denied negligence and disputed the plaintiff's injuries, arguing some conditions predated the accident.

The case proceeded to trial against the defendant truck driver and defendant trucking company. A jury found the defendants negligent and that their actions caused harm to the plaintiff. The plaintiff was awarded $1,560,000, which included $600,000 for past pain and suffering, $500,000 for future pain and suffering, and $460,000 for future medical expenses.