Harris County Jury Awards $37,040.72 in Car Crash

On November 27, 2015, a collision occurred on the North Freeway in Harris County, Texas. A defendant, exiting a private drive, failed to yield the right of way and struck the passenger side of the plaintiff's vehicle. The impact caused the plaintiff's vehicle to then collide with another car. The plaintiff sustained property damage and personal injuries requiring medical treatment.

The plaintiff filed a lawsuit on May 15, 2017, alleging the defendant breached duties to control vehicle speed, maintain proper direction, keep an adequate lookout, and take proper evasive action. The plaintiff sought damages for past and future medical expenses, physical pain, mental anguish, disfigurement, physical impairment, and exemplary damages. The defendant responded with a general denial, asserting the incident was an unavoidable accident, that the plaintiff's injuries were caused by prior or subsequent conditions, or that the plaintiff's own negligence contributed to the incident. The defendant also claimed any injuries resulted from unforeseeable intervening events.

The case involved procedural disputes regarding expert testimony and the reasonableness of medical expenses. An initial court order favoring the plaintiff by striking a counter-affidavit and excluding testimony was later reconsidered. The court subsequently granted the defendant's motion, withdrawing previous orders related to the reasonableness of the plaintiff's alleged medical expenses.

The case proceeded to trial, and on June 13, 2023, a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. The jury found the defendant liable for the collision and awarded the plaintiff $37,040.72 in general damages. The judgment on the merits concluded the case.