Houston Jury Awards $100,000 in Police Car Collision

On September 26, 2014, a plaintiff’s vehicle collided with a defendant patrol car at the intersection of South Lockwood Drive and the South Interstate Highway 45 feeder road in Houston, Texas. The plaintiff alleged the incident occurred when their vehicle proceeded eastbound with a green light and struck the patrol car, which had entered the intersection against a red light. The plaintiff sustained serious orthopedic and neurologic injuries to the discs of the spine and subsequently filed a lawsuit, alleging the defendant patrol officer was negligent for failing to properly activate emergency lights and sirens, maintain a proper lookout, and enter the intersection safely.

The defendant denied negligence, arguing the patrol officer was responding to an emergency domestic dispute and was traveling with activated lights and sirens. The defense contended that the plaintiff caused the accident by failing to yield to an emergency vehicle and also disputed the nature and extent of the plaintiff's alleged injuries.

Following a trial, the jury found against the defendant patrol officer. The jury awarded the plaintiff $147,942.63 in damages. However, the plaintiff's recoverable damages were capped at $100,000 under the Texas Tort Claims Act.