Houston Jury Awards $13,782 in Red-Light Collision

On February 27, 2013, a collision occurred at the intersection of Beaumont Highway and Oates Road in Houston. The plaintiff, a residential care assistant, was driving eastbound when her vehicle broadsided the defendant's vehicle, which was northbound and preparing to turn left. The plaintiff sustained neck, back, and dental injuries.

The plaintiff filed a lawsuit alleging the defendant was negligent for running a red light, failing to yield, failing to maintain a proper lookout, and failing to brake or turn to avoid the collision. The plaintiff maintained that her traffic light was green and the defendant's was red. The defendant denied negligence, testifying that she entered the intersection behind a tractor-trailer and, though she could not see the light's color at that moment, it had been green when the truck entered. The defense also argued that the plaintiff was comparatively negligent for failing to ensure the intersection was clear, even if she had a green light.

The plaintiff claimed neck and back sprains and strains, and the loss of a lower front tooth due to airbag deployment. She underwent chiropractic care, medical consultations, and an MRI, seeking $10,172 for past medical bills, including dental expenses, and approximately $1,200 for lost wages, along with damages for pain. A defense neurologist opined that the plaintiff's injuries should have resolved within seven to ten days and that much of the subsequent treatment was unnecessary or unrelated to the accident, noting pre-existing periodontal disease.

Following a one-day trial, the jury found both parties negligent, assigning 80 percent responsibility to the defendant and 20 percent to the plaintiff. The jury awarded the plaintiff $14,619 in damages. After reduction for comparative responsibility, along with prejudgment interest and taxable costs, the final judgment totaled $13,782.84.