Houston Jury Awards $17,934 in Motor Vehicle Collision

On March 17, 2016, a collision occurred in Houston, Texas, between a pickup truck and a sport utility vehicle. The driver plaintiff was operating the pickup with a passenger plaintiff in the southbound lane of Irvington Boulevard when the defendant driver, a 17-year-old without a license, crossed from Apache Street into their path. Following the initial impact, the pickup accelerated to the right, crashed through a fence, and struck a house, injuring some occupants inside.

The plaintiffs filed lawsuits, later consolidated, alleging the defendant driver was negligent in operating the vehicle. They further claimed the defendant father was negligent for entrusting the vehicle to his unlicensed daughter. The driver plaintiff sought damages for neck and back injuries, requesting over $31,000. The passenger plaintiff, who alleged a herniated disc among other injuries, sought over $76,000 for medical expenses, pain, and impairment.

A court granted the plaintiffs a directed verdict on the defendant driver's negligence. However, the defense contested the negligent entrustment claim, arguing the defendant father was out of town, had left keys on a dresser, and his daughter had not previously taken the vehicle. The defense also asserted the plaintiff driver accidentally hit the accelerator after the initial impact, leading to the collision with the house. During trial, the defense emphasized plaintiffs' perceived inconsistencies, particularly regarding their prior acquaintance and referral to a chiropractor, and suggested lower awards for damages.

After a two-day trial, the jury did not find the defendant father negligent but found the defendant driver liable. The jury awarded the plaintiffs a total of $17,934. Defense counsel indicated that the plaintiffs' frequent contradictions and impeachments during testimony likely influenced the jury's decision, particularly the finding against the father and the lower monetary award compared to the requested damages.