Houston Jury Awards $26,209 in Negligent Rear-End Collision

On January 30, 2016, a multi-vehicle collision occurred on Interstate 10 near the Wilcrest exit ramp in Houston, Texas. The plaintiff, driving with two minor passengers, alleged her vehicle was rear-ended by a vehicle operated by the defendant. The plaintiff claimed to suffer injuries to her neck, shoulders, and wrists, while her older son reported back and neck injuries, and her younger son reported neck injuries. The plaintiff, individually and on behalf of her sons, filed a lawsuit alleging the defendant’s negligent operation of a vehicle caused the incident. The defendant’s insurer subsequently counter-sued the plaintiff for property damage to the defendant's vehicle, as the plaintiff was an uninsured motorist.

The adult plaintiff contended that the impact caused her vehicle to spin out of control. The defendant, however, asserted that the plaintiff was attempting to merge from an exit ramp lane into the main lanes of Interstate 10, leading to the collision. Following the accident, the adult plaintiff underwent evaluation, reporting various pains and diagnoses including disc herniations and sprains, for which she received chiropractic care. She testified that her injuries complicated household duties and childcare, noting these treatments occurred concurrently with ongoing dialysis for pre-existing kidney issues. Both minor plaintiffs also received medical evaluations, with the older son undergoing a period of chiropractic treatment for a cervical sprain, while the younger son required no further treatment after his initial evaluation. The parties stipulated to the amounts of property damage for both vehicles, to be disbursed based on the liability finding.

After a two-day trial and two hours of deliberation, the jury found the defendant liable for the collision. The jury awarded the plaintiffs $22,530 for personal injuries. This included $17,965 for the adult plaintiff's past medical costs and $1,000 for pain and suffering; $3,340 for the older minor plaintiff's past medical costs; and $225 for the younger minor plaintiff's past medical costs. Additionally, the adult plaintiff was awarded the stipulated property damages of $3,679.44.