Houston Jury Awards $30,245.46 in Red-Light Collision

On December 12, 2016, a plaintiff driver was stopped at a red light in Houston when her vehicle was involved in a multi-car collision. A defendant driver ran a red signal on a feeder road, striking a pickup truck, which was then propelled into the rear of the plaintiff driver's car. Both the plaintiff driver and a plaintiff passenger claimed injuries.

A lawsuit was filed against the defendant driver, the pickup truck driver, and the vehicle owner, alleging negligence and vicarious liability. Prior to trial, claims against the pickup truck driver and the vehicle owner were non-suited. The plaintiff passenger's claim settled pretrial for undisclosed terms. The plaintiff driver's claim against the defendant driver proceeded to trial.

At trial, the defendant driver admitted running the red light but argued he was not negligent. The plaintiff driver sought damages for back, neck, and shoulder injuries, including a claimed L4-5 disc herniation and nerve impingement. She received various treatments, though a defense expert neurosurgeon disputed the necessity of a facet-block injection she underwent. The plaintiff driver sought approximately $30,000 for past medical expenses, pain, and impairment. The jury found the defendant driver liable and awarded the plaintiff driver $30,245.46 in total damages.