Houston Jury Awards $410.18 in Rear-End Collision

A plaintiff filed a lawsuit in Houston, Texas, after sustaining injuries in a rear-end collision on March 3, 2015, at the intersection of FM 1960 and Jones Road. The plaintiff, who was stopped at a red light, alleged the defendant's vehicle struck their car from behind. The plaintiff claimed to have suffered low back disc herniations at L4-5 and L5-S1, requiring epidural injections, and a wrist sprain. The plaintiff attributed these injuries to the defendant's negligence, including failing to obey a traffic signal, maintain a proper lookout, and apply brakes timely.

The defendant initially denied the allegations of negligence and injury but stipulated to liability before trial. The case therefore proceeded solely on the issue of damages. The defendant maintained that the plaintiff did not sustain any serious or permanent injuries from the collision. After deliberation, a jury found that the plaintiff was entitled to recover $410.18 for past medical expenses. The verdict indicated that the jury attributed only a limited portion of the plaintiff's claimed medical expenses to the incident.