Houston Jury Awards $55,408.86 in Motor Vehicle Negligence

On February 10, 2015, a vehicle collision occurred in Houston, Texas, at the intersection of Veterans Memorial Drive and North Sam Houston Parkway. The incident involved a defendant driver who was attempting a left turn while traveling southbound on Veterans Memorial Drive, and a vehicle occupied by the plaintiffs, who were traveling northbound.

The plaintiffs subsequently filed a lawsuit, alleging the defendant's negligence caused the collision by failing to yield the right-of-way, maintain a proper lookout, apply brakes, and take proper evasive action. The male plaintiff driver claimed injuries including disc herniations, spinal stenosis, and radiculopathy. The adult female passenger also reported disc herniations and cervical radiculopathy, while a minor passenger sustained neck and back pain.

In response, the defendant denied all allegations of negligence, asserting that the plaintiff driver was comparatively or contributorily negligent. The defense further contended that the adult plaintiffs' claimed injuries were degenerative in nature or, at most, soft tissue injuries from which they had recovered.

After hearing the evidence, the jury found the defendant liable for the accident and the plaintiffs' injuries. The jury awarded the male driver $28,246.98, the adult female passenger $24,946.22, and the minor passenger $1,215.66, for a total award of $55,408.86.