Houston Jury Finds Negligence, Awards $70,181 in Rear-End Collision

A personal injury lawsuit stemmed from a chain-reaction rear-end collision that occurred on South Kirkwood Highway in Houston, Texas, on February 3, 2016. The plaintiff, a 48-year-old male, alleged his vehicle, which was stopped at a red light, was struck from behind by the defendant's vehicle. The plaintiff claimed the defendant was negligent for failing to apply brakes, being inattentive, failing to maintain a proper lookout, and failing to obey traffic laws. Following the incident, the plaintiff developed neck and back pain and was diagnosed with cervical and lumbar disc injuries, receiving treatment that included steroid injections.

The defendant denied negligence, asserting that the accident was caused by the plaintiff's actions or an uncontrollable third party. The defense also argued that the plaintiff's neck and back conditions were degenerative and not causally related to the collision. On January 19, 2018, a jury found the defendant negligent and determined her negligence was a factual cause of harm to the plaintiff. The jury awarded the plaintiff $32,681 in past damages and $37,500 in future damages, for a total of $70,181.