Houston Jury Finds Negligence in Bicyclist-Bus Crash, Awards $24,180

A bicyclist filed a negligence lawsuit following a collision with a bus on January 29, 2015, at the intersection of Main Street and Blodgett in Houston, Texas. The plaintiff alleged the defendant bus operator made an improper right turn on red, ignoring a posted sign, and struck the bicyclist who was lawfully crossing the intersection with a green light. The plaintiff claimed the bus operator failed to obey traffic devices, drove excessively fast, failed to maintain a lookout, and failed to yield. The plaintiff also asserted the defendant transit company was liable for negligent training and supervision, citing a prior incident involving the driver.

The plaintiff reported injuries to the neck, shoulder, and back, including a disc herniation, necessitating epidural injections. The defendants denied negligence, arguing the plaintiff's own actions caused the incident. They also contended the plaintiff's injuries were pre-existing or merely an aggravation of prior conditions.

The jury found the defendants 62% negligent and the plaintiff 38% negligent. An award of $35,000 for past medical expenses and $8,000 for future medical expenses was determined. However, a prior stipulation limited future medicals to $4,000. This resulted in a total award of $39,000, which was then reduced by comparative negligence to $24,180.