Johnson County Jury Awards $29,000 in Rear-End Collision

On April 5, 2013, a two-vehicle collision occurred on West Farm to Market Road 917 in Johnson County, Texas. A driver, later identified as the defendant, was traveling eastbound when he rear-ended a third vehicle that had stopped to allow another driver to make a turn. The impact pushed the third vehicle into the westbound lane, where it struck the left rear quarter panel of a pickup truck driven by the plaintiff, who had swerved to avoid a head-on collision. The plaintiff’s vehicle then entered a culvert before coming to a stop. The plaintiff subsequently filed a lawsuit against the defendant, alleging negligence for failing to keep a proper lookout, control speed, or brake in time to prevent the collision.

The plaintiff claimed neck and back sprains, strains, and muscle spasms, for which he sought chiropractic treatment. He requested $4,860 for past medical expenses, along with damages for past and future physical pain, mental anguish, and physical impairment. The defendant denied negligence, stating the third vehicle stopped suddenly. He acknowledged at trial that he may have been momentarily distracted by looking at property just before the impact, despite testifying in a deposition that he had simply "slipped off for a second." The police report listed the defendant's inattention as a contributing factor. The defense highlighted a two-month gap in the plaintiff's treatment and a prior motor vehicle accident in the 1990s.

After a two-day trial, the jury deliberated and found the defendant negligent, awarding the plaintiff $29,000. This award included damages for past medical costs, past and future physical impairment, future mental anguish, and past and future physical pain. Counsel for the plaintiff suggested that the plaintiff’s more professional appearance at trial, compared to the defendant’s attire, may have contributed to the jury's decision.