Menard County Jury Awards $2,168,000 in Rear-End Collision

On August 29, 2019, a ranch hand was driving a pickup truck in Menard County, Texas, as part of a caravan when another truck rear-ended his vehicle, causing it to roll over. The at-fault driver was operating a vehicle for a tree service company. The investigating officer cited the at-fault driver for failing to control speed and faulty evasive action. The ranch hand sustained neck and back injuries and subsequently filed a lawsuit against the driver and the tree service company, alleging negligence in the vehicle's operation.

The plaintiff asserted his hazard lights were active at the time of the collision. The defense denied negligence, arguing that the forklift operator, also part of the caravan, was a responsible third party due to negligent operation. The defense further questioned whether the plaintiff's hazard lights were on and cited a police report indicating the plaintiff was traveling at 5 mph. Medical experts provided conflicting testimony regarding the necessity and extent of the plaintiff's claimed past and future medical treatments, which included multiple injections and ablations. The plaintiff sought substantial damages for medical expenses and pain, while the defense's expert opined significantly lower costs, attributing ongoing pain to preexisting conditions.

Following a five-day trial, a jury found the defendants liable for the accident. The jury concluded that the defendant driver's negligence proximately caused the collision and did not find negligence on the part of the plaintiff or the forklift operator. The plaintiff was awarded $2,168,000 for past and future medical costs, past lost earnings, and past physical pain and mental anguish. The outcome indicated the jury accepted the plaintiff's account of the incident and the severity of his injuries and future medical needs.