Plano, Texas Jury Awards $5,200 in Rear-End Collision

On October 31, 2015, in Plano, Texas, a plaintiff's sedan was rear-ended by a defendant's compact car during a heavy rainstorm. The defendant reportedly lost control after driving through a large puddle while the plaintiff was stopped at a red light. The plaintiff subsequently sued, alleging the defendant's negligent driving caused the collision and resulting neck and back injuries.

The plaintiff asserted he had stopped normally, but the defendant countered that the plaintiff was partly at fault for changing lanes and stopping abruptly, reducing her stopping distance. The plaintiff sought chiropractic care 13 days post-incident, claiming various injuries including disc protrusion, and sought over $12,000 for past medical expenses, plus additional damages for future medical costs, pain, and impairment. A defense chiropractic expert challenged the necessity and reasonableness of most treatment costs, citing inadequate documentation and the plaintiff's delay in seeking care.

After a one-day trial, the Plano, Texas, jury found the defendant solely negligent. The plaintiff was awarded $5,200 for past medical costs and past physical pain and anguish. The verdict indicated the jury accepted the defendant's negligence but limited the awarded damages, aligning with defense arguments on the scope and necessity of the plaintiff's medical claims.