Rockwall County Jury Awards $5,019 in Rear-End Collision

In August 2016, a sedan carrying two passengers, a 40-year-old plaintiff and her 16-year-old son, was rear-ended by a compact pickup truck at a red light in Rockwall County. The driver of the sedan, who later died of unrelated causes and settled claims before trial, was also a plaintiff in the initial suit. The passengers, residents of Rockwall County, subsequently sued the driver of the pickup truck, a resident of Collin County, alleging negligence in the operation of his vehicle.

The plaintiffs claimed the collision caused various injuries. The adult plaintiff reported back and knee issues, including lumbar facet syndrome and chondromalacia, and sought damages for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, pain, and impairment. The minor plaintiff (an adult by trial) claimed neck, back, and a hyperextended finger injury, seeking past and future medical expenses, pain, and impairment. The defense denied negligence, stating the driver was not distracted and almost stopped. It also disputed the causation and extent of the claimed injuries, pointing to minimal vehicle damage, hospital records describing a low-velocity impact, and inconsistencies in the adult plaintiff's employment and medical history.

After a one-day trial, the jury deliberated for 3.5 hours before finding the defendant liable for the collision. However, the jury awarded damages solely for past medical expenses, totaling $2,705.36 to the adult plaintiff and $2,313.82 to the other plaintiff, for a combined award of $5,019. The outcome indicated the jury accepted the defendant's liability for the incident but largely agreed with the defense's arguments disputing the scope, causation, and necessity of the plaintiffs' claimed medical treatment and other damages.