Santa Fe, Texas Jury Finds Split Liability, Awards $9787 in Collision

On August 18, 2014, a driver and passenger were involved in a vehicle collision in Santa Fe, Texas. The plaintiff driver, attempting a left turn onto FM646 from FM1764, collided with a westbound vehicle operated by the defendant. The plaintiffs claimed the driver had made the turn with a green arrow signal from a middle lane due to road work blocking dedicated turn lanes. The plaintiff driver sustained head contusions, a forehead laceration, and a calcaneus fracture, requiring eight days of hospitalization and several months of physical rehabilitation. The plaintiff passenger suffered blunt force trauma to the chest, arm lacerations with potential nerve damage, and loose teeth, leading to a four-day hospitalization.

The plaintiffs filed a lawsuit alleging the defendant was negligent in operating his vehicle. They sought $18,476.58 for combined past medical expenses, which the parties stipulated, and unspecified damages for pain and suffering. The defendant denied liability, arguing he proceeded through the intersection with a green light and had the right of way. He maintained that the plaintiff driver was contributorily negligent and disputed the extent of claimed injuries and pain and suffering damages.

Following a three-day trial and two hours of deliberation, a jury determined that the plaintiff driver and the defendant were each 50 percent liable for the collision. The jury awarded the plaintiffs the stipulated $18,476.58 for past medical expenses but did not award damages for pain and suffering. After the reduction for comparative responsibility and the addition of $549.22 in pre-judgment interest, the final award totaled $9,787.51.