Tarrant County Jury Awards $6,355 in Rear-End Collision

In August 2014, a vehicle driven by the plaintiff was rear-ended in Tarrant County, Texas, while stopped at a red traffic signal. The trailing vehicle was driven by the defendant driver. The plaintiff sustained injuries to her back, neck, and a shoulder and subsequently filed a lawsuit. The suit initially named both the defendant driver and the vehicle owner, the defendant driver's father, alleging negligence in operation against the driver and negligent entrustment against the owner. The claim against the vehicle owner was later dismissed, and the case proceeded to trial against the defendant driver.

The plaintiff argued the defendant driver was negligent, noting the defendant driver estimated traveling 30 mph at the time of impact. Eyewitnesses testified that the defendant driver's brake lights did not illuminate. The plaintiff contended that even if the brakes failed, the brake lights should have activated. The police report did not mention brake failure but listed failure to control speed as a contributing factor for the defendant driver. The plaintiff sought $2,354.82 for past medical expenses, primarily for chiropractic care and physical therapy, and $10,000 for past and future physical pain and mental anguish, testifying to ongoing discomfort and an inability to run for several months post-accident.

The defendant driver denied negligence, asserting that her brakes had failed. The defense disputed causation for the plaintiff's claimed injuries and highlighted minor inconsistencies in the medical billing and records, suggesting the treatment and complaints were motivated by the lawsuit. After deliberation, the jury found the defendant driver liable for the accident and awarded the plaintiff $6,355 in damages.