Texas Jury Awards $16,000 Damages in Rear-End Collision

On April 29, 2016, a 52-year-old retail manager was traveling eastbound on Kilgore Street near its intersection with U.S. Highway 259 in Texas when her vehicle was struck from the rear by another driver. The plaintiff claimed injuries to her neck, lower back, and right hand. She filed a lawsuit against the defendant, alleging negligent operation of a vehicle. The defendant conceded liability, and the case proceeded to trial solely on the issues of the plaintiff's claimed injuries and damages.

The plaintiff presented evidence that she sought immediate medical attention and was later diagnosed with soft tissue injuries to her neck and lower back, along with a sprain to her right dominant hand. She underwent chiropractic care and received epidural injections for her lower back in 2016 and 2018. The plaintiff contended she continued to experience residual pain, required future pain management, and was unable to return to her management position due to lifting restrictions. She sought damages for past and future medical expenses, pain and mental anguish, and physical impairment. The defense argued that the plaintiff's injuries were minor sprains that had resolved by the time of trial, noting a lack of objective findings on her MRI beyond pre-existing degenerative disc disease. The defense also highlighted the plaintiff's involvement in a separate automobile collision five months after the initial incident and questioned the disparity in billing for the plaintiff's pain management treatments.

After a one-day trial, a jury deliberated for 30 minutes before awarding the plaintiff $16,000 in damages. The award covered past medical costs, future medical costs, past physical impairment, and past pain and suffering. The jury's decision likely reflected a consideration of both the plaintiff's asserted injuries and the defense's arguments regarding the nature and extent of those injuries, pre-existing conditions, subsequent events, and the costs of care.