Texas Jury Awards $17,097 in Intersection Crash

On January 21, 2016, a traffic collision occurred in Haltom City, Texas, at the signal-controlled intersection of the U.S. 377 feeder road and Broadway. A driver on the feeder road, identified as the plaintiff, was struck on the passenger side by a pickup truck driven by the defendant, who was traveling on Broadway. The plaintiff reported sustaining multiple injuries in the incident.

The plaintiff subsequently filed a lawsuit, alleging the defendant was negligent in the operation of her vehicle. The plaintiff claimed to have stopped at a red light, then proceeded into the intersection after the light turned green, where the collision occurred. The defendant did not attend the trial, but a deposition transcript was read to the jury, in which she testified her traffic light was green. Defense counsel argued that, even if the jury found the defendant ran a red light, the plaintiff was comparatively negligent for failing to check the intersection before entering.

The plaintiff sought damages for a range of injuries, including rib, chest, head, and neck pain, along with back issues such as lumbar strain, disc bulges, and facet arthrosis. The plaintiff claimed $14,250 for past medical expenses, and also sought future medical costs, past and future physical pain and mental anguish, and past and future physical impairment, totaling $24,250. The defense introduced an expert chiropractor's affidavit, which opined that the plaintiff's treatment and charges were excessive and that the MRI scans were not medically necessary. The defense suggested that $1,555 would have been a reasonable and necessary amount for chiropractic treatment.

After a one-day trial, the jury found negligence and assigned comparative responsibility for the collision. The defendant was found 70 percent at fault, and the plaintiff 30 percent at fault. The jury determined the plaintiff's total damages were $24,250. After the reduction for comparative responsibility, the plaintiff was awarded $17,097.50.