Texas Jury Awards $8,900.31 in Multi-Vehicle Collision

On June 23, 2016, a multi-vehicle collision occurred on Farm to Market Road 1960 in Texas. The plaintiff was stationary at a red traffic signal in the westbound first inside lane when a collision involving two other vehicles led to her vehicle being struck. Defendant one, traveling westbound, began to enter the center turn lane to make a left turn. Defendant two, also traveling westbound in the center turn lane, then collided with defendant one. Following this initial impact, defendant two overcorrected, entered oncoming eastbound traffic, and subsequently struck the plaintiff's stationary vehicle. The plaintiff sustained bodily injuries, and her vehicle was declared a total loss.

The plaintiff filed a lawsuit against both defendants, alleging negligence. The claims included operating vehicles at an excessive speed, driving in a careless and reckless manner, failing to apply brakes, failing to maintain a proper lookout, and failing to keep vehicles under reasonable control. The plaintiff sought actual and punitive damages, along with interest and court costs. Both defendants filed general denials and raised defenses such as comparative causation, failure to mitigate damages, pre-existing conditions, and sudden emergency. Defendant two specifically argued that defendant one's failure to safely change lanes constituted negligence per se. During the proceedings, the court granted motions to designate defendant one as a responsible third party and to exclude an officer's opinions on causation.

After a trial, a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff on January 5, 2023. The final judgment, entered on February 21, 2023, awarded the plaintiff damages totaling $8,900.31, with $5,340.19 allocated against defendant one and $3,560.12 against defendant two. Additionally, Farmers Texas County Mutual Insurance Company, as a subrogee of the plaintiff, received $3,891.65 from the defendants. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, acting as a subrogee for defendant two, was also awarded $7,330.54 against defendant one, indicating an allocation of fault between the defendants.