Texas Jury Finds Negligence, Awards $2,500 in Rear-End Collision

In June 2013, a passenger filed a personal injury lawsuit in Texas following a rear-end collision on Farm to Market Road 1382. The plaintiff was in a truck towing a boat when the defendant, allegedly distracted, struck their vehicle from behind. The plaintiff claimed negligence, asserting the defendant failed to maintain a proper lookout and control speed. The plaintiff alleged multiple lumbar disc bulges and herniations, seeking over $200,000 for past and future medical bills, pain, and impairment. The plaintiff testified to having no prior back issues, supported by earlier MRI scans, and claimed to have seen the defendant drinking before the accident.

The defendant denied consuming alcohol and argued that the plaintiff's driver stopped abruptly. Defense counsel presented medical records indicating the plaintiff had prior lumbar treatment, which the plaintiff attributed to memory loss from a later stroke. Defense orthopedic surgeons from Garland and Plano testified that only $2,500 of the plaintiff's medical expenses were reasonable and necessary. A jury found the defendant negligent and awarded the plaintiff $2,500 for past medical costs, consistent with the defense experts' assessment.