Texas Jury Finds Negligence in U-Turn Crash, Awards $3,500

On June 1, 2013, two passengers traveling eastbound on State Highway 87 in Gilchrist, on the Bolivar Peninsula, sustained injuries when their vehicle was struck at night. A minivan, attempting a U-turn from the right shoulder, collided with the right rear corner of their vehicle. The passengers subsequently filed a lawsuit against the minivan driver, alleging negligence for failing to maintain a proper lookout and making an unsafe U-turn.

The plaintiffs claimed the collision caused neck and back sprains and strains, with one plaintiff also alleging two herniated lumbar discs, supported by MRI results. Both sought chiropractic treatment following the incident. Plaintiffs' counsel requested damages totaling $27,172 for one plaintiff and $18,055 for the other, covering past medical bills, physical pain, mental anguish, and physical impairment.

While the defendant did not strongly dispute liability for the accident itself, the defense challenged the causation and extent of the claimed injuries. Defense counsel highlighted that neither plaintiff reported injuries to the investigating officer immediately, nor did they feel immediate pain. The defense also presented photos showing minor damage to the defendant's vehicle and questioned the credibility of one plaintiff's claim of inability to afford further treatment, noting subsequent travel. The defense suggested the jury award zero to $1,000 for each plaintiff's medical bills and no other damages.

After a one-day trial, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs, awarding a total of $3,500 for past medical costs. One plaintiff received $2,500, and the other received $1,000. The outcome suggested the jury found some injuries were caused by the accident but awarded a significantly lower amount than requested by the plaintiffs, likely influenced by the defense's arguments regarding the scope and causation of the injuries.