Fort Worth Jury Awards $42,249 in Motor Vehicle Collision
One driver was stopped at a stop sign when another driver, who did not have a stop sign, struck their vehicle. The driver who did not have a stop sign was reportedly speeding. The occupants of the stopped vehicle claimed various injuries, including sprains and strains to their neck, back, and knees. One occupant settled their claim before trial, while the other proceeded to trial against the speeding driver. The jury found both drivers partially at fault.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $42,249
- County
- Tarrant County, TX
- Resolved
- 2017
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Case Overview
On February 23, 2013, a collision occurred at the intersection of Robin Avenue and Northwest 20th Street in Fort Worth, Texas. A 70-year-old retired passenger was in the rear seat of a 2012 Nissan Sentra, driven by a 45-year-old disabled individual, when the Nissan pulled out from a stop sign. A 2000 GMC Jimmy, traveling east on Northwest 20th Street, which did not have a stop sign, struck the left front of the Nissan. A police report indicated the GMC driver was speeding, but listed only the Nissan driver's failure to yield as a contributing factor. Both the passenger and the Nissan driver claimed multiple injuries and filed separate lawsuits against the GMC driver. The passenger also sued the Nissan driver, later settling those claims for $3,000. The cases were consolidated and proceeded to trial against the GMC driver.
At trial, counsel for both plaintiffs argued that the GMC driver was solely negligent due to failure to control speed, speeding, driving too fast for conditions, and failure to maintain a proper lookout. An investigating officer testified that the GMC driver passed him at a high rate of speed shortly before the intersection. The Nissan driver stated he did not see the GMC due to the road's incline. The defense countered that the Nissan driver failed to yield the right of way and that there was no evidence of the GMC's speed at the point of impact. Medical experts for both sides presented conflicting testimony regarding the necessity and extent of the plaintiffs' claimed injuries and future treatment needs.
After a two-day trial, a Fort Worth jury deliberated for three hours before finding the GMC driver 85 percent negligent and the Nissan driver 15 percent negligent. The jury awarded the plaintiffs a total of $42,249. The GMC driver was found liable to the passenger for $34,382, representing 100 percent of the passenger's damages. The GMC driver was also found liable to the Nissan driver for $6,686.95, reflecting 85 percent of that plaintiff's total damages.
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