Harris County Jury Awards $378,205 in Red-Light Crash

On December 12, 2012, a collision occurred in McKinney, Texas, involving a vehicle driven by the plaintiff, a convenience store clerk, and a vehicle operated by the defendant. The plaintiff was traveling northbound on Custer Road when the defendant, who was at a stop sign on Cotton Ridge Road, attempted a right turn. The plaintiff's vehicle struck the defendant's vehicle in the middle northbound lane of Custer Road. The plaintiff subsequently filed a lawsuit, alleging the defendant negligently entered the lane, failed to keep a proper lookout, yield the right of way, and make a safe turn. The plaintiff claimed multiple injuries from the incident. An eyewitness testified that the defendant's vehicle entered the plaintiff's lane, and both the eyewitness and the investigating officer attributed fault to the defendant. The defendant, however, denied negligence, testifying that her vehicle sustained no damage and she was unsure if contact occurred. She asserted she turned into the right lane, not the middle lane, and suggested the plaintiff may have drifted. The defense also argued the investigating officer did not witness the accident, that the corner lacked adequate lighting, and that the plaintiff's vehicle damage might have been pre-existing. The defense impeached the plaintiff regarding the time of day the accident occurred. The plaintiff claimed neck and back sprains, hip and shoulder injuries, headaches, a concussion, and post-concussion syndrome, undergoing treatment with a chiropractor, neurologist, and pain management specialist. The plaintiff sought compensation for past medical bills totaling over $37,000, along with non-economic damages. The defense countered by highlighting the plaintiff's extensive history of prior neck, back, and shoulder injuries and treatments. A defense expert, an orthopedic surgeon, testified that only a limited number of chiropractic visits were medically necessary due to the accident, estimating the related medical costs at approximately $2,000. After a one-day trial and four hours of deliberation, the jury found the defendant solely negligent. The jury awarded the plaintiff $38,842.97 in damages.

One driver stopped for a school bus and was hit from behind by a pickup truck. The pickup truck driver was distracted by a cell phone call. The injured driver claimed back and neck injuries. The case proceeded to trial against the pickup truck driver and his employer.

A minor sustained back, head, and neck injuries in a motor vehicle accident in Texas. The plaintiff subsequently filed a personal injury lawsuit, alleging the incident caused the injuries and seeking damages. During the proceedings, the plaintiff presented expert testimony from a neurologist specializing in pain management, a neuropsychologist, and an economist. The defense called an expert in aerospace and occupational medicine. The case concluded with an award of $27,255.

On May 5, 2016, a collision occurred in Plano, Texas, between a pickup truck and a sedan. The plaintiff, driving a pickup, was in the outside lane of a two-way street when the defendant, operating a sedan, attempted a left turn into a parking lot. The sedan's right front corner struck the pickup's left front. The plaintiff claimed neck and back injuries and subsequently filed a lawsuit alleging the defendant's negligent operation of the vehicle. Evidence included a police report citing the defendant for failure to yield the right of way. The defendant did not attend the trial, and the defense did not contest liability. The plaintiff sought $6,295.70 for past medical expenses, alleging sprains and strains that required emergency room care and several months of chiropractic treatment. The defense argued any injuries were minor, subjective sprains and strains, with treatment primarily from a chiropractor, suggesting a jury award of $1,700 for past medical bills. After a two-hour trial, a Plano jury deliberated for 30 minutes before finding the defendant liable for the collision. The jury determined the plaintiff's total damages amounted to $12,591.40.

On February 12, 2017, a plaintiff driving in Plano, Texas, slowed for traffic when their vehicle was rear-ended by an SUV. The plaintiff reported sustaining back and neck injuries from the collision. The plaintiff subsequently filed a lawsuit against the driver of the SUV, the vehicle's owner, and their own insurer for first-party benefits. The claims against the driver and vehicle owner were later discontinued after it was determined they were uninsured. The case then proceeded against the insurer, which conceded liability, focusing the trial solely on the issue of damages. The plaintiff claimed the accident aggravated pre-existing scoliosis and caused new injuries, including radiating pain and a cervical disc herniation. Evidence showed the plaintiff sought emergency medical care on the day of the accident and subsequently underwent extensive treatment, including chiropractic sessions, pain management procedures like lumbar and cervical rhizotomies, and epidural steroid injections over a two-year period. A medical expert for the plaintiff testified that the pre-existing scoliosis made the spine more susceptible to injury and attributed the treatment and complaints prior to a later motorcycle accident to the February 2017 collision. The defense, while conceding liability for the collision, disputed the extent of the claimed damages. Defense counsel argued that the accident did not aggravate the plaintiff's pre-existing conditions, that medical charges were excessive, and pointed to minimal damage to the vehicles and gaps in the plaintiff's treatment history. The defense suggested an award for only immediate medical expenses. After a two-day trial and two hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, awarding $80,000. This amount included $35,000 for past medical costs, $22,500 for past physical pain, and $22,500 for past mental anguish.