Harris County Jury Awards $7,377,250 in Motor Vehicle Negligence

On December 11, 2017, a vehicle carrying two plaintiffs, a driver and a front-seat passenger, was struck from behind on Interstate 380 in Collin County, Texas. The plaintiffs subsequently sued the driver of the trailing vehicle, alleging negligence in the operation of her vehicle. The defendant driver conceded liability for the collision, and the trial proceeded solely on the issues of the plaintiffs' injuries and damages. Both plaintiffs claimed neck and back disc herniations, sought emergency room treatment, underwent chiropractic care, and reported residual pain and limitations in daily activities. They sought to recover damages for past and future medical costs, past and future pain and suffering, and past and future physical impairment. Following a three-day trial, a jury deliberated for two hours before awarding the driver plaintiff $25,016 in damages and the passenger plaintiff $25,273 in damages. The total award was $50,289.

On January 3, 2017, a collision occurred on U.S. Highway 75 in Allen, Texas. The plaintiff was driving north when the defendant, in an adjacent lane, entered the plaintiff's lane. The defendant's pickup truck and the plaintiff's sedan collided. The plaintiff claimed injuries to her back and neck. The plaintiff filed a lawsuit alleging the defendant's negligence in operating his vehicle, specifically an unsafe lane change that caused the collision. She asserted herniated cervical discs, along with back and neck sprains and strains. She underwent physical therapy and received lumbar injections, testifying to ongoing pain that limited her daily activities. The plaintiff sought damages for past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and physical impairment. The defendant countered that an unknown vehicle had cut him off, forcing him to swerve. While the police report noted an unknown vehicle, the investigating officer faulted the defendant for an unsafe lane change. The defense questioned the reasonableness and necessity of the plaintiff's medical treatment, noting a prior motor vehicle accident and attorney involvement in treatment decisions. A defense expert opined that a significantly lower amount for past medical expenses would have been reasonable. The jury returned a defense verdict. It found negligence and proximate cause applied solely to the unknown driver, not the named defendant. Although the jury answered the damages question and awarded $3,500, the plaintiff took nothing from the named defendant because no liability was assigned to the defendant.

On March 1, 2015, a student driving a pickup truck in Allen, Texas, was rear-ended by a sports car while stopped at a light. The student, who became the plaintiff, alleged negligence by the sports car's driver, the defendant, claiming injuries to the back, head, and neck. The defendant denied negligence, attributing the collision to brake failure, though he acknowledged not having his brakes checked after the incident. The plaintiff reported immediate neck, back, and head pain, receiving a concussion diagnosis at an emergency room before being released. Following physical therapy and cervical and lumbar MRIs that showed a disc herniation and bulging discs, the plaintiff ceased treatment for over two years. In October 2017, the plaintiff sought further care, including an epidural steroid injection and a recommendation for cervical discectomy and fusion surgery. A neuropsychologist later diagnosed post-concussion syndrome. The plaintiff's orthopedic surgeon testified that all treatments were reasonable, necessary, accident-related, and that the recommended surgery would cost approximately $150,000. The defense's orthopedic expert countered, stating the cervical MRI indicated only a disc bulge, not a herniation, and that lumbar findings were minor, precluding the need for further surgery. The defense argued the plaintiff's neck injury and neuropsychological issues likely stemmed from playing football, highlighted the referral of the plaintiff to a surgeon by an attorney, and emphasized the significant gap in treatment. After a two-day trial and 1.25 minutes of deliberation, the jury found the defendant negligent and awarded the plaintiff $255,500. Subsequently, the parties settled for $283,915.76, which included prejudgment interest and taxable costs, in lieu of a judgment being entered.

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 May 22, 2017, a collision occurred at an intersection in Fresno, California. A retiree, driving in a left-turn-only lane, began to turn left when a pickup truck, operated by the defendant, struck the passenger side of her vehicle. The plaintiff subsequently filed a lawsuit against the driver of the pickup truck, alleging negligence in the operation of his vehicle. A separate claim against the plaintiff's own insurer for underinsured motorist benefits was later non-suited. The plaintiff contended that she had a green left-turn arrow, noting that a vehicle in an adjacent left-turn lane also proceeded. She further claimed the defendant was using a cellular phone at the time of the incident, citing records showing phone use near the accident time. The defendant, however, testified he had a green light and had completed his phone call before the collision. Defense counsel argued the plaintiff likely had a flashing yellow arrow. A city employee testified that the intersection's signal sequence would have displayed a flashing yellow arrow for a left turn before a green arrow at the time of the accident. The plaintiff claimed to have sustained multiple injuries, including a fractured shoulder, fractured ribs, a fractured sternum, a foot fracture, a spinal disc herniation, and headaches, and sought damages for past medical expenses, pain, impairment, and disfigurement. The defense focused primarily on liability but also challenged the extent of the plaintiff's injuries by presenting prior medical records showing similar pre-existing conditions and impeaching the plaintiff's testimony regarding her medical history. Following a three-day trial, the jury deliberated for 30 hours before rendering a defense verdict. The jury found the plaintiff to be the sole negligent party in the collision, resulting in a $0 award.