On Aug. 26, a jury awarded $734,191 to a driver who was sideswiped by an oncoming pickup truck. In 2009, Alfonso Garza was hit by Octavio Vega. He claimed a cervical herniation and a lumbar herniation. He underwent one session of physical therapy and a series of cervical and lumbar injections. About a year after the accident, he underwent a two-level cervical fusion, and he claimed to need a lumbar fusion, as well. Defense counsel argued that Garza had age-related degeneration throughout his spine.
Garza v. EMS USA Inc., No. 2009-60719
