Hillsborough County Jury Awards $177,584 in Three-Car Collision
A passenger in a vehicle was injured in a three-car collision. The plaintiff claimed injuries to their neck and back. The jury found one of the drivers fully at fault for the accident. The plaintiff was awarded damages for a permanent injury.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Lumbar Disc Injury Injuries
Lumbar disc injuries affect the lower back (L1-L5 and S1), which bears significant body weight and is particularly vulnerable to trauma. These injuries can cause debilitating pain and functional limitations.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $177,584
- County
- Hillsborough County, FL
- Resolved
- 2013
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Lumbar Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Multi-vehicle
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Multiple Vehicle Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $177,584 is near the median of $60,000 for lumbar disc injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $20,000 to $229,900, based on 396 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A passenger sustained cervical and lumbar disc injuries in a three-car collision on September 13, 2009, near the intersection of Highway 41 and Riverview Drive in Hillsborough County. The plaintiff underwent injection therapy for pain, alleging the injuries resulted from the impact.
The lawsuit named the drivers of the center and last vehicles as defendants, each denying negligence and attributing fault to the co-defendant. The driver of the center vehicle claimed his car was struck from behind and pushed into the plaintiff's host vehicle. Conversely, the driver of the last vehicle contended the center vehicle struck the plaintiff's car first, and he was unable to avoid a subsequent impact. Both defendants also argued the plaintiff's neck and back conditions were preexisting and caused by prior or subsequent motor vehicle accidents.
A jury found the driver of the last vehicle 100% negligent for the collision. The jury determined the plaintiff sustained a permanent injury as a result of the accident and awarded $177,584 in damages. After applicable set-offs and the addition of taxable costs, a final judgment of $172,640 was entered for the plaintiff, along with an additional $150,000 in stipulated attorney fees.
Understanding This Case
- About 90% of lumbar disc herniations improve with conservative treatment. However, those requiring surgery may face permanent work restrictions and ongoing pain management needs.
- This case went to trial and resulted in a jury verdict. Verdicts can yield higher awards but carry the risk of receiving nothing if the jury rules against the plaintiff.
- This case was resolved in Hillsborough County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2013, this case reflects the legal and economic conditions of that period, including medical costs, insurance practices, and jury award trends at the time.
VerdictlyTM Score
This outcome is within expected ranges
This score is calculated by analyzing injury type, accident details, geographic location, temporal trends, and comparing against 2,000+ similar cases in our database.
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