Texas Jury Awards $75,000 in Rear-End Collision TMJ Injury
One driver hit another vehicle from behind. A passenger in the struck vehicle claimed injury to her jaw. The passenger's dentist stated she would have permanent pain and difficulty eating. The defense argued the condition was pre-existing or caused by teeth clenching, and that surgery was not necessary.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $75,000
- County
- Orange County, NY
- Resolved
- 1997
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Facial Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- MOTOR VEHICLE NEGLIGENCE, Rear End Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $75,000 is near the median of $75,000 for facial injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $50,000 to $331,521, based on 8 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A passenger filed a lawsuit seeking damages after sustaining injuries in a rear-end collision. The non-host driver conceded liability for the incident, which occurred when the plaintiff's host vehicle was struck from behind.
The plaintiff, a woman in her twenties, contended she suffered left-sided temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, alleging probable internal derangement of the TMJ disc. Her treating dentist testified that the plaintiff would permanently experience jaw pain, eating difficulties, and a restricted diet. Arthroscopic surgery was recommended, a procedure the plaintiff was considering after seeking a second opinion.
The defendant argued the TMJ dysfunction was pre-existing, with their oral surgeon attributing it to teeth clenching under stress. The defense expert contended the accident, at most, exacerbated an existing condition, denied internal disc derangement, and deemed the proposed surgery unnecessary. A jury subsequently awarded $75,000 to the plaintiff.
Understanding This Case
- 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 Orange County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 1997, 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 aligns very well with similar cases
This score is calculated by analyzing injury type, accident details, geographic location, temporal trends, and comparing against 2,000+ similar cases in our database.
Want to know what your case might be worth?
Get a free case evaluation to understand what your motor vehicle accident case might be worth based on cases like this in Orange County.
Similar cases you may find useful
Handpicked by matching injury type, accident details, and outcome to this case.
Explore More Cases Like This
Browse similar cases by injury type and location to get a better understanding of case values in your area.