Austin Jury Awards $20,263.98 in Rear-End Collision
One driver was stopped at an intersection when the other driver, who was retrieving a dropped cell phone, collided with the rear of his vehicle. The injured driver claimed the collision aggravated a prior back injury, causing an annular tear and requiring chiropractic treatment. The defense argued a third vehicle caused the injured driver to stop suddenly and that the injuries were pre-existing and degenerative. The jury found the defendant negligent.
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
- $20,264
- County
- Travis County, TX
- Resolved
- 2015
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Lumbar Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $20,264 is near the median of $50,756 for lumbar disc injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $20,000 to $210,000, based on 204 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On September 21, 2012, a produce stocker driving an H3 Hummer was involved in a rear-end collision on Interstate 35 at Stassney Lane in Austin. The plaintiff's vehicle was struck by a Pontiac Vibe driven by the defendant. The plaintiff subsequently filed a negligence lawsuit against the defendant.
The plaintiff's counsel alleged the defendant was distracted by a dropped cell phone and collided with the plaintiff's vehicle, which had stopped at the intersection. The defendant denied negligence, asserting an unidentified third vehicle cut off the plaintiff, causing an unavoidable sudden stop. The plaintiff's counsel questioned the credibility of this defense, noting the absence of a third vehicle in police reports or pretrial statements. The plaintiff claimed the collision aggravated a pre-existing L4-5 herniation and caused a new annular tear, leading to missed work, ongoing pain, and a need for future treatment. The defendant disputed these claims, arguing the collision was not severe enough to cause the alleged injuries, which were pre-existing or degenerative. Defense experts also questioned the extent of vehicle damage, attributing some to a tow truck.
Following a one-day trial, the jury deliberated for one hour. The jury found the defendant negligent and awarded the plaintiff $20,263.98 in damages.
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 Travis County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2015, 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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