Beaumont, Texas Jury Awards $150,000 in Rear-End Collision
One driver was rear-ended by another vehicle on a freeway in Beaumont. The injured driver had a pre-existing neck condition that was allegedly aggravated by the collision. The injured driver underwent neck surgery following the accident. The case proceeded to trial on causation and damages.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Cervical Disc Injury Injuries
Cervical disc injuries involve damage to the intervertebral discs in the neck region (C1-C7). These injuries can include herniated discs, bulging discs, and disc degeneration accelerated by trauma.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $150,000
- County
- Jefferson County, TX
- Resolved
- 2016
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Cervical Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $150,000 is above the median of $40,000 for cervical disc injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $18,000 to $100,000, based on 250 cases in our database.
Case Overview
In October 2006, a rear-end collision occurred on Eastex Freeway in Beaumont when the plaintiff, an employee of a clinical laboratory manufacturer, was struck by another vehicle. The at-fault driver’s insurance paid its policy limit of $50,000. The plaintiff, who had a history of two prior neck surgeries and a pre-existing neck condition, subsequently sued her own carrier, Texas Farmers County Mutual Insurance Co., seeking underinsured motorist coverage for a $45,000 policy. The defendant carrier stipulated to liability, with the trial proceeding solely on the issues of causation and damages.
The plaintiff alleged the accident aggravated her neck condition, leading to increased pain, physical impairment, and a sedentary lifestyle. Weeks after the collision, she consulted her orthopedic surgeon and a neurosurgeon. In April 2007, she underwent a fusion and discectomy at cervical intervertebral discs C4-5, C5-6, and C6-7. She sought approximately $58,000 in past medical costs, along with damages for past and future pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, and lost earning capacity. Her orthopedic surgeon testified that the accident caused 20 to 30 percent of her current condition and necessitated the treatment.
The defendant insurance carrier maintained that any injury sustained in the accident was minor and soft tissue in nature, and would have resolved within weeks. The defense also argued that the plaintiff would have required a third neck surgery irrespective of the accident, citing testimony from the plaintiff’s own physician. Following a two-day trial, a jury awarded the plaintiff $150,000.
Understanding This Case
- Many cervical disc injuries improve with conservative treatment. However, about 30% of cases may require surgical intervention, with varying degrees of permanent impairment.
- 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 Jefferson County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2016, 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
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