Dallas County Jury Awards $451,000 in Rear-End Collision
Two people in a stopped vehicle were injured when their car was hit from behind by a tractor trailer, pushing it into another vehicle, which then hit their car. The driver of the tractor trailer was found to be negligent for not paying attention, following too closely, and driving too fast. The injured individuals claimed serious and permanent injuries to their spines and other parts of their bodies.
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
- $451,000
- County
- Dallas County, TX
- Resolved
- 2018
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Lumbar Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Multiple Vehicle Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $451,000 is above 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 May 16, 2014, a rear-end chain-reaction collision occurred on Highway 635 in Dallas County, Texas. A tractor-trailer, operated by a defendant driver in the course of employment with a defendant excavation company, struck a pickup truck from behind. This impact caused the pickup truck to collide with a van, which then struck the plaintiffs' vehicle, which had been stopped lawfully in traffic. The plaintiffs, the driver and a passenger, claimed they suffered serious injuries as a result of the incident and filed a lawsuit alleging negligence. An initial claim for gross negligence was dismissed by the court.
The plaintiffs argued that the defendant driver failed to maintain a proper lookout, keep a safe traveling distance, apply brakes, and drove at an unsafe speed, thus causing the collision. The plaintiff driver sustained injuries to his lumbar spine, requiring chiropractic treatment, epidural injections, and eventually microdiscectomy and laminectomy surgery. The plaintiff passenger suffered injuries to his cervical and thoracic spine, wrist, and rotator cuff. The defendants denied allegations of negligence, contending that the accident was caused by the negligence of third parties beyond their control, and disputed the causal relationship between the accident and all claimed injuries.
Following a trial, a jury found the defendant driver 50% negligent and the defendant excavation company 50% negligent. The jury awarded the plaintiff driver $297,500 in past damages and $113,500 in future damages. The plaintiff passenger received $13,500 in past damages and $26,500 in future 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 Dallas County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2018, 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 differs from typical 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 check your case value?
Get a free case evaluation to understand what your motor vehicle accident case might be worth based on cases like this in Dallas County.
Similar cases you may find useful
Handpicked by matching injury type, accident details, and outcome to this case.
One driver was stopped to make a left turn when their pickup truck was hit from behind by another vehicle. The driver of the pickup truck claimed injuries to their back and neck. The lawsuit alleged the other driver was negligent. The trial focused on damages.
One driver was traveling on a tollway when their vehicle ran out of gas and became disabled. The other driver, who was following behind, struck the disabled vehicle. The first driver claimed injuries to their neck and back. The jury found the second driver 80% liable and the first driver 20% liable.
A passenger in a sport utility vehicle was injured when the vehicle she was in was rear-ended by another car. The passenger claimed injuries to her back and neck, including bulging discs. The driver of the other vehicle claimed his brakes failed. The jury found that the driver's negligence did not cause the accident.
One driver was stopped at a light when the vehicle behind them struck their pickup truck. The driver of the second vehicle claimed the pickup truck driver swerved in front of them and braked suddenly, causing the collision. The driver of the second vehicle alleged injuries to their knee and spine. The defense questioned the credibility of the driver's account and pointed to inconsistencies in their statements.
One driver was stopped at a stop sign when their pickup truck was struck from behind by another pickup truck. The driver and a passenger in the first truck claimed injuries. The passenger's claim was settled before trial. The driver's claim proceeded to trial, where the jury found the second driver liable for the accident.
Explore More Cases Like This
Browse similar cases by injury type and location to get a better understanding of case values in your area.