Dallas County Jury Finds Negligence in Collision, Awards $40,000
One driver was traveling on a street when another vehicle pulled out in front of them, causing a collision. The injured driver claimed neck and back injuries, including a herniated disc that required surgery. The other driver admitted fault but was underinsured. The injured driver sought damages for medical expenses, pain, and physical limitations. The defense argued the injuries were pre-existing.
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
- $40,000
- County
- Dallas County, TX
- Resolved
- 2017
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Cervical Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Back and Neck, Herniated Disc at C3-4, Fusion
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $40,000 is near 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
On February 5, 2015, a vehicle collision occurred in Dallas County when a vehicle driven by the defendant reportedly pulled out in front of the plaintiff's vehicle. The plaintiff sustained neck and back injuries, later diagnosed as a cervical disc herniation requiring fusion surgery. Since the at-fault driver was underinsured, the plaintiff filed an underinsured motorist claim against his own insurance carrier, which became the defendant in the ensuing lawsuit.
The plaintiff sought damages for past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and physical impairment. The defendant insurance carrier argued that the plaintiff's injuries were pre-existing and not a result of the collision. After a two-day trial, a jury deliberated for two hours and found that the original defendant's negligence was a legal cause of the plaintiff's injuries. The jury awarded the plaintiff $40,000 for past physical impairment and past pain and suffering.
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 Dallas County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2017, 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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