Verdictly
Verdict-Plaintiff
Fort Bend County • 2019

Fort Bend County Jury Awards $14,977.84 in Car Crash

One driver was turning left at a red light when another driver struck the side of his car. The injured driver claimed neck and back injuries. The jury found the turning driver liable for the collision.

Case Information Updated: October 2025

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Cervical Disc Injury
Other Accident
Motor Vehicle Negligence

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
$14,978
County
Fort Bend County, TX
Resolved
2019

Injury & Accident Details

Injury Type
Cervical Disc Injury
Accident Type
Other
Case Type
Motor Vehicle Negligence

Settlement Context

This verdict-plaintiff of $14,978 is below the median of $42,976 for cervical disc injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $18,000 to $139,701, based on 382 cases in our database.

Case Overview

On December 4, 2011, a compact pickup truck, driven by the plaintiff, collided with a sedan in Fort Bend County, Texas. The incident occurred on Highway 6 at approximately 2 a.m. while the plaintiff was driving southbound. The defendant, driving northbound, had been pulled over by a police officer and stopped at a red light in a left-turn lane. While the light remained red, the defendant attempted to turn left, and the plaintiff's vehicle struck the sedan's passenger side. The plaintiff sustained neck and back injuries.

The plaintiff filed a lawsuit, alleging the defendant's negligent operation of the vehicle caused the collision. During the trial, the police officer who pulled over the defendant testified that he did not signal the defendant to proceed through the red light and opined that the defendant caused the accident by failing to yield. The plaintiff testified that he was traveling approximately 50 mph in a 55 mph zone and claimed injuries including a C7-T1 disc protrusion and cervical, thoracic, and lumbar sprains and strains, despite acknowledging prior lower back pain two weeks before the accident. Photos of significant vehicle damage were presented. The plaintiff sought specific damages for past medical expenses, physical impairment, and pain and suffering, with unspecified damages for future pain and anguish.

The defendant did not attend the trial. Defense counsel argued that the defendant was not negligent, suggesting the presence of the police officer might have caused the defendant to proceed prematurely. Regarding injuries, the defense contended that any lower back issues were pre-existing. A defense orthopedic surgeon testified that the plaintiff's MRIs were not medically necessary given the initial lack of radicular symptoms and objective findings. The defense suggested a lower award for medical expenses.

After a one-day trial and 1.5 hours of deliberation, the jury found the defendant liable for the accident and did not find the plaintiff negligent. The jury awarded the plaintiff $14,977.84.

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 Fort Bend County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
  • Resolved in 2019, 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

58
/100
Questionable

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.

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