Fort Worth Jury Awards $20,641 in Motor Vehicle Negligence
One driver pulled out of a parking lot and was broadsided by another driver. The injured driver claimed neck injuries, including strains, sprains, and a possible disc bulge. The case stipulated to liability. The jury awarded damages for past medical bills, pain, and impairment.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Neck Injury (Whiplash) Injuries
Whiplash is a neck injury caused by rapid back-and-forth movement of the head, commonly occurring in rear-end collisions. Despite being frequently dismissed, whiplash can cause significant pain and disability.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $20,641
- County
- Tarrant County, TX
- Resolved
- 2018
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Neck Injury (Whiplash)
- Accident Type
- T-bone
- Case Type
- Aggravation of Pre-existing Condition, Bulging Disc, Cervical
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $20,641 is near the median of $9,367 for neck injury (whiplash) cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $3,100 to $25,000, based on 590 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A motor vehicle collision occurred on May 31, 2016, in Fort Worth, Texas. The plaintiff, driving a Chevrolet Silverado, broadsided a Ford F-150 pickup truck driven by the defendant, who had pulled out of a parking lot into the plaintiff's path. The plaintiff subsequently sued the defendant, alleging negligence for failing to keep a proper lookout and failing to yield the right of way. The defendant stipulated to liability before trial and did not attend the proceedings due to unrelated health issues.
The plaintiff, a 65-year-old retiree, claimed primarily neck injuries, including cervical strains, sprains, and a possible disc bulge, along with an aggravation of a prior lumbar injury. Treatment involved an emergency room visit, physical therapy with a chiropractor, and a single visit to a pain management specialist. The plaintiff sought $19,641 for past medical expenses, in addition to compensation for past and future physical pain, mental anguish, and physical impairment.
The defense argued that some of the plaintiff's claimed cervical conditions were age-related and degenerative. The defense also questioned the necessity and duration of treatment, noting a nine-day gap before chiropractic care, suggesting some treatment was for the pre-existing lumbar injury, and highlighting the plaintiff's failure to disclose the prior injury to initial medical providers. After a one-day trial, a Fort Worth jury awarded the plaintiff $20,641. The award included $19,641 for past medical costs and $1,000 for past physical impairment.
Understanding This Case
- Most whiplash injuries improve within 2-3 months. However, about 25% of patients experience chronic symptoms lasting over a year, significantly impacting quality of life.
- 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 Tarrant 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 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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