Harris County Jury Awards $133,000 After Rear-End Collision
One driver ran into the back of another vehicle stopped at a red light. The injured driver claimed serious neck and back injuries. The drivers settled, but the injured driver's insurance company denied additional underinsured motorist benefits. A jury awarded the injured driver more compensation.
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
- Settlement
- Amount
- $133,000
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2017
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Cervical Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Insurance Obligation, Insurance law, Insurance obligation, Rear end collision
Settlement Context
This settlement of $133,000 is near the median of $75,000 for cervical disc injury cases resolved by settlement. The typical range is $20,261 to $300,000, based on 119 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A plaintiff was involved in a rear-end collision on June 30, 2012, while stopped at a red light in Harris County, Texas. The at-fault driver admitted liability, and the plaintiff reported suffering serious neck and back injuries, including cervical and lumbar disc injuries and lumbar radiculitis that required injections. The plaintiff settled with the at-fault driver for the driver's $50,000 policy limits.
Following this initial settlement, the plaintiff sought underinsured motorist benefits from his own insurance carrier, which became the defendant in this case. The defendant insurance company denied the claim, arguing that the plaintiff had been adequately compensated for his injuries by the prior settlement. The plaintiff subsequently filed a lawsuit, seeking additional damages for his sustained injuries.
A jury found in favor of the plaintiff. The jury determined that the plaintiff was entitled to an additional $83,000 in past damages and $50,000 in future damages, totaling $133,000.
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 was resolved through a settlement, avoiding the uncertainty and expense of a trial. Settlements typically resolve faster and provide guaranteed compensation.
- This case was resolved in Harris 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 differs from typical similar cases
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