Harris County Jury Awards $144,006 in Motor Vehicle Negligence
One driver was stopped at a red light when the other driver, operating a cement mixer, changed lanes and struck the stopped vehicle. The driver who was struck alleged the other driver was negligent in changing lanes unsafely and failing to keep a proper lookout. The collision caused serious injuries to the neck, shoulder, and back.
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
- $144,006
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2016
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Cervical Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Truck/Commercial
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Auto/Truck Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $144,006 is above 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
A plaintiff filed a vehicular negligence lawsuit following a July 22, 2012 collision on Rankin Road in Harris County, Texas. The plaintiff alleged that while stopped in the right lane at a red light, a cement mixer operated by a defendant driver moved from the left turn lane into the plaintiff's path as the light changed, striking the plaintiff's vehicle. The plaintiff accused the defendant driver of negligent lane change, failing to keep a proper lookout, and failing to maintain a single lane. The plaintiff also sought to hold the defendant company, the driver's employer, liable for the driver's actions.
The plaintiff claimed serious and permanent injuries, including cervical disc injuries and AC shoulder separation, both requiring surgery, as well as lumbar disc injuries with nerve impingement and radiculopathy. The defendants, including the driver and the company that owned the cement mixer, made a general denial of all allegations of negligence and injury. The record indicated the defendant driver initially left the scene but stopped when a police cruiser arrived.
The court found the defendants 100% liable for the collision and the plaintiff's damages. The plaintiff was awarded $74,006 in past damages and $70,000 in future damages, totaling $144,006.
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 Harris County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2016, 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 Harris County.
Similar cases you may find useful
Handpicked by matching injury type, accident details, and outcome to this case.
Explore More Cases Like This
Browse similar cases by injury type and location to get a better understanding of case values in your area.