Harris County Jury Awards $15,658 in Rear-End Collision
One driver stopped at an intersection and was rear-ended by another car. The driver who stopped claimed neck and back injuries, including herniated discs. The other driver's attorney argued it was an accident and not negligence. The jury found the driver who rear-ended the other liable.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Lumbar Disc Injury Injuries
Lumbar disc injuries affect the lower back (L1-L5 and S1), which bears significant body weight and is particularly vulnerable to trauma. These injuries can cause debilitating pain and functional limitations.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $16,658
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2020
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Lumbar Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $16,658 is below the median of $50,756 for lumbar disc injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $20,000 to $210,000, based on 204 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On March 23, 2015, in Spring, Texas, a contractor was driving a truck with two passengers near Interstate 45 and Louetta Road when a compact car, driven by the defendant, rear-ended the truck. The plaintiff, the truck's driver, claimed to have suffered neck and back injuries, including disc herniations, from the collision. Police did not investigate the incident. The plaintiff subsequently filed a lawsuit in Harris County, alleging the defendant was negligent in the operation of her vehicle. While two other individuals were initially also plaintiffs, one nonsuited his claims, and the other settled before trial.
During the trial, the defendant testified that she had looked left for traffic and did not realize the plaintiff's truck had stopped, arguing her conduct did not constitute negligence. The plaintiff presented evidence of treatment, including chiropractic care and a lumbar epidural steroid injection, and sought approximately $35,000 for past medical expenses. The defense highlighted a significant gap in the plaintiff's medical treatment, suggested that hospital records indicated degenerative disc conditions, and noted that the medical bills remained unpaid. The defense also contended that the impact to the plaintiff's truck was minor, as the vehicle had a heavy steel rear bumper and sustained little damage.
After a one-day trial and 2.5 hours of deliberation, the jury found the defendant liable for the accident. The jury awarded the plaintiff $15,658.15. Jurors indicated to counsel that they did not award damages for medical bills incurred after the identified gap in the plaintiff's treatment.
Understanding This Case
- About 90% of lumbar disc herniations improve with conservative treatment. However, those requiring surgery may face permanent work restrictions and ongoing pain management needs.
- 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 2020, 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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