Harris County Jury Awards $165,803 in Rear-End Collision
One driver stopped for a red light and was rear-ended by the vehicle behind them. The occupants of the stopped vehicle sustained injuries. The driver who caused the collision was found negligent.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Back Strain / Soft Tissue Injuries
Back strain and soft tissue injuries are among the most common injuries sustained in car accidents. These injuries affect muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the back, often resulting from the sudden impact forces experienced during a collision.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $90,803
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2022
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $90,803 is above the median of $13,021 for back strain / soft tissue cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $5,408 to $31,445, based on 800 cases in our database.
Case Overview
In March 2014, a motor vehicle collision occurred in Harris County, Texas, involving three plaintiffs and one defendant. The plaintiffs' vehicle was stopped or slowing for a red light when the defendant, driving behind them, failed to stop and collided with the rear of their car, resulting in injuries to all three plaintiffs.
The plaintiffs filed a lawsuit in March 2016, alleging the defendant was negligent in her driving, specifically citing failure to keep a proper lookout, control speed, brake in time, steer to avoid the collision, and maintain an assured clear distance. The defendant initially denied the allegations and raised affirmative defenses, including that she did not proximately cause the plaintiffs' damages, that they failed to mitigate damages, and that their injuries might be pre-existing conditions.
During litigation, the court granted the plaintiffs' motion to compel the defendant's deposition and later granted the plaintiffs' no-evidence motion for summary judgment on most of the defendant's affirmative defenses, though the issue of pre-existing conditions remained. Prior to trial, in April 2022, the defendant stipulated to negligence as the proximate cause of the crash.
A jury subsequently returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs. The court awarded one plaintiff $67,730.95, another $20,341.36, and the third $77,730.95, including amounts for past and future physical pain, past medical expenses, and pre-judgment interest. The total judgment against the defendant was $165,803.26. The defendant's motion for a new trial was denied in July 2022, finalizing the judgment.
Understanding This Case
- The majority of soft tissue injuries resolve within 6-12 weeks with proper treatment. However, approximately 10-20% of cases may develop into chronic conditions requiring ongoing care.
- 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 2022, 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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