Harris County Jury Awards $27,584.45 in Rear-End Collision
One driver was traveling on a road when their car was struck from behind by another vehicle. The driver who was struck claimed injuries to their back, leg, neck, and shoulders. The lawsuit alleged the other driver was negligent due to inattention and failure to control speed. Evidence suggested the driver at fault may have been speeding and using a phone. The defense did not strongly dispute fault for the accident.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Spinal Cord Injury Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are among the most catastrophic outcomes of car accidents, potentially resulting in partial or complete paralysis. These injuries require extensive medical care and significantly impact quality of life.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $27,584
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2021
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $27,584 is below the median of $25,955,498 for spinal cord injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $7,000,000 to $67,470,000, based on 23 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On September 17, 2016, a plaintiff's vehicle was rear-ended on Farm to Market Road 1960 in Harris County. The plaintiff subsequently sued the driver of the trailing vehicle, alleging negligence and claiming injuries to the back, a leg, neck, and shoulders, including multiple herniated discs. Plaintiff's counsel argued the defendant failed to exercise due caution, supported by a police report indicating the defendant was inattentive and failed to control speed. A witness also reportedly saw the defendant speeding and appearing to send a text message. The defendant stated during a deposition that he briefly glanced at his GPS before noticing stopped traffic.
The defense did not strongly dispute liability, but challenged the extent of the plaintiff's claimed injuries. It noted the police report initially stated the plaintiff was not injured and argued that much of the subsequent chiropractic treatment was attorney-referred. The plaintiff sought $1,797,248.90 in damages for medical expenses, pain, anguish, and impairment, while the defense suggested an award of $3,970.50, covering initial hospital charges.
After a three-day trial, a Harris County jury deliberated for three hours. The jury found the defendant liable for the collision and awarded the plaintiff $27,584.45 for past medical costs and past physical pain.
Understanding This Case
- Spinal cord injuries are typically permanent, though some incomplete injuries may see partial recovery. Life expectancy may be reduced, and quality of life is significantly impacted.
- 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 2021, 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 significantly deviates from 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.
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