Harris County Jury Awards $421.40 in Rear-End Collision
One driver rear-ended another vehicle. The driver who was hit suffered injuries and sought compensation for medical expenses, pain, and lost wages. The other driver denied fault and raised a defense regarding medical expense recovery limits. The case went to trial, and a jury found in favor of the injured driver, awarding damages.
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
- $421
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2021
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Accident
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $421 is below 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
A rear-end collision occurred on December 13, 2016, near the 1000 Block of N. Post Oak Rd. in Harris County, Texas, when the defendant's vehicle struck the plaintiff's vehicle. The plaintiff filed a lawsuit on January 8, 2018, alleging the defendant drove negligently by failing to maintain a proper lookout, driving inattentively, exceeding the speed limit, following too closely, and failing to timely apply brakes. The plaintiff sought compensation for bodily injuries, including past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, physical impairment, and lost wages.
The defendant responded with a general denial of the plaintiff's allegations and raised a defense concerning limitations on the recovery of medical expenses. After mandatory mediation, the case proceeded to trial. On May 12, 2021, a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, awarding $350.00 in general damages. A judgment on the merits was entered on June 7, 2021, awarding the plaintiff an additional $71.40 in general damages, bringing the total award to $421.40.
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 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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