Harris County Jury Finds Negligence, Awards $2,000 in Lane Change Crash
One driver was changing lanes when their vehicle struck the side of another vehicle. The occupants of the struck vehicle claimed spinal injuries. The driver who changed lanes stated they experienced a sudden vision problem, causing them to misjudge the distance to the other vehicle. The jury found the driver who changed lanes negligent.
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
- $2,000
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2016
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Cervical Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Sideswipe
- Case Type
- Herniated Disc, Herniated Disc, Chiropractic
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $2,000 is below the median of $40,000 for cervical disc injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $18,000 to $100,000, based on 250 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On April 24, 2012, a two-vehicle collision occurred in Harris County, Texas. The plaintiff drivers, who were operating a box truck as bread delivery people, were traveling in the left lane when the defendant driver, operating an SUV in the right lane, attempted to change lanes. The defendant's vehicle struck the right side of the plaintiffs' truck.
The plaintiffs subsequently filed a lawsuit, alleging the defendant was negligent by failing to maintain a proper lookout and changing lanes unsafely. They claimed cervical herniated discs and sought damages for medical expenses, which totaled approximately $70,000 for one plaintiff and $40,000 for the other, along with past physical pain. The defendant denied negligence, asserting a sudden emergency. He testified that he experienced a sudden, temporary vision problem, and upon his vision clearing, he moved to change lanes, misjudging the plaintiffs' position.
The defense argued the impact was minor, presenting a biomechanics expert who testified that the truck's lateral velocity change was minimal, with accelerations comparable to a sneeze. The defense also introduced photos showing little to no damage to either vehicle, both of which were driven from the scene. One plaintiff did not attend the two-day trial.
After 45 minutes of deliberation, the jury found the defendant negligent but awarded the plaintiffs a total of $2,000. Each plaintiff received $1,000 for past physical pain and past medical costs, respectively.
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 significantly deviates from similar cases
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