Harris County, Texas Jury Awards $100,000 in Airport Shuttle Collision
One driver was operating an airport shuttle when it was struck by a tug vehicle driven by another individual. The collision occurred inside an airport. The person in the shuttle sustained injuries requiring surgery. The jury determined that the shuttle driver was mostly at fault for the crash.
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
- $100,000
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2023
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Cervical Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Multi-vehicle
- Case Type
- Airline Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $100,000 is above 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
In November 2016, a passenger sustained serious injuries when an airport shuttle, in which the plaintiff was riding, collided with an airline tug at George Bush International Airport in Harris County, Texas. The plaintiff subsequently filed a personal injury negligence lawsuit, alleging the tug driver failed to maintain a proper lookout, drove too fast for conditions, and failed to take evasive action. The lawsuit also sought to hold the airline vicariously liable for the employee's actions.
The plaintiff claimed the collision resulted in cervical disc injuries requiring a two-level cervical discectomy and disc replacement surgery. The defendants denied all allegations of negligence, contending that the shuttle driver, not the tug operator, was responsible for the accident.
After hearing arguments, the jury determined that the shuttle driver was 95% negligent and the tug driver was 5% negligent. The jury awarded the plaintiff $100,000 in damages. Based on the allocation of fault, the defendants were responsible for $5,000 of the total verdict.
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 2023, 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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