Harris County, Texas Jury Awards $8,000 in Bus Collision
One driver was a passenger on a public bus when another driver attempted to make a right turn from the wrong lane and struck the bus. The impact caused the passenger to be thrown from her seat. The passenger alleged the other driver was negligent in turning from the wrong lane and failing to obey traffic laws. The passenger claimed injuries to her neck, lower back, and right arm. The other driver denied negligence and argued the passenger's injuries were preexisting.
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
- $8,000
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2015
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- T-bone
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Right Turn Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $8,000 is near the median of $13,980 for back strain / soft tissue cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $5,649 to $30,000, based on 1000 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On July 6, 2012, in Harris County, Texas, a collision occurred between a public bus and a passenger vehicle. The plaintiff, a passenger on the bus, was reportedly thrown from her seat and injured when the defendant, driving the other vehicle, attempted a right turn from an incorrect lane and struck the bus. The plaintiff subsequently filed a vehicular negligence lawsuit, alleging the defendant violated state transportation code sections by making an improper turn and failing to drive in a single lane. The plaintiff claimed the incident caused injuries to her cervical and lumbar regions and a right arm sprain.
The defendant denied all allegations of negligence. The defense further argued that any injuries claimed by the plaintiff were preexisting and unrelated to the collision. Following a trial, a jury found the defendant negligent and awarded the plaintiff $3,000 for medical expenses and $5,000 for pain and suffering.
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 2015, 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 is within expected ranges
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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