Houston Court Awards $130,842 in Rear-End Collision
One driver was stopped in traffic when the other driver rear-ended their pickup truck. The injured driver claimed injuries to their neck, back, and shoulder. The defense argued the shoulder injury was pre-existing. The case was tried as a bench trial.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $130,842
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2016
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Shoulder Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $130,842 is above the median of $39,790 for shoulder injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $11,471 to $130,842, based on 23 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A former cabinet finisher sustained injuries in a June 6, 2013, rear-end collision on Texas State Highway Beltway 8 near Houston. The plaintiff's stopped pickup truck was struck by a work van operated by an employee of Halco Mechanical Inc. The plaintiff sued the driver's estate and the employer for negligence; Halco Mechanical conceded liability for the incident at trial.
The plaintiff was diagnosed with a partial thickness tear of the right rotator cuff, and cervical and lumbar sprains. He underwent surgery, extensive physical therapy, and pain management, reporting lasting scarring. The plaintiff sought between $500,000 and $1 million in total damages, including over $100,000 for past medical and $200,000 for future medical expenses.
The central dispute at trial focused on the causation of the plaintiff's shoulder injury. The plaintiff's treating orthopedic surgeon testified the rotator cuff injury was causally related to the collision. However, the defense argued the injury was pre-existing and unrelated, presenting expert testimony based on the plaintiff's pre-accident medical records, which documented prior rotator cuff surgery.
The court awarded the plaintiff $130,842.29. This included $103,842 for past medical costs and $20,000 for future medical costs, plus amounts for past physical impairment, pain and suffering, and disfigurement. The award was significantly lower than the plaintiff's request for future medical and non-economic damages, reflecting the court's apparent consideration of the defense's argument regarding the pre-existing injury. Prejudgment interest and taxable costs were also added.
Understanding This Case
- 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 differs from typical similar cases
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