Houston Judge Awards $127,260 in Rear-End Collision Default
One driver stopped at a red light when the other driver rear-ended them. The first driver sued, alleging the second driver was negligent. The case involved multiple trial settings and sanctions against the defendant for failing to comply with court orders. A default judgment was entered in favor of the plaintiff.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $127,260
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2025
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Other
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Accident
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $127,260 is above the median of $14,473 for other cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $4,770 to $42,056, based on 190 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On June 10, 2015, a vehicle operated by the plaintiff was rear-ended while stopped at a red light at Bissonnet Street and Sam Houston Parkway in Houston, Texas. The plaintiff filed a lawsuit on June 2, 2017, alleging the defendant was negligent in the operation of their vehicle, including claims of failing to control speed, apply brakes, maintain a proper lookout, and obey Texas statutes regarding vehicle operation. The plaintiff sought compensation for past and future physical pain, mental anguish, medical expenses, loss of earnings, disfigurement, and physical impairment.
The case proceeded through the court system with several trial settings. On January 31, 2018, the defendant failed to attend a mandatory mediation session, prompting the plaintiff to file motions for sanctions and default judgment. The case was subsequently reset for trial multiple times.
The defendant later failed to appear for scheduled trial settings, including on March 13, 2019, and May 7, 2019. On May 7, 2019, the court sanctioned the defendant for failure to comply with court orders and entered a default judgment in favor of the plaintiff. The final judgment awarded the plaintiff total damages of $127,260.00. This amount included compensation for past and future medical expenses, past and future mental anguish, past and future loss of society, and loss of earning capacity.
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 2025, 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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