Houston Jury Awards $10,000 in Rear-End Collision
One driver stopped at a red light was hit from behind by another driver. The driver who was hit from behind claimed injuries including headaches, back and neck pain, and blurred vision. The other driver admitted fault for the collision but disputed the severity of the injuries. A jury awarded damages for pain and suffering, lost wages, and medical expenses.
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
- $10,000
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2016
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Rear End Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $10,000 is near the median of $13,021 for back strain / soft tissue cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $5,408 to $31,445, based on 800 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A rear-end collision occurred on November 10, 2012, at the intersection of Briar Forest Drive and Briar Home Drive in Houston, Texas. The plaintiff's vehicle, which was stopped at a red light, was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by the defendant. The plaintiff subsequently filed a motor vehicle negligence action.
The plaintiff alleged that the defendant was negligent for failing to maintain a proper lookout, failing to timely apply the brakes, failing to maintain a safe and assured clear distance, and driving while inattentive. As a result of the collision, the plaintiff claimed to suffer various serious injuries, including headaches, cervical, thoracic, and lumbar muscle and disk injuries, blurred vision, forearm and elbow sprain, and chest pain. The defendant admitted liability for causing the accident but disputed the extent and permanence of the plaintiff's injuries, presenting counter medical testimony that the claimed ailments were subjective and degenerative.
Following a trial, a jury found in favor of the plaintiff. The jury awarded total damages of $10,000, which included $4,926 for pain and suffering, $1,536 for lost wages, and $3,538 for medical expenses.
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 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 aligns very well with similar cases
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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