Houston Jury Awards $124,000 in Police Cruiser Rear-End Collision
One driver was stopped at a stop sign when their vehicle was hit from behind by a police cruiser. The driver claimed the police officer was negligent and caused injuries including disc displacement and nerve irritation. The jury found the officer negligent and awarded damages for past and future harm.
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
- $124,000
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2017
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Cervical Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Police Liability, Rear End Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $124,000 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 Houston, Texas, a female driver alleged she was seriously injured when her vehicle was struck from behind by a City of Houston police cruiser on December 12, 2013. The plaintiff maintained her vehicle was stopped at a stop sign on Blodgett Street when the collision occurred. She claimed the defendant police officer negligently operated the cruiser by failing to stop, traveling at an unreasonable speed, and failing to maintain a proper lookout. The plaintiff alleged cervical and lumbar disc displacement with nerve root irritation, radiculopathy requiring an epidural injection, and sprain/strain injuries to her neck, back, knee, ankle, and shoulders.
The defendant city and defendant officer denied all allegations of negligence and injury. After hearing arguments, a jury found that the defendant officer was negligent and that this negligence caused harm to the plaintiff.
The jury awarded the plaintiff $58,150 in past damages and $65,850 in future damages.
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 2017, 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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