Houston Jury Awards $13,750 in Pedestrian Crash With Comparative Fault
One driver was crossing an intersection when the other driver allegedly ran a red light and struck them. The first driver claimed injuries to their head, neck, back, and knees. The second driver argued the first driver's actions caused the incident. The jury found both parties 50% liable for the accident.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Neck Injury (Whiplash) Injuries
Whiplash is a neck injury caused by rapid back-and-forth movement of the head, commonly occurring in rear-end collisions. Despite being frequently dismissed, whiplash can cause significant pain and disability.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $27,500
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2019
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Neck Injury (Whiplash)
- Accident Type
- Pedestrian
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Auto/Pedestrian Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $27,500 is above the median of $9,367 for neck injury (whiplash) cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $3,100 to $25,000, based on 590 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On January 4, 2016, a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Greenbriar Drive and University Boulevard in Houston, Texas. The plaintiff, a 27-year-old male, alleged he was lawfully crossing the street when the defendant driver, traveling southbound on Greenbriar Drive, disregarded a red light and entered the intersection. The plaintiff claimed injuries to his head, neck, back, and knees, requiring chiropractic treatment. A negligence lawsuit was filed, alleging the defendant failed to properly apply the brakes, pay attention, obey traffic signals, and control the vehicle.
The defendant denied all allegations of negligence and injury, arguing that the plaintiff's actions were the sole or contributory cause of the incident and any resulting damages. Following a trial, a jury found both the plaintiff and the defendant each 50% liable for causing the accident. The jury awarded the plaintiff $27,500 in damages, which were subsequently reduced to $13,750 to reflect the comparative fault finding.
Understanding This Case
- Most whiplash injuries improve within 2-3 months. However, about 25% of patients experience chronic symptoms lasting over a year, significantly impacting quality of life.
- 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 2019, 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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