Houston Jury Awards $15,151 After Split Liability Collision
One driver was turning left out of a parking lot and crossed multiple lanes of traffic. The other driver was proceeding in the left lane and struck the turning vehicle. The driver who was turning admitted fault but claimed the other driver was also at fault for speeding and not paying attention. The injured driver sought damages for neck injuries, including herniated discs.
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
- $21,645
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2019
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Cervical Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- neck, herniated disc, cervical
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $21,645 is near 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
On January 8, 2015, a collision occurred on Bissonnet Street in Houston when a sedan driven by the plaintiff struck a vehicle operated by the defendant. The defendant was turning left from a parking lot, crossing multiple lanes of traffic before entering the plaintiff's lane. The plaintiff sustained neck injuries and subsequently filed a lawsuit, alleging the defendant's negligent operation of her vehicle. The plaintiff's counsel argued the plaintiff was not negligent, noting she was likely driving below the 35 mph speed limit due to traffic conditions. The defendant acknowledged some negligence but contended the plaintiff was also at fault, claiming she believed she had sufficient time to complete the turn after seeing the plaintiff approach. The defense asserted the plaintiff drove too fast and failed to maintain a proper lookout.
The plaintiff sought treatment, including chiropractic care and a cervical epidural steroid injection, for claimed herniated discs (C4-5 and C5-6). She requested approximately $51,000 for past medical expenses, pain and suffering, and physical impairment. After a three-day trial, a Houston jury found the defendant 70 percent negligent and the plaintiff 30 percent comparatively negligent. The jury awarded the plaintiff $21,645. This amount was then reduced due to the comparative negligence finding, resulting in a net recovery of $15,151.50.
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 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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