Houston Jury Awards $153,044 After Negligent Car Crash
One driver turned right at an intersection and struck the other driver's vehicle. The injured driver alleged the other driver was negligent for failing to control speed, drive in a single lane, change lanes unsafely, keep a proper lookout, and disregard a stop signal. The jury found the turning driver negligent.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Lumbar Disc Injury Injuries
Lumbar disc injuries affect the lower back (L1-L5 and S1), which bears significant body weight and is particularly vulnerable to trauma. These injuries can cause debilitating pain and functional limitations.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $153,044
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2020
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Lumbar Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- T-bone
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Right Turn Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $153,044 is near the median of $50,756 for lumbar disc injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $20,000 to $210,000, based on 204 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A vehicular negligence lawsuit arose from a collision that occurred on July 21, 2016, in Houston, Texas. The plaintiff alleged that the defendant made an improper right turn at the intersection of Elm Street and Chimney Rock, striking the plaintiff's vehicle and causing serious and permanent injuries to the neck and back.
According to the plaintiff, the defendant was traveling in the left lane on Elm Street when an illegal right turn was executed, impacting the front driver's side of the plaintiff's vehicle. The plaintiff sustained injuries diagnosed as segmental and somatic dysfunction, muscle spasms, hip pain, and disc protrusions and herniations in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions, which required epidural steroid injections. The plaintiff claimed the defendant was negligent by failing to control vehicle speed, not driving in a single lane, making unsafe lane changes, failing to keep a proper lookout, and disregarding a traffic signal.
The defendant denied all allegations of negligence and injury, asserting that the plaintiff's actions caused or contributed to the accident. Following a trial, a jury determined that only the defendant was negligent. The jury awarded the plaintiff a total of $153,044, comprising $46,600 for past pain and suffering, $36,444.29 for past medical expenses, and $70,000 for future pain and suffering.
Understanding This Case
- About 90% of lumbar disc herniations improve with conservative treatment. However, those requiring surgery may face permanent work restrictions and ongoing pain management needs.
- 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 2020, 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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