Houston Jury Awards $160,000 in Stop Sign Collision
One driver failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with another vehicle. The driver who was hit sustained serious neck and back injuries requiring surgery. The other driver argued that a bush obstructed the stop sign. The jury found all parties partially negligent and awarded damages to the injured driver and his wife for loss of consortium.
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
- $160,000
- County
- Houston County, TX
- Resolved
- 2016
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Cervical Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- T-bone
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Intersection Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $160,000 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
A vehicular negligence action in Houston, Texas, arose from a collision that occurred on May 16, 2009. The plaintiff, a 50-year-old male, was driving on Mandell Street when his vehicle was broadsided by another driver who reportedly disregarded a stop sign on Marshall Street. The plaintiff sustained serious neck and low back injuries that later required surgery. The plaintiff and his spouse filed a lawsuit, alleging the defendant driver's negligence and claiming damages for the plaintiff's injuries and the spouse's loss of consortium.
The defendant driver denied negligence, arguing that a large bush owned by defendant homeowners obscured the stop sign at the intersection. The defendant driver also claimed the defendant City of Houston was negligent for failing to properly maintain the stop sign and allowing its visibility to become obstructed.
Following a trial, a jury found multiple parties negligent in the collision. The defendant driver was found 33% negligent, the defendant homeowners 33% negligent, and the defendant City of Houston 34% negligent. The jury awarded the plaintiff $120,000 for damages related to his injuries and awarded his spouse $40,000 for loss of consortium.
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 Houston 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 differs from typical similar cases
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