Houston Jury Awards $18,015 for Negligent Rear-End Collision
One driver was stopped at a red light when the other driver, who was looking at their phone, rear-ended them. The impact pushed the first vehicle into the car in front of it. The injured driver claimed neck and back pain and lost wages.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Back Strain / Soft Tissue Injuries
Back strain and soft tissue injuries are among the most common injuries sustained in car accidents. These injuries affect muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the back, often resulting from the sudden impact forces experienced during a collision.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $18,015
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2019
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Multiple Vehicle Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $18,015 is near the median of $13,980 for back strain / soft tissue cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $5,649 to $30,000, based on 1000 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A plaintiff sought damages following a rear-end collision in Houston, Texas, on August 1, 2017. The plaintiff alleged that while stopped at a red light on FM 1960 at Walters Road, the defendant struck the plaintiff's vehicle from behind, pushing it into a third vehicle. The defendant reportedly admitted at the scene to being distracted by a cell phone, stating that when attention returned to the road, traffic had stopped and a collision could not be avoided. The plaintiff asserted the defendant's negligence included distracted driving, failing to maintain a proper lookout, and failing to control vehicle speed, leading to cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal injuries.
The defendant generally denied all allegations of negligence and injury. After a trial, a jury found the defendant negligent. The jury awarded the plaintiff $18,015, which included $13,215 for past pain and suffering and $4,800 for past lost wages.
Understanding This Case
- The majority of soft tissue injuries resolve within 6-12 weeks with proper treatment. However, approximately 10-20% of cases may develop into chronic conditions requiring ongoing care.
- 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 aligns very well with similar cases
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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