Houston Jury Awards $19,000 in Uninsured Motorist Rear-End Crash
Two people in a stopped vehicle were hit from behind by an uninsured driver. They claimed permanent back injuries. The insurance company argued the injuries were not compensable. A jury awarded damages for past medical expenses and mental anguish.
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
- $19,000
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2015
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Lumbar Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Insurance Obligation, Insurance law, Insurance obligation, Damages
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $19,000 is below 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
In Houston, Texas, an uninsured motorist benefits action arose from a vehicular collision on June 7, 2013. A plaintiff driver and a plaintiff passenger were stopped in traffic when an uninsured vehicle struck their car from the rear. The plaintiffs subsequently filed a claim against their own insurance company, seeking uninsured motorist benefits.
The plaintiff driver alleged injuries including lumbar disc damage and segmental dysfunction in the cervical and thoracic spine, along with headaches and muscle spasms. The plaintiff passenger claimed disc bulges at L4-5 and L5-S1. The defendant insurance company denied that the plaintiffs had sustained compensable injuries or were legally entitled to recover damages.
A jury found in favor of both plaintiffs. The plaintiff driver received $10,000 for past medical expenses and $1,000 for mental anguish. The plaintiff passenger was awarded $7,500 for past suffering and $500 for mental anguish, resulting in a total judgment of $19,000.
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 2015, 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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