Houston Jury Awards $195,145 in Rear-End Bus Collision
One driver was stopped in traffic when the other driver hit them from behind. The first driver claimed serious neck injuries. The second driver admitted fault but argued the injuries were not related to the crash. A jury found the second driver's actions caused harm and awarded damages.
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
- $195,145
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2015
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Cervical Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Rear End Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $195,145 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
On January 15, 2013, a plaintiff's vehicle, stopped in traffic on Sam Houston Parkway East and State Highway 288 South in Houston, was struck from the rear by a school bus owned by the defendant school district. The road was wet due to rain, and the impact crushed the rear of the plaintiff's vehicle. The plaintiff was transported to a hospital following the collision.
The plaintiff subsequently filed a vehicular negligence lawsuit against the school district and its driver. The plaintiff alleged the driver failed to keep a proper lookout, drove at an unsafe speed, and operated the bus unsafely. The lawsuit also claimed the school district negligently entrusted the vehicle to the driver. The plaintiff sought damages for cervical disc herniations at C2-7, which required facet block injections and were expected to necessitate future surgery, according to her orthopedist.
The defendant school district admitted liability for the collision itself but disputed the causation and severity of the plaintiff's claimed injuries. The defense argued that any cervical spine injuries sustained by the plaintiff were degenerative in nature and not causally related to the accident.
A jury found that the defendant's negligence was a factual cause of harm to the plaintiff. The jury awarded the plaintiff $139,286 for past damages and $65,859 for future damages, totaling $195,145.
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 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 differs from typical similar cases
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