Houston Jury Awards $20,604 in Multi-Vehicle Collision
One driver was traveling eastbound when another vehicle struck them. The second vehicle had previously been struck by a third vehicle. The collision caused injuries to the neck, back, and knee. The jury found the second driver to be mostly at fault for the accident.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Neck Injury (Whiplash) Injuries
Whiplash is a neck injury caused by rapid back-and-forth movement of the head, commonly occurring in rear-end collisions. Despite being frequently dismissed, whiplash can cause significant pain and disability.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $40,400
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2017
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Neck Injury (Whiplash)
- Accident Type
- Multi-vehicle
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Multiple Vehicle Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $40,400 is above the median of $9,367 for neck injury (whiplash) cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $3,100 to $25,000, based on 590 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On December 16, 2013, a plaintiff was traveling eastbound on FM 529 in Houston, Texas, when a multi-vehicle collision occurred. A defendant, traveling in the same direction, struck a non-party vehicle, causing it to spin and collide with the plaintiff’s vehicle. The plaintiff subsequently filed a personal injury lawsuit, alleging the defendant was negligent in failing to control vehicle speed, maintain a proper lookout, apply brakes, and be aware of traffic. As a result of the collision, the plaintiff reported injuries to the neck and back, along with knee pain, which required treatment from an interventional orthopedist.
The defendant denied all allegations of negligence, asserting the accident was unavoidable due to a sudden emergency and that the plaintiff’s own contributory negligence caused the incident. On June 27, 2017, a jury in Houston, Texas, found the defendant 51% negligent and the plaintiff 49% negligent. The jury awarded the plaintiff $40,400 in total damages, which was reduced to $20,604 to account for the plaintiff’s comparative fault.
Understanding This Case
- Most whiplash injuries improve within 2-3 months. However, about 25% of patients experience chronic symptoms lasting over a year, significantly impacting quality of life.
- 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 2017, 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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