Houston Jury Awards $208,641.15 in Red-Light Collision
One driver was approaching an intersection when another driver ran a red light, causing a collision. The injured driver claimed injuries to his back and neck, including a herniated disc and nerve impingement. The case proceeded to trial on damages only after liability was conceded. The jury awarded damages for past and future medical expenses, pain, and impairment.
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
- $208,641
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2019
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Lumbar Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $208,641 is near 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
On March 14, 2016, a collision occurred on the southbound feeder road of the Gulf Freeway near Bellfort Avenue in Houston. The defendant's vehicle reportedly ran a red light and struck the plaintiff's car. The plaintiff, a mason, claimed significant back and neck injuries, including disc herniation, protrusion, and spinal nerve impingement, leading to radiculopathy. He was briefly hospitalized. The plaintiff filed a negligence lawsuit, and the defendant conceded liability, proceeding to trial on damages only.
The plaintiff presented $13,641.15 in past medical expenses and sought substantial damages for future pain, impairment, and lost enjoyment of life, citing ongoing pain, physical limitations, and a job change. A life-care-planning expert testified to an estimated $172,000 in future medical costs over 43 years for injections and physical therapy. The defense disputed causation, arguing the plaintiff's pain was job-related, not accident-related, highlighting minimal vehicle damage and a two-year treatment gap. The defense also challenged the medical charges as excessive.
After a two-day trial, the jury deliberated for three hours before awarding the plaintiff $208,641.15. Jurors later indicated they calculated future medical expenses by multiplying specific physical therapy charges by the plaintiff's life expectancy.
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 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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