Houston Jury Awards $24,009.02 in Rear-End Collision
One driver was stopped at a red light when the other driver failed to control speed and rear-ended her vehicle. The injured driver sued, alleging the other driver was negligent. The other driver claimed the injured driver failed to mitigate damages, the injuries were from a pre-existing condition, and it was an unavoidable accident. The jury found in favor of the injured driver.
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
- $24,009
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2025
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Accident
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $24,009 is near the median of $13,021 for back strain / soft tissue cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $5,408 to $31,445, based on 800 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On August 5, 2021, a plaintiff's 2016 Nissan Pathfinder was rear-ended by a defendant's Ford Expedition at the intersection of Bellfort Avenue and Mykawa Road in Houston, Texas. The plaintiff alleged the defendant failed to control speed and struck the plaintiff's stopped vehicle with force. The plaintiff sustained bodily injuries as a result of the incident and filed a negligence lawsuit on October 24, 2022.
The plaintiff claimed the defendant was negligent by failing to control speed, keep a proper lookout, apply brakes timely, maintain a safe following distance, take evasive action, and keep the vehicle under reasonable control, violating Texas statutes. The plaintiff sought damages for past and future physical pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, and medical expenses, along with interest and court costs. On November 15, 2022, the defendant filed a general denial, asserting defenses that the plaintiff failed to mitigate damages, that injuries stemmed from pre-existing conditions, or that the incident was an unavoidable accident.
The case proceeded to a jury trial, and on April 4, 2025, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. The court rendered a final judgment against the defendant on May 13, 2025. The judgment awarded the plaintiff $17,845.00 in actual damages, $1,950.45 in pre-judgment interest, and $4,213.57 in court costs, for a total of $24,009.02. The case was terminated with this final judgment on June 13, 2025.
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 2025, 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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