Houston Jury Awards $26,500 in Rear-End Collision
One driver was stopped at a red light when their vehicle was hit from behind by the other driver. The first driver claimed injuries to their neck and back, and an aggravation of a prior wrist fracture. The second driver denied negligence and claimed the first driver caused the collision. The jury found the second driver solely at fault.
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
- $26,500
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2018
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Rear End Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $26,500 is near the median of $13,980 for back strain / soft tissue cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $5,649 to $30,000, based on 1000 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On January 23, 2014, in Houston, Texas, a plaintiff's vehicle, stopped at a red light on North Braeswood Boulevard, was struck from the rear by a defendant's vehicle. The plaintiff filed a negligence action, alleging the defendant failed to properly brake, maintain a lookout, and operate the vehicle with ordinary prudence. The plaintiff claimed the collision aggravated a preexisting scaphoid nonunion and caused cervical and lumbar sprain and strain with radiculopathy.
The defendant denied all allegations of negligence, arguing that the plaintiff's actions caused the collision. The defense also contended that the plaintiff did not sustain any serious or permanent injury. On November 29, 2018, a jury found that the defendant's negligence exclusively caused the collision and awarded the plaintiff $26,500 in past damages.
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 2018, 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.
Want to know what your case might be worth?
Get a free case evaluation to understand what your motor vehicle accident case might be worth based on cases like this in Harris County.
Similar cases you may find useful
Handpicked by matching injury type, accident details, and outcome to this case.
Explore More Cases Like This
Browse similar cases by injury type and location to get a better understanding of case values in your area.