Houston Jury Awards $330,000 After Rear-End Construction Collision
One driver was operating a vehicle on a public road at night in rainy conditions. The other drivers were operating heavy construction equipment on the same road. The first driver collided with the rear of the construction equipment. The jury found both parties negligent.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $330,000
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2015
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Leg / Foot Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Rear End Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $330,000 is near the median of $335,000 for leg / foot injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $233,863 to $1,950,000, based on 16 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On October 26, 2012, a motor vehicle collision occurred on Kingsland Boulevard in Houston, Texas, in dark and rainy conditions. The plaintiff was operating a Chevy Suburban when it struck the rear of a slow-moving piece of heavy construction equipment. The plaintiff, unable to see the equipment properly, collided with it at approximately 30 mph. Witnesses described the machinery as poorly lit and moving slowly in a 40 mph zone. The plaintiff was transported from the scene by ambulance, having sustained fractures to his right tibia, fibula, and ankle, which required surgery and led to an infection. He sustained permanent pain, a limp, and an altered gait.
The plaintiff filed a personal injury lawsuit, alleging the defendants negligently operated the construction equipment on a public highway. The claims included failing to properly illuminate the machinery, failing to use an escort to warn drivers, and operating the equipment at a dangerously low speed.
The defendants denied negligence, arguing that the plaintiff was inattentive and failed to keep a proper lookout. They maintained that other traffic in the area had clearly seen and avoided the machinery.
A jury found both the plaintiff and the defendants negligent. Liability was apportioned at 49% to the plaintiff, 15% to the construction company that owned the machinery, 35% to the masonry company using the equipment, and 1% to the equipment operator. The jury awarded $330,000 in total damages, which the court subsequently reduced due to the finding of comparative negligence.
Understanding This Case
- 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 aligns very well with similar cases
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