Houston Jury Awards $50,452 in Red-Light Collision
One driver was proceeding through an intersection when the other driver entered the intersection without stopping at a flashing red light, causing a collision. The injured driver alleged neck injuries and inability to perform their job duties. The jury awarded damages for past pain and suffering and past medical expenses.
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
- $50,452
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2019
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Neck Injury (Whiplash)
- Accident Type
- T-bone
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Intersection Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $50,452 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
In May 2015, a vehicular collision occurred at the intersection of Fannin Street and Lahall Street in Houston, Texas. The intersection was controlled by flashing red lights, requiring vehicles to stop before proceeding. The plaintiff reportedly stopped at the flashing red light on Fannin Street before lawfully entering the intersection. Concurrently, the defendant, traveling on Lahall Street, allegedly failed to stop at a flashing red light and struck the plaintiff's vehicle. The plaintiff subsequently sustained a cervical disc bulge, cervical facet joint injury, and cervical stenosis, which she contended prevented her from performing her nursing duties.
The plaintiff filed a negligence action, alleging the defendant operated the vehicle in a reckless and negligent manner, disregarded the stop signal, and failed to maintain a proper lookout. While the defendant initially denied allegations of negligence and injury, liability was stipulated prior to trial.
Following the trial, a jury awarded the plaintiff $40,000 for past pain and suffering and an additional $10,452 for past medical expenses.
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 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 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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