Houston Jury Awards $650,000 in Red-Light Collision
One driver was stopped at a red light when their vehicle was struck by another vehicle. The striking vehicle had disregarded a red light and collided with a vehicle that was then pushed into the plaintiffs vehicle. The injured driver suffered injuries to their lumbar and cervical spine, including sprains and strains, and a wrist sprain.
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
- $650,000
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2017
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Lumbar Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Multi-vehicle
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Intersection Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $650,000 is above 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 February 23, 2013, a plaintiff and his minor son were stopped at a red light at the intersection of FM 529 and Queenston Boulevard in Houston, Texas, when their vehicle was struck. A defendant, traveling on Queenston Boulevard, disregarded a red light and entered the intersection, striking another vehicle. That vehicle was then pushed into the front of the plaintiff's car. The plaintiff alleged the defendant was negligent for failing to keep a proper lookout, failing to stop for a red light, failing to brake to avoid a collision, and failing to travel at a safe speed. The plaintiff claimed serious injuries to his lumbar spine, including spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis, along with sprains, strains, and contusions. The minor child was uninjured.
The defendant denied liability and argued that the collision was caused by the actions of the driver of the vehicle the defendant initially struck, which then hit the plaintiff's vehicle. A jury in Houston found the defendant negligent and determined that the defendant caused the collision. The jury awarded the plaintiff $50,000 in past damages and $600,000 in future damages.
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 2017, 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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