Houston Jury Awards $8,042 in Rear-End Collision
One driver was stopped at a red light when their vehicle was struck from behind by another vehicle. The driver who was hit claimed injuries to their neck, back, arm, and shoulder. The other driver denied liability and claimed the injuries were pre-existing. The jury found the striking driver 100% liable.
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
- $8,042
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2017
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 $8,042 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
A plaintiff filed a lawsuit alleging she suffered neck, back, arm, and shoulder injuries after a rear-end collision in Houston, Texas. The incident occurred on October 22, 2012, when the plaintiff’s vehicle was struck from behind by the defendant’s vehicle while stopped at a red light on FM 1960. The plaintiff claimed the defendant was negligent for failing to maintain a proper lookout, failing to apply brakes, and failing to control the vehicle, resulting in cervical and thoracic sprain and strain, muscle spasms, and upper arm and shoulder sprain and strain.
The defendant denied all allegations of liability and injury. The defense argued that the plaintiff's own comparative negligence caused the collision and that any reported injuries were pre-existing conditions that predated the accident.
A jury found the defendant 100% liable for the collision. The jury awarded the plaintiff $7,262 for past medical expenses and $780 for past wage loss, for a total of $8,042.
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 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 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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