Houston Jury Awards $88,000 in Negligence Rear-End Collision
One driver was stopped at a red light when their vehicle was hit from behind by another driver. This impact pushed the first vehicle into the vehicle in front, causing a second collision. The driver who was hit from behind sustained injuries to their back.
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
- $88,000
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2018
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Lumbar Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Multiple Vehicle Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $88,000 is near 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 October 16, 2012, a plaintiff was lawfully stopped at a red light at the intersection of South Shepherd and Welch in Houston, Texas, when her vehicle was struck from the rear by a vehicle driven by the defendant. The impact propelled the plaintiff's vehicle into the car in front, resulting in a second collision. The plaintiff subsequently filed a personal injury lawsuit, alleging the defendant was negligent by failing to stop for the red light, failing to maintain a proper lookout, and being distracted by a cellular device, leading to injuries in her lumbar and sacral region that required medical intervention and future surgical consideration.
The defendant initially denied negligence and claimed the accident was unavoidable. However, prior to trial, the defendant stipulated to liability for the collision. The central dispute at trial focused on whether the plaintiff's alleged injuries were causally related to the accident.
Following deliberations, the jury determined that the defendant's negligence was a factual cause of harm to the plaintiff. On May 3, 2018, the jury awarded the plaintiff $13,000 in past damages and $75,000 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 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 differs from typical similar cases
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