Houston Jury Finds Negligence, Awards $19,941 in Red-Light Collision
One driver was injured when their vehicle was struck by a car that ran a red light. The driver who ran the red light was employed by the defendant city. The defense argued that a third party caused a sudden emergency. The jury found the defendant negligent.
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
- $19,941
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2015
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 $19,941 is near 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 Houston, on December 30, 2012, a motorist was injured when their vehicle, proceeding through a green light at the intersection of Crestmont and South Loop, was broadsided by a vehicle owned by the City of Houston. The city's driver, operating in the course of employment, reportedly ran a red light. The plaintiff sustained injuries including cervical radiculitis, thoracic sprain, left shoulder sprain, and insomnia.
The plaintiff filed a negligence action, alleging the city's driver failed to maintain a proper lookout, exercise reasonable care, and apply brakes to avoid the collision. The plaintiff contended the City of Houston was vicariously liable for its employee's actions. The defendant denied negligence, asserting its driver faced a sudden emergency created by a third party, which made the collision unavoidable.
After a trial, a jury found the defendant negligent. The plaintiff was awarded $5,000 for past pain and suffering, $5,000 for future pain and suffering, and $9,941 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 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 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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