Houston Jury Finds Negligence, Awards $63,375 in Rear-End Collision
One driver was slowing down due to a dog in the road when the other driver, operating a city waste truck, rear-ended her vehicle. The defense claimed the dog owner's negligence caused a sudden emergency and that the injured driver overreacted. The jury found the city driver 60% at fault and the injured driver 40% at fault.
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
- $63,753
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2016
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 $63,753 is above 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 personal injury lawsuit against the City of Houston and one of its employees following a rear-end collision involving a municipal waste truck. The incident occurred on November 19, 2013, on the 8800 block of W. Hardy Street in Houston, Texas. The plaintiff alleged she slowed her vehicle due to a loose dog in the road when the defendant driver, operating a waste truck for the defendant city, struck her vehicle from behind. The lawsuit claimed the defendant driver was negligent in failing to drive safely, keep a proper lookout, and maintain a safe following distance, with the plaintiff seeking to hold the city vicariously liable.
The defendants denied negligence, arguing that the unknown dog owner's failure to control their animal created a sudden emergency that caused the accident. They also contended that the plaintiff was comparatively negligent for overreacting to the situation.
Following the trial, the jury found the defendant city 60% negligent and the plaintiff 40% negligent. The jury awarded the plaintiff a total of $63,375. This amount included $25,000 for past pain and suffering, $1,280 for past lost wages, $36,273 for past medical expenses, and $1,200 for future mental anguish.
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 2016, 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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