Houston Jury Finds Negligence, Awards $960 in Motor Vehicle Crash
One driver was traveling east on a road in Houston and was approaching an intersection. Another driver was traveling south and had a stop sign. The first driver struck the second driver's vehicle in the intersection. The first driver's insurer sued the second driver, alleging negligence. The second driver denied negligence and claimed the first driver was speeding. The jury found both drivers partially responsible for the crash and awarded damages to the first driver.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $1,600
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2020
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Other
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $1,600 is below the median of $14,473 for other cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $4,770 to $42,056, based on 190 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On January 18, 2017, a collision occurred in Houston at the intersection of Greenhouse Road and Towne Lake Parkway. A sedan, traveling east without a stop sign, struck the passenger side of a pickup truck proceeding south from a stop sign. The sedan driver's insurer, as subrogee, along with the driver, subsequently sued the pickup truck driver for negligence, alleging a failure to yield the right of way.
The plaintiff testified to driving at the speed limit when the defendant's vehicle pulled out. The defendant denied negligence, asserting the plaintiff was speeding and that a low hill on Greenhouse Road obstructed the approaching sedan from view. The plaintiff sought approximately $24,000 for the diminished value of the damaged sedan, plus additional expenses for loss of use, towing, and storage. The defendant challenged these damage claims, citing a lack of expert testimony and documentation.
Following a one-day trial, a jury found both parties negligent, attributing 60 percent of the responsibility to the defendant and 40 percent to the plaintiff. The jury awarded $1,600 in damages, which was reduced to a net award of $960 after applying comparative negligence.
Understanding This Case
- 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 2020, 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
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