Houston Jury Finds Negligence in Car Crash, Awards $75,000
One driver was exiting a private driveway when they pulled into the side of the other driver's vehicle. The injured driver treated for neck and back pain, requiring MRIs and CT scans. They were diagnosed with injuries to the discs of the cervical and lumbar spine and underwent steroid injections.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Cervical Disc Injury Injuries
Cervical disc injuries involve damage to the intervertebral discs in the neck region (C1-C7). These injuries can include herniated discs, bulging discs, and disc degeneration accelerated by trauma.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $75,000
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2021
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Cervical Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Driveway Exit Collsion
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $75,000 is near the median of $40,000 for cervical disc injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $18,000 to $100,000, based on 250 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On June 19, 2017, a collision occurred on North Houston Roslyn Road in Houston, Texas. The plaintiff’s vehicle was traveling northbound when the defendant, exiting a private driveway, pulled into the side of the plaintiff’s vehicle. Following the accident, the plaintiff sought treatment for neck and back pain, receiving diagnoses of cervical and lumbar disc injuries that required MRIs, CT-scans, and steroid injections.
The plaintiff filed a negligence lawsuit, alleging the defendant failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to apply the brakes, operated the vehicle unsafely, and pulled out from the driveway when it was unsafe to do so, violating the plaintiff's right-of-way. The defendant denied all allegations of negligence and injury, asserting that the plaintiff's actions caused or contributed to the accident.
After deliberation, a jury found the defendant 100% liable for the accident. The jury awarded the plaintiff $75,000 in past damages.
Understanding This Case
- Many cervical disc injuries improve with conservative treatment. However, about 30% of cases may require surgical intervention, with varying degrees of permanent impairment.
- 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 2021, 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 aligns very well with similar cases
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