Houston Jury Finds Negligence in Car Crash, Awards $8,095
One driver was traveling west on a road when they struck the rear side of a truck that was attempting a U-turn. The driver who struck the truck claimed injuries to their shoulder, neck, and back. Medical evaluations revealed disc herniations in the lower back and diagnosed strains and sprains in the neck. The driver sought recovery for past medical bills.
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
- $8,095
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2015
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Lumbar Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $8,095 is below the median of $60,000 for lumbar disc injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $20,000 to $229,900, based on 396 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On April 5, 2013, a collision occurred on Parker Road in Houston when the plaintiff's vehicle struck the rear driver's-side of a truck operated by the defendant. The plaintiff sustained injuries to his shoulder, neck, and back and subsequently filed a lawsuit alleging the defendant's negligent operation of her vehicle.
The plaintiff contended the defendant attempted a U-turn from the right lane in front of his westbound vehicle. The defendant countered that she was in the left lane, paused at a median to execute a U-turn, and was struck on her rear driver's-side by the plaintiff's vehicle. The plaintiff sought chiropractic care five days after the incident and later underwent an MRI, which showed disc herniations and cervical sprains. He requested $9,095 for past medical expenses, claiming the need for future care.
The defense disputed the causation of the plaintiff's injuries, arguing that the MRI was performed too long after the accident. The defense also claimed the chiropractic treatment was excessive given the plaintiff's discontinuance of physical therapy after four months. After a two-day trial in Houston, a jury returned a verdict, awarding the plaintiff $8,095. The award included $5,595 for past medical costs and $2,500 for past pain and suffering.
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 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 significantly deviates from similar cases
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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