Houston Jury Finds Negligence in Lane Change Crash, Awards $45,960
One driver attempted to change lanes and collided with the side of the other vehicle. The first driver alleged the second driver's actions caused or contributed to the accident. The jury found the first driver 100% liable. The collision caused disc bulges, lumbar radiculopathy and stenosis, and cervical spine sprain and strain.
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
- $45,960
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2015
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Lumbar Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Sideswipe
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Sideswipe Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $45,960 is near the median of $50,756 for lumbar disc injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $20,000 to $210,000, based on 204 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On October 22, 2012, a vehicular collision occurred on the 3400 block of I-45 in Houston, Texas, when the defendant driver attempted a lane change and struck the plaintiff's vehicle. The plaintiff subsequently filed a negligence lawsuit, alleging the defendant failed to maintain a single lane, traveled at an unsafe speed, failed to keep a proper lookout, and lacked awareness of surrounding traffic. The plaintiff claimed to have sustained L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1 disc bulges, lumbar radiculopathy and stenosis, and cervical spine sprain and strain, including C4-5 and C6-7 disc bulges with radiculopathy, requiring steroid injections.
The defendant denied all allegations of negligence, arguing that the plaintiff's actions caused or contributed to the collision. The defendant also asserted that the plaintiff's alleged injuries were degenerative and not causally related to the accident. A jury ultimately found the defendant 100% liable for causing the collision and awarded the plaintiff $45,960 in past damages.
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 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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