Houston Jury Finds Negligence in Rear-End Collision, Awards $14,010
One driver was traveling northbound in Houston, Texas when another driver collided with the vehicle behind them, causing a chain reaction that struck the plaintiffs' vehicle. The plaintiffs alleged the defendant was inattentive and failed to control their speed. The male plaintiff was diagnosed with disc injuries and nerve root involvement. The female plaintiff reported back and neck pain, and shoulder pain.
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
- $14,010
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2018
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Lumbar Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Multiple Vehicle Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $14,010 is below 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
In October 2015, a rear-end collision occurred on the North Freeway in Houston, Texas. A 29-year-old male plaintiff was operating a vehicle with a 22-year-old female plaintiff as a front-seat passenger when their vehicle was struck. The incident began when the defendant's vehicle collided with a vehicle directly behind the plaintiffs', which then struck the plaintiffs' car. The plaintiffs alleged the defendant failed to control the speed of her vehicle.
The plaintiffs subsequently filed a lawsuit, alleging the defendant was negligent. They claimed the defendant failed to keep a proper lookout, control vehicle speed, timely apply brakes, or take proper evasive action. As a result of the accident, the male plaintiff sought treatment for back pain and was diagnosed with disc injuries and nerve root involvement. The female plaintiff was diagnosed with cervical and lumbar sprains and strains, among other related conditions. The defendant denied all allegations of negligence and disputed the claimed injuries.
After a trial, a Houston jury found the defendant negligent. The jury awarded the male plaintiff $10,010 for past medical expenses and the female plaintiff $4,000 for past medical expenses.
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 2018, 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
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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