Houston Jury Finds Negligence in Rear-End Collision, Awards $14,300
One driver was waiting to turn when the other driver rear-ended his vehicle. The injured driver claimed neck and back injuries, including sprains and strains, and pain radiating into his legs. He sought compensation for past medical expenses and pain. The other driver argued the impact was minor and some claimed injuries were unrelated to the accident. The jury found the driver who caused the collision liable and awarded damages.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Back Strain / Soft Tissue Injuries
Back strain and soft tissue injuries are among the most common injuries sustained in car accidents. These injuries affect muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the back, often resulting from the sudden impact forces experienced during a collision.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $14,300
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2019
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $14,300 is near the median of $13,980 for back strain / soft tissue cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $5,649 to $30,000, based on 1000 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On March 26, 2016, in Houston, Texas, the plaintiff's vehicle was rear-ended by the defendant's car while stopped in a left turn lane. The plaintiff filed a lawsuit, alleging the defendant's negligent driving caused the collision and subsequent neck and back injuries.
The plaintiff underwent five months of treatment for cervical and lumbar sprains and strains, including radiating leg pain. This involved chiropractic care, MRIs, and two lumbar epidural steroid injections. Plaintiff's counsel requested $35,900 for past medical expenses and $26,900 for past physical pain.
The defendant contended the collision resulted from mistakenly believing the plaintiff's vehicle had started to proceed as the light changed. Defense counsel argued the incident was minor and disputed the causation of several treatments, noting the delayed complaint of radiating pain, the absence of work disruption, and the minor impact. The defense suggested a lower award of $11,800 for specific medical bills and $2,500 for past physical pain.
Following a one-day trial, the jury found the defendant liable for the accident. The jury awarded the plaintiff $14,300 in total damages.
Understanding This Case
- The majority of soft tissue injuries resolve within 6-12 weeks with proper treatment. However, approximately 10-20% of cases may develop into chronic conditions requiring ongoing care.
- 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 2019, 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
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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