Houston, Texas Jury Awards $594,663.50 in Rear-End Collision
One driver was traveling northbound when the other driver rear-ended their vehicle. The first driver stated they suffered serious neck and back injuries requiring surgery. The second driver admitted to not paying attention at the time of the collision. The jury found the second driver negligent.
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
- $594,663
- County
- Galveston County, TX
- Resolved
- 2019
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Cervical Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Rear End Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $594,663 is above 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 October 20, 2015, a rear-end collision occurred on IH 45 in Houston, Texas. The plaintiff's vehicle, reportedly traveling northbound at approximately 25 mph, was struck by the defendant's vehicle, which was estimated to be traveling at about 60 mph. The plaintiff alleged the incident caused multiple ruptured discs in her neck and back, requiring two surgical procedures.
The plaintiff filed a vehicular negligence action, claiming the defendant failed to control speed and distance, keep a proper lookout, and operate a motor vehicle in a safe and reasonable manner. A police investigation concluded the defendant caused the accident by failing to yield the right-of-way, and the defendant reportedly admitted at the scene to being distracted. The defendant stipulated negligence in causing the collision but denied the nature and extent of the plaintiff's claimed injuries.
A jury found the defendant negligent. The jury awarded the plaintiff $101,163.50 for past damages and $493,500 for future damages, resulting in a total judgment of $594,663.50.
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 Galveston 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 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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