Houston Texas Jury Awards $70,181 in Rear-End Collision
One driver stopped at a red light and was hit from behind by another vehicle. The driver who was hit claimed the other driver was inattentive and failed to stop in time. The driver who was hit suffered neck and back injuries. The other driver argued the injuries were pre-existing. The jury found the second driver at fault and awarded damages.
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
- $70,181
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2018
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Lumbar Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Rear End Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $70,181 is near 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
A personal injury lawsuit stemmed from a rear-end collision in Houston, Texas, on February 3, 2016. The plaintiff had stopped a vehicle with an attached trailer at a red light on South Kirkwood Highway when the defendant's vehicle struck it from behind. The plaintiff alleged the defendant was negligent by failing to brake, being inattentive, failing to maintain a proper lookout, and violating traffic laws.
Following the accident, the plaintiff developed neck and back pain and was diagnosed with cervical and lumbar disc injuries, which were treated with steroid injections by an orthopedist. The defendant denied negligence, arguing the accident was caused by the plaintiff or a third party. The defendant further contended that the plaintiff's neck and back conditions were degenerative and not causally related to the collision.
A jury found the defendant negligent and determined that this negligence was a factual cause of harm to the plaintiff. The jury awarded the plaintiff $32,681 in past damages and $37,500 in future damages, for a total of $70,181.
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 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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