Katy, Texas Jury Awards $2,500 in Rear-End Collision
One driver collided with the rear of another vehicle. The injured driver sued, claiming the other driver was negligent by failing to control speed, maintain distance, brake, keep a proper lookout, and by driving too fast. The injured driver sought damages for medical expenses, pain, and lost earning capacity. The other driver denied fault, claiming the accident was not their fault, was unavoidable, or due to pre-existing conditions. The jury found in favor of the injured driver 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
- $2,500
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2021
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $2,500 is below the median of $13,021 for back strain / soft tissue cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $5,408 to $31,445, based on 800 cases in our database.
Case Overview
In December 2018, a plaintiff was involved in a motor vehicle accident in Katy, Texas, when their vehicle was rear-ended by a vehicle driven by the defendant. The plaintiff subsequently filed a lawsuit alleging the defendant's negligence, citing failures such as controlling speed, maintaining proper distance, and keeping a lookout. The plaintiff sought damages for past and future medical expenses, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical impairment, and lost earning capacity, in addition to interest and court costs.
The defendant filed a general denial of the allegations. The defense asserted that their conduct was not the cause of the plaintiff's damages, that the plaintiff failed to exercise ordinary care or mitigate injuries, or that pre-existing conditions contributed to the alleged injuries. The defendant also argued the accident was the result of a sudden emergency or was unavoidable, and sought to limit any recovery for medical expenses and lost earnings.
The case proceeded to trial in August 2021. A jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. The court later entered a final judgment, awarding the plaintiff $2,500.00 in damages, along with pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interest, and court costs. The judgment was entered in November 2021, concluding the litigation.
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 2021, 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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