Rockwall Jury Finds Negligence, Awards $11,395 in Rear-End Crash
One driver stopped at a red light and was rear-ended by the other driver. The driver who was rear-ended claimed neck and back sprains and strains. The jury found both drivers partially at fault.
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
- $11,396
- County
- Hunt County, TX
- Resolved
- 2015
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $11,396 is near 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 February 2013, a collision occurred on Highway 205 in Rockwall, Texas, near the Interstate 30 feeder road. A driver, who was stopped at a stoplight, was rear-ended by another driver. The plaintiff, a carpenter, subsequently filed a lawsuit alleging the defendant's negligence caused the collision. The plaintiff claimed neck and back sprains, incurred over $7,700 in medical bills, and sought $1,700 for lost wages.
The plaintiff's counsel contended the defendant was solely responsible, having struck a vehicle that had been stopped for several seconds. The defendant, however, argued the plaintiff made an unsafe lane change just prior to the collision, preventing him from stopping in time. Defense counsel asserted the plaintiff was primarily negligent.
After a one-day trial, a jury found both parties negligent, assigning 70 percent of the fault to the defendant and 30 percent to the plaintiff. The jury awarded the plaintiff $11,395.80 for past medical costs and past pain and suffering. After the comparative fault reduction and the addition of taxable costs and prejudgment interest, the plaintiff's final recovery totaled $9,747.
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 Hunt County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2015, 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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