San Antonio Jury Awards $7,186.89 in Rear-End Collision
One driver was stopped on a highway when another driver rear-ended her. The injured driver sued, claiming the collision caused chest and shoulder pain and a disc protrusion in her neck. She sought damages for past and future medical bills, pain, and impairment. The defense argued the impact was minor and that the injured driver had not treated consistently.
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
- $7,187
- County
- Bexar County, TX
- Resolved
- 2015
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Cervical Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $7,187 is below 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 21, 2011, a rear-end collision occurred on Interstate 35 near McCullough Avenue in San Antonio, Texas. The plaintiff, an information-technology project manager, had stopped her vehicle due to an accident ahead when the defendant's vehicle struck hers from behind. The plaintiff subsequently filed a lawsuit alleging the defendant's negligence, citing failures to maintain a proper lookout, yield the right of way, control speed, timely apply brakes, and maintain an assured stopping distance. The defendant stipulated to liability on the day of trial.
The plaintiff claimed the accident caused chest and shoulder pain, along with a disc protrusion at C4-5. She sought treatment for these issues, undergoing physical therapy sessions, and testified to daily neck and shoulder discomfort. Her medical bills totaled $3,486.89, and she sought additional damages for future medical costs, past and future physical pain and mental anguish, and physical impairment. The defense countered that the impact was minor, noting the plaintiff's refusal of treatment at the scene and a three-year gap in treatment by the time of trial. The defense also presented evidence of the plaintiff's prior medical records indicating chronic shoulder pain.
After a two-day trial and three hours of deliberation, a jury awarded the plaintiff $7,186.89. This included $3,487 for past medical costs, $1,500 for future medical costs, $1,100 for past physical impairment, and $1,100 for past physical pain and mental anguish. With prejudgment interest and taxable costs, the final judgment totaled $8,605.60. The jury's award, significantly less than the plaintiff's request for non-economic damages, suggested it partially accepted the defense's arguments regarding the extent and cause of the claimed injuries.
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 Bexar 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 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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