Texas Jury Awards $235,000 in Box Truck Negligence
One driver's car became disabled, and they stopped on the shoulder of an overpass. While standing in front of their car, they were struck by a box truck. The truck propelled the disabled car into the person. The injured person suffered a back injury that required surgery.
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
- $235,000
- County
- Travis County, TX
- Resolved
- 2020
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Lumbar Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Pedestrian
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Disabled Auto Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $235,000 is above the median of $50,756 for lumbar disc injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $20,000 to $210,000, based on 204 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A motorist filed a negligence action after a collision involving a box truck. The plaintiff's car became disabled and was stopped on the left shoulder of an overpass. While the plaintiff stood in front of the vehicle, a box truck operated by the defendant struck the plaintiff's car, propelling it into the plaintiff. The plaintiff alleged the incident caused a lumbar protrusion that ultimately required fusion surgery.
The defendant denied the plaintiff suffered long-term injuries from the accident, contending that a later weightlifting incident at a gym, which occurred months after the collision and before the surgery, was a superseding cause of the plaintiff's back pain. The plaintiff countered that the accident had compromised their back, making the subsequent lifting incident significant, and maintained a causal link to their condition. A jury found for the plaintiff and awarded $235,000.
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 Travis County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2020, 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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