Texas Jury Awards $39,446.92 in Rear-End Collision
One driver crashed into the back of another vehicle. The driver who was hit sued, claiming the other driver was speeding and not paying attention. The other driver claimed a third party caused the crash. A jury found in favor of the driver who was hit 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
- $23,237
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2022
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Accident
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $23,237 is near the median of $13,353 for back strain / soft tissue cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $5,500 to $28,802, based on 1000 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On December 1, 2016, a collision occurred on the 8000 block of South US Freeway when the defendant's vehicle struck the rear of the plaintiff's vehicle. The plaintiff subsequently filed a lawsuit, alleging the defendant failed to maintain a proper lookout, brake timely, control speed, and steer to avoid the collision. The plaintiff sought damages for physical and mental pain, lost earning capacity, physical impairment, disfigurement, and medical expenses.
The defendant filed a general denial and moved to designate an unknown "John Doe" as a responsible third party, claiming "John Doe" swerved into the defendant's vehicle, leading to the collision with the plaintiff. The defendant argued this constituted a sudden emergency and an unavoidable accident. The court granted the defendant's motion to designate "John Doe" on March 1, 2019, despite the plaintiff's opposition.
The case proceeded to trial, and on April 22, 2022, a jury in Texas returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. The jury awarded the plaintiff a total of $39,446.92 in damages. The verdict effectively rejected the defendant's defenses, including claims of a third-party's involvement and that the collision was an unavoidable accident or caused by a sudden emergency.
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 2022, 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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