Texas Jury Awards $6,707 in Unsafe Lane Change Crash
One driver alleged the other driver made an unsafe lane change, causing a collision and injuries. The second driver denied fault and raised several defenses. The jury found the first driver negligent and awarded damages for medical expenses and pain and suffering.
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
- $6,707
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2022
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $6,707 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
On October 16, 2017, a motor vehicle collision occurred. The plaintiff subsequently filed a lawsuit, alleging the defendant made an unsafe lane change, swerved into the plaintiff's lane, failed to yield the right-of-way, and struck the plaintiff's vehicle. The plaintiff claimed the defendant's negligence caused injuries and sought damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost earning capacity, physical impairment, and property damages.
The defendant filed a general denial and raised several defenses, including comparative and contributory negligence, failure to mitigate damages, unavoidable accident, and sudden emergency. The defendant also argued for limitations on the plaintiff's potential recovery for medical expenses and lost earnings under state law. An expert witness for the defendant testified that the plaintiff's injuries were limited to soft tissue and should have resolved within a few weeks, describing the plaintiff's medical treatments as excessive and unnecessary.
The case proceeded to a jury trial in February 2022. The jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, finding the defendant negligent and that this negligence proximately caused the collision. The jury determined the plaintiff was not negligent.
The jury awarded the plaintiff $515 for past medical expenses and $5,000 for past physical pain, totaling $5,515. In May 2022, the court entered judgment for the plaintiff, incorporating these damages along with $907.22 in prejudgment interest and $285.26 in court costs, with post-judgment interest. The total award was $6,707.
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 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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