Texas Jury Awards $632,500 in Motor Vehicle Negligence
One driver was traveling on a road with multiple lanes when another driver made a left turn into their path. The collision was captured on a police car's dash-cam. The injured driver sustained fractures to their leg, elbow, and back, as well as a head injury. The jury awarded damages for medical bills, 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
- $632,500
- County
- Brazos County, TX
- Resolved
- 2021
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- T-bone
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Left Turn Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $632,500 is above 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
A driver filed a motor vehicle negligence lawsuit after a collision with a pickup truck driver who made a left turn into her path. The incident occurred on a roadway with two lanes in each direction and a middle turn lane, where the plaintiff was traveling slightly above the 60 mph speed limit. A police car traveling behind the defendant captured the accident on a dashcam, and the defendant conceded liability before trial.
The plaintiff contended she suffered numerous serious injuries, including a fracture of the transverse processes, a right patella fracture, a left distal ulna fracture, a comminuted fracture to the left elbow, and a dislocation of the left clavicle. She underwent repeat surgeries for the elbow and a separate surgery for the knee, asserting that she would experience permanent pain and walking difficulties. Additionally, the plaintiff claimed an aggravation of a pre-existing closed head injury and mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), leading to frequent headaches, anxiety, and depression. A neuropsychologist testified that her condition worsened significantly after the collision.
The defendant disputed that the accident caused the claimed head injury, noting the plaintiff's prior treatment for similar symptoms and arguing that her ongoing complaints were related to the normal aging process. Despite the defense arguments, a jury awarded the plaintiff $632,500. The award included $150,000 for past medical bills, $85,000 for future medical bills, $150,000 for past physical impairment, $5,000 for future physical impairment, $2,500 for past disfigurement, $35,000 for past mental anguish, $5,000 for future mental anguish, $175,000 for past pain and suffering, and $25,000 for future pain and suffering.
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 Brazos County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2021, 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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