Verdictly
Settlement
Harris County • 2022

Texas Negligent Construction Bicyclist Death Settles, Undisclosed

A cyclist was riding on a road under construction when his tire hit an unfinished sidewalk with deep holes and concrete beams. The cyclist crashed and suffered a broken neck, leading to his death. His family sued the construction company, alleging negligence in failing to warn of the dangerous condition and not following safety standards. The case was settled.

Case Information Updated: October 2025

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Neck Injury (Whiplash)
Bicycle

About Neck Injury (Whiplash) Injuries

Whiplash is a neck injury caused by rapid back-and-forth movement of the head, commonly occurring in rear-end collisions. Despite being frequently dismissed, whiplash can cause significant pain and disability.

Case Outcome

Outcome
Settlement
Amount
$130,000
County
Harris County, TX
Resolved
2022

Injury & Accident Details

Injury Type
Neck Injury (Whiplash)
Accident Type
Bicycle
Case Type
Motor Vehicle Accident

Settlement Context

This settlement of $130,000 is above the median of $13,969 for neck injury (whiplash) cases resolved by settlement. The typical range is $2,500 to $66,600, based on 38 cases in our database.

Case Overview

A bicyclist died after crashing in a roadway construction zone one evening. His front tire encountered an unfinished section of sidewalk with deep depressions and sharp concrete beams, leading to the crash. The bicyclist sustained a broken neck and died at the scene. He had been a professional basketball scout earning $130,000 annually and was survived by his wife, son, and mother.

His wife subsequently filed a lawsuit against Pulice Construction, Inc. The plaintiff alleged the company negligently failed to provide reasonable warnings of the dangerous condition of the unfinished sidewalk and did not comply with applicable safety standards.

The parties reached a confidential settlement to resolve the claims.

Understanding This Case

  • Most whiplash injuries improve within 2-3 months. However, about 25% of patients experience chronic symptoms lasting over a year, significantly impacting quality of life.
  • This case was resolved through a settlement, avoiding the uncertainty and expense of a trial. Settlements typically resolve faster and provide guaranteed compensation.
  • 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

67
/100
Reasonably Fair

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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