Weld County Jury Awards $200,000 in Rear-End Collision
One driver was stopped at the request of a pilot truck when another driver rear-ended their vehicle. The collision also caused the second vehicle to hit the pilot truck. The injured driver claimed injuries to their neck, back, leg, and foot.
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
- $200,000
- County
- Weld County, CO
- Resolved
- 2016
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Civil Procedure, Torts, Transportation Law
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $200,000 is above the median of $15,000 for back strain / soft tissue cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $5,873 to $40,000, based on 890 cases in our database.
Case Overview
An off-duty police officer, acting as the plaintiff, was stopped in his pickup truck in Weld County, Colorado, at the request of a pilot truck escorting an oversized load. While stopped, another driver, who became the defendant driver, allegedly rear-ended the plaintiff's truck and then collided with the pilot truck. The plaintiff reportedly sustained injuries to his neck, back, leg, and foot.
The plaintiff filed a complaint in the Colorado District Court for Weld County, 19th Judicial District, alleging general negligence against the defendant driver. He sought to recover damages for past and future economic and non-economic losses, including medical expenses, lost wages, and mental anguish. The plaintiff later amended the complaint to add the owner of the piloting services as a defendant. Both defendants denied the allegations and asserted affirmative defenses, including comparative negligence and the plaintiff's alleged failure to use a seatbelt.
Before trial, the plaintiff filed an unopposed motion for voluntary dismissal of the piloting services defendant, which the court granted. The case against the defendant driver proceeded to a jury trial. The jury found the defendant driver liable for the plaintiff's injuries and damages, awarding the plaintiff $200,000. This amount included $130,000 for economic loss and $70,000 for non-economic loss. The court entered judgment in favor of the plaintiff for $200,000, plus pre- and post-judgment interest, which resulted in a total payment of $314,696.46 to satisfy the judgment.
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 Weld County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2016, 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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