Killeen Jury Awards $15,620 in Multi-Vehicle Collision
One driver was stopped on a highway when another vehicle rear-ended them. A third vehicle then rear-ended the second vehicle. The occupants of the first vehicle claimed multiple injuries from the collisions. The drivers of the second and third vehicles were sued for negligent operation of their vehicles.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $15,620
- County
- Bell County, TX
- Resolved
- 2018
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Case Overview
On June 17, 2014, a multi-vehicle collision occurred on Highway 190 in Killeen, Texas. A plaintiff driver and four passengers were rear-ended by a vehicle operated by a defendant driver. Immediately afterward, another vehicle, driven by a defendant employee of a local newspaper, rear-ended the first defendant's vehicle. The plaintiffs claimed the incident resulted in multiple injuries, including soft-tissue injuries to the neck, back, shoulders, and hips for all plaintiffs, with one plaintiff also sustaining a closed head injury and another requiring cervical fusion surgery.
The plaintiffs filed a lawsuit alleging negligent operation of vehicles by both defendant drivers and seeking to hold the newspaper vicariously liable for its employee's actions. The first defendant driver argued that her vehicle was stopped behind the plaintiffs' vehicle when she was struck from behind by the second defendant's vehicle, pushing her into the plaintiffs. The second defendant driver conceded liability for rear-ending the first defendant's vehicle but stated he did not witness the initial impact between the other two vehicles. The defense contended that while emergency and initial follow-up care for the plaintiffs was reasonable, significant portions of the subsequent treatment, often attorney-referred, were unrelated to the accident or excessive. A defense medical billing expert testified that charges for much of this treatment far exceeded typical rates for similar services in the area, and that plaintiffs had pre-existing conditions similar to those claimed from the accident.
After a four-day trial, the jury deliberated for three hours. The jury rendered a mixed verdict, finding the second defendant driver 100 percent liable for the collision and the first defendant driver not liable. The jury awarded a total of $15,620 to the five plaintiffs for past medical costs, a sum significantly lower than the claimed medical expenses. The outcome suggested the jury accepted the first defendant driver's account of being pushed into the plaintiffs and partially accepted the defense's arguments regarding the causation and reasonableness of the plaintiffs' medical treatment.
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.
Want to know what your case might be worth?
Get a free case evaluation to understand what your motor vehicle accident case might be worth based on cases like this in Bell County.
Similar cases you may find useful
Handpicked by matching injury type, accident details, and outcome to this case.
One driver was stopped in traffic when their vehicle was struck from behind by another vehicle. The driver who was rear-ended claimed injuries to their back and neck. The case proceeded to trial to determine damages, as liability was conceded.
A plaintiff filed a lawsuit alleging negligence after a defendant's vehicle struck the plaintiff's automobile, causing the rear window to shatter. The plaintiff claimed to suffer neck and back injuries, diagnosed as cervical and lumbar sprain/strain, and reported ongoing back spasms and pain despite physical therapy. The defendant denied the negligence allegations, disputed liability, and challenged the nature, extent, and damages associated with the plaintiff's alleged injuries. The case proceeded to trial in Texas. Following deliberations, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, awarding $16,500 in damages.
One driver stopped for a school bus and was hit from behind by a pickup truck. The pickup truck driver was distracted by a cell phone call. The injured driver claimed back and neck injuries. The case proceeded to trial against the pickup truck driver and his employer.
On February 12, 2017, a plaintiff driving in Plano, Texas, slowed for traffic when their vehicle was rear-ended by an SUV. The plaintiff reported sustaining back and neck injuries from the collision. The plaintiff subsequently filed a lawsuit against the driver of the SUV, the vehicle's owner, and their own insurer for first-party benefits. The claims against the driver and vehicle owner were later discontinued after it was determined they were uninsured. The case then proceeded against the insurer, which conceded liability, focusing the trial solely on the issue of damages. The plaintiff claimed the accident aggravated pre-existing scoliosis and caused new injuries, including radiating pain and a cervical disc herniation. Evidence showed the plaintiff sought emergency medical care on the day of the accident and subsequently underwent extensive treatment, including chiropractic sessions, pain management procedures like lumbar and cervical rhizotomies, and epidural steroid injections over a two-year period. A medical expert for the plaintiff testified that the pre-existing scoliosis made the spine more susceptible to injury and attributed the treatment and complaints prior to a later motorcycle accident to the February 2017 collision. The defense, while conceding liability for the collision, disputed the extent of the claimed damages. Defense counsel argued that the accident did not aggravate the plaintiff's pre-existing conditions, that medical charges were excessive, and pointed to minimal damage to the vehicles and gaps in the plaintiff's treatment history. The defense suggested an award for only immediate medical expenses. After a two-day trial and two hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, awarding $80,000. This amount included $35,000 for past medical costs, $22,500 for past physical pain, and $22,500 for past mental anguish.
On April 26, 2013, a three-vehicle rear-end collision occurred on Texas State Highway 75 in Plano. A Chevrolet Cobalt rear-ended a Nissan Maxima, causing the Maxima to then strike a Nissan Altima in front of it. The insurer of the Altima initially sued the drivers of the Maxima and the Cobalt for property damage, but these claims were resolved before trial. The driver of the Maxima, acting as the cross-plaintiff, then pursued claims against the driver of the Cobalt, who was the defendant, for personal injuries and property damage. The cross-plaintiff alleged the defendant failed to control speed and maintain a safe distance. Following the incident, the cross-plaintiff reported neck and lower back pain, undergoing chiropractic treatment for two months. Medical imaging allegedly revealed disc bulges and protrusions, and a cervical strain/sprain. The cross-plaintiff sought approximately $12,000 for medical costs, along with damages for past pain, physical impairment, and property damage, claiming inability to continue weightlifting or assist his son in football. The defendant's counsel, whose client did not appear at trial, countered that the cross-plaintiff had initially rear-ended the Altima and then slowed, leading to the second impact. The defense also argued any injuries would have resolved post-treatment. After a one-day trial in Plano, a jury found the defendant negligent and that this negligence was a factual cause of injury to the cross-plaintiff. The jury awarded the cross-plaintiff $22,500. This included $7,500 for past medical costs, $2,000 for past physical impairment, $3,000 for past pain and suffering, and $10,000 for property damage.