Houston Jury Awards $19,000 in Uninsured Motorist Rear-End Crash
Two people in a stopped vehicle were hit from behind by an uninsured driver. They claimed permanent back injuries. The insurance company argued the injuries were not compensable. A jury awarded damages for past medical expenses and mental anguish.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $19,000
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2015
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Lumbar Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Insurance Obligation, Insurance law, Insurance obligation, Damages
Case Overview
In Houston, Texas, an uninsured motorist benefits action arose from a vehicular collision on June 7, 2013. A plaintiff driver and a plaintiff passenger were stopped in traffic when an uninsured vehicle struck their car from the rear. The plaintiffs subsequently filed a claim against their own insurance company, seeking uninsured motorist benefits.
The plaintiff driver alleged injuries including lumbar disc damage and segmental dysfunction in the cervical and thoracic spine, along with headaches and muscle spasms. The plaintiff passenger claimed disc bulges at L4-5 and L5-S1. The defendant insurance company denied that the plaintiffs had sustained compensable injuries or were legally entitled to recover damages.
A jury found in favor of both plaintiffs. The plaintiff driver received $10,000 for past medical expenses and $1,000 for mental anguish. The plaintiff passenger was awarded $7,500 for past suffering and $500 for mental anguish, resulting in a total judgment of $19,000.
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