Broward County Jury Issues Defense Verdict in Rear-End Collision

On July 21, 1999, a Broward County bus, carrying a passenger, was rear-ended by another vehicle in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida. The bus was stopped at the intersection of N.W. 34th Street and North S.R. 7, allowing passengers to exit, when the collision occurred. The passenger, who was seated at the time, later became the plaintiff in a lawsuit against the striking vehicle's operator, its lessee, and its owner.

The defendants admitted liability for the collision, but the legal dispute centered on whether the plaintiff sustained a permanent injury as a result of the accident. The plaintiff presented testimony from experts in orthopedic surgery and physical medicine and rehabilitation. The defense countered with testimony from experts in radiology, orthopedic surgery, and transit systems.

Evidence presented by the defense included a tape recording from the bus, which reportedly showed that none of the passengers moved at the moment of impact. Following deliberation, a jury concluded that the plaintiff did not sustain a permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability due to the accident. A motion for a new trial was pending at the time of the report.