Duval County Jury Awards $48,946 in Rear-End Collision

A four-vehicle rear-end collision occurred on February 8, 2011, at the intersection of Huffman Boulevard and Beach Boulevard in Duval County. An SUV struck a stopped, non-party vehicle from behind, pushing it into the plaintiff's car. The plaintiff's vehicle then struck the car in front of it. The plaintiff subsequently filed a lawsuit, alleging negligence by both the driver of the SUV and the driver of the vehicle directly ahead of the plaintiff's car.

The plaintiff contended that the SUV driver negligently failed to avoid the rear-end collision. The plaintiff also alleged that the co-defendant driver, operating the lead vehicle, suddenly and unexpectedly entered a lane and applied brakes, causing the vehicles behind to stop. The plaintiff claimed to have sustained cervical disc bulges and neck pain. Both defendant drivers denied negligence, attributing fault to other parties, and disputed the causal relationship between the collision and the plaintiff's claimed injuries. The SUV driver maintained the collision was caused by the co-defendant's sudden stop, while the co-defendant driver asserted he was forced to stop due to a truck ahead.

Following a trial, a jury found the defendant driver of the SUV 100% negligent in causing the collision. The jury also determined that the plaintiff did not sustain a permanent injury as a result of the incident. The jury awarded the plaintiff $48,946 for past medical expenses. The parties had previously entered into a high-low agreement, and the jury's verdict fell within the agreed-upon financial range.