Jacksonville Jury Finds Negligence, No Permanent Injury in Rear-End Collision

A collision occurred on March 25, 1997, in Jacksonville, Florida. The defendant, driving a leased vehicle, rear-ended a vehicle in which the plaintiff was a passenger. The plaintiff's vehicle was stopped at a traffic light on Southside Boulevard near Belle Rive Road when the incident took place. The plaintiff subsequently filed a lawsuit alleging negligence and seeking damages for injuries.

The defendant contended that the vehicle in front had initially moved forward after the traffic light turned green, then stopped abruptly, causing the rear-end collision. Both parties presented expert testimony during the trial, including medical and accident reconstruction specialists. A jury determined the defendant was 100% negligent and the legal cause of the plaintiff's loss, injury, or damage. The jury, however, also found that the plaintiff did not suffer a permanent injury from the accident. A post-trial motion by the plaintiff for additur or a new trial on damages was denied.