Jacksonville Jury Finds No Permanent Injury, Awards $0 in Rear-End Collision

In Jacksonville, Florida, a plaintiff filed an uninsured motorist claim against State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company after an uninsured motorist rear-ended the plaintiff's vehicle. The defendant insurer admitted the tortfeasor's negligence in causing the collision but disputed whether the 42-year-old plaintiff sustained a permanent injury as a result.

The plaintiff's medical experts testified that the accident caused permanent sprain and strain injuries to the plaintiff's cervical and lumbar spine, necessitating four months of chiropractic treatment. Conversely, the defendant argued the impact was light, resulting in minimal property damage, and presented medical experts who opined the plaintiff did not suffer a permanent injury from this incident. Evidence was also introduced indicating the plaintiff had been involved in a prior motor vehicle accident eight months earlier, with physicians having previously attributed a permanent neck and back injury to that prior collision.

A jury found that the plaintiff did not sustain a permanent injury due to the subject accident. The jury awarded the plaintiff $3,755 in economic damages, which were subsequently reduced to $0 by applicable set-offs.