Miami-Dade County Jury Awards $148,268 in Rear-End Collision

On September 8, 2015, a rear-end collision occurred on West Flagler Street at Southwest 60th Avenue in Miami-Dade County. The plaintiff's vehicle, which was following a school bus in an active school zone, was struck by the defendant's vehicle. The plaintiff asserted the defendant negligently failed to observe traffic and stop, colliding with the plaintiff's vehicle from the rear at approximately 40 mph. The plaintiff claimed the impact caused significant, permanent injuries, including cervical disc displacement and chronic post-traumatic headaches, an aggravation of a pre-existing condition, and property damage. The plaintiff sought $24,267 for past medical expenses related to extensive chiropractic therapies.

The defendant denied negligence, arguing that the plaintiff was at fault or that the collision was unavoidable due to a sudden emergency. The defendant also contested the plaintiff's claimed damages, asserting that the alleged injuries were not causally related to the collision.

Prior to trial, the court ruled against the defendant on the issue of liability. The case then proceeded to a jury trial solely to determine damages. The jury found in favor of the plaintiff and awarded total damages of $148,268. The award included $24,268 for past medical expenses, $28,000 for past non-economic damages, and $96,000 for future non-economic damages.