Verdictly
Verdict-Plaintiff
Brevard County • 1997

Palm Bay, Florida Jury Issues Defense Verdict in Rear-End Collision

One driver was stopped at a traffic light when it turned green. The other driver rear-ended her vehicle. The injured driver experienced neck pain that radiated into her shoulders. An MRI showed bulging discs in her neck. A doctor felt there was no permanent injury attributable to the accident.

Case Information Updated: October 2025

Back to cases
Cervical Disc Injury
Rear-end
Motor Vehicle Negligence

About Cervical Disc Injury Injuries

Cervical disc injuries involve damage to the intervertebral discs in the neck region (C1-C7). These injuries can include herniated discs, bulging discs, and disc degeneration accelerated by trauma.

Case Outcome

Outcome
Verdict-Plaintiff
Amount
$10,000
County
Brevard County, FL
Resolved
1997

Injury & Accident Details

Injury Type
Cervical Disc Injury
Accident Type
Rear-end
Case Type
Motor Vehicle Negligence

Settlement Context

This verdict-plaintiff of $10,000 is below the median of $42,976 for cervical disc injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $18,000 to $139,701, based on 382 cases in our database.

Case Overview

On December 13, 1994, a collision occurred in Palm Bay, Florida, when a plaintiff's 1991 Honda Civic stalled after proceeding through the intersection of Palm Bay Road and Diary Road. A defendant, operating a Chevrolet Blazer, then rear-ended the stalled Civic.

The plaintiff subsequently filed a legal action, claiming injuries from the incident. Both sides presented medical expert testimony regarding the plaintiff's condition. The plaintiff's experts included a neurologist and a chiropractor, while the defense called a neuroradiologist and two neurologists. The central dispute involved whether the plaintiff sustained a permanent injury as a result of the collision.

Following deliberations, a jury rendered a verdict in favor of the defendant. The jury concluded that the plaintiff did not sustain a permanent injury.

Understanding This Case

  • Many cervical disc injuries improve with conservative treatment. However, about 30% of cases may require surgical intervention, with varying degrees of permanent impairment.
  • This case went to trial and resulted in a jury verdict. Verdicts can yield higher awards but carry the risk of receiving nothing if the jury rules against the plaintiff.
  • This case was resolved in Brevard County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
  • Resolved in 1997, this case reflects the legal and economic conditions of that period, including medical costs, insurance practices, and jury award trends at the time.

VerdictlyTM Score

46
/100
Questionable

This outcome differs from typical similar cases

This score is calculated by analyzing injury type, accident details, geographic location, temporal trends, and comparing against 2,000+ similar cases in our database.

Want to check your case value?

Get a free case evaluation to understand what your motor vehicle accident case might be worth based on cases like this in Brevard County.

Check Your Case Value

Similar cases you may find useful

Handpicked by matching injury type, accident details, and outcome to this case.