Atlanta Jury Awards $22,720.26 in Rear-End Collision

On December 18, 2014, a vehicle operated by the plaintiff was struck from the rear by a vehicle owned by the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and driven by one of its employees. The incident occurred in Atlanta, Georgia, at the intersection of York Avenue and Lee Street while the plaintiff was stopped to make a left turn. The plaintiff reported sustaining serious injuries, including significant pain, medical expenses totaling $11,024.72, and lost income of $11,395.20 due to 40 days of missed work.

The plaintiff filed a complaint alleging the defendant driver was following too closely, causing the collision. The defendants, MARTA and its driver, countered that the plaintiff could have avoided injury through ordinary care and that her negligence contributed to or exceeded any alleged fault on their part. They also argued that a leading vehicle does not hold an absolute superior legal position, that both drivers must exercise ordinary care, and that the mere occurrence of an accident does not inherently prove negligence.

Following a jury trial, a verdict was returned on June 13, 2017, in favor of the plaintiff. The court entered judgment on June 27, 2017, awarding the plaintiff $22,720.26 in damages against Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. This amount reflected a reduction from the jury's initial award, as the jury determined the plaintiff was 15% at fault for the accident.