Dekalb County Jury Awards $225,000 in Rear-End Collision

A driver sustained injuries in a rear-end collision in Dekalb County, Georgia, on November 17, 2017. The incident occurred at the intersection of Peachtree Boulevard and Johnson Ferry Road when a vehicle driven by the defendant collided with the rear of the plaintiff's vehicle. The defendant received a citation for following too closely. The plaintiff reported substantial injuries, incurring over $25,000 in medical expenses, and later filed a complaint on March 18, 2020, seeking damages for medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering.

The defendant's arguments included claims that the plaintiff's injuries resulted from pre-existing conditions, that the plaintiff failed to exercise ordinary care, and that the claims were barred by the statute of limitations. One of the defendant's initially named insurance companies was later dismissed from the action. During pretrial proceedings, the court allowed the plaintiff's treating neurosurgeon to testify via video conference and permitted the defendant to add an expert witness to the pretrial order.

On April 19, 2024, a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. The jury awarded the plaintiff $225,000 plus court costs. The verdict concluded a nearly four-year legal process stemming from the 2017 collision.