Carrollton, Kentucky Jury Awards $237,943 in Rear-End Collision

A rear-end collision occurred in Carrollton, Kentucky, in May 2020. The plaintiff's vehicle sustained minor damage, but the plaintiff subsequently reported neck and back pain. The plaintiff sought medical treatment and ultimately underwent C4-7 fusion surgery in September 2023, incurring approximately $187,943 in medical expenses and claiming additional damages for pain and suffering.

After settling with the at-fault driver for their policy limits, the plaintiff sought underinsured motorist (UIM) benefits from her own insurer. While liability for the collision was not disputed, the insurer contested causation. The insurer argued the minor nature of the crash could not have caused a compensable injury and presented expert testimony suggesting the plaintiff's symptoms were related to pre-existing conditions and prior fall incidents, rather than the collision.

The case was presented to the jury as a standard car wreck trial, without explicitly revealing the insurer's role as a defendant or the UIM nature of the claim. The court declined to answer jury questions concerning insurance coverage during deliberations. The jury returned an 11-1 verdict in favor of the plaintiff, awarding $187,943 for medical expenses and $50,000 for pain and suffering. The court subsequently entered a final judgment against the insurer for $100,000, representing the policy limits of the underinsured motorist coverage.