Central City, Kentucky Jury Awards $21,176 in Red-Light Collision

A collision occurred in Central City, Kentucky, on August 21, 2016, when a 59-year-old driver, who had proceeded on a green light, was broadsided by another driver who ran a red light. The defendant driver admitted fault for the collision. The plaintiff initially sought treatment for neck and back pain, later developing shoulder pain that led to an arthroscopic repair, which her treating doctor linked to the crash.

The plaintiff filed a lawsuit seeking damages from the at-fault driver, including $50,087 for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The plaintiff also pursued an underinsured motorist claim against an insurer. The defense argued that the plaintiff did not report shoulder pain until three months after the incident. A defense orthopedic expert opined that the shoulder injury was degenerative and unrelated to the crash, linking only $16,376 of the medical expenses to the incident.

The jury considered damages only and awarded the plaintiff $16,376 for medical expenses, $3,800 for lost wages, and $1,000 for pain and suffering, totaling $21,176. The medical award was consistent with the defense expert's opinion, indicating the jury did not attribute the full extent of the plaintiff's claimed shoulder injury to the collision.