Kentucky Jury Awards $7,000 for Red-Light Collision Injuries

On June 18, 2012, a delivery truck driver was involved in a collision at an intersection in Kentucky. The defendant struck the plaintiff's open-air delivery truck after running a red light, an act the defendant later conceded was at fault for the accident. While the plaintiff initially denied injury at the scene, he subsequently sought treatment for a jammed thumb, an ankle strain, and ongoing soft-tissue symptoms. The plaintiff filed a lawsuit seeking damages for incurred medical bills of $12,000, an additional $50,000 for future care, and compensation for past and future pain and suffering.

The defense conceded fault for the collision but disputed the extent to which the accident caused the plaintiff's alleged injuries. The defense highlighted the plaintiff's initial denial of injury at the crash scene and presented evidence of a prior history of the plaintiff treating similar symptoms dating back several years. An independent medical examination performed for the defense also linked the plaintiff's symptoms to pre-existing degenerative conditions.

The jury found that the plaintiff was injured as a result of the crash. However, the awarded damages were substantially less than requested. The verdict included $2,500 for past medical expenses, $2,500 for future medical expenses, and $2,000 for past pain and suffering, totaling $7,000. The jury declined to award damages for future pain and suffering. During deliberations, the jury specifically questioned whether acknowledging causation for one injury meant acknowledging all claimed injuries, indicating a focus on distinguishing which symptoms were directly attributable to the accident.