Louisville Jury Awards $185,867 in Rear-End Collision

On January 7, 2016, the plaintiff, then age 45, was stopped at a red light on Blue Lick Road in Louisville, Kentucky, when the defendant rear-ended their vehicle. The collision caused minor damage to the plaintiff's car, estimated at $1,300 for repairs. Although no injury was reported at the scene, the plaintiff experienced pain two hours later and sought emergency room treatment for soft tissue symptoms. The plaintiff subsequently underwent chiropractic care and physical therapy. Approximately seven months after the incident, an MRI revealed a disc protrusion at L5-S1 and an annular tear, leading to orthopedic treatment. The plaintiff also reported ongoing headaches and chronic pain.

The plaintiff filed a lawsuit seeking damages from the defendant, who argued the plaintiff was impeding traffic and that the collision was too minor to cause a compensable injury. The plaintiff's case included testimony from a neurosurgery expert, who concluded the collision caused the L5-S1 protrusion and annular tear, assessing a 6% whole body impairment. The plaintiff sought $10,867 for medical bills and additional sums for pain and suffering. The defendant had $25,000 in insurance coverage; the plaintiff also sought up to $100,000 in underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage from their own insurer, which agreed to be bound by the verdict.

A jury found the defendant solely at fault for the collision. The jury awarded the plaintiff $10,867 for medical expenses and an additional $175,000 for pain and suffering, resulting in a total verdict of $185,867. The pain and suffering award was approximately 16.1 times the medical bills.

Following the verdict, a proposed judgment was submitted to the court. It assessed the first $25,000 to the defendant's insurer, followed by $100,000 to the plaintiff's UIM insurer. Any remaining amount was to be collectible from the defendant individually. The parties subsequently disputed the wording of the judgment, and the matter remained pending.