Louisville Jury Awards $3,700 for Medical Care in Rear-End Collision

On February 25, 2017, a vehicle driven by the plaintiff was rear-ended by the defendant on I-264 near Shelbyville Road in Louisville, Kentucky. The defendant admitted fault. No injuries were reported at the scene, but the plaintiff sought treatment six days later for neck and back pain. One month post-collision, the plaintiff reported knee pain, diagnosed as a meniscal tear that required surgery in July. Treating physicians linked this knee injury to the crash. The plaintiff subsequently sued for damages, including significant medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, with a biomechanical engineer supporting the causation claim.

The defense admitted fault for the collision but disputed the knee injury's causation. The defense noted the delay in reporting knee pain and the plaintiff's pre-existing mild arthritis. A defense medical expert concluded the crash did not cause the meniscal tear. The jury awarded the plaintiff just over $3,700 for medical expenses, covering early chiropractic care, but rejected claims for lost wages and pain and suffering. A defense judgment was entered after a reduction for personal injury protection (PIP) benefits, indicating the jury found the significant knee injury and other substantial damages were not causally linked to the motor vehicle accident.