Whitesburg Jury Finds Negligence in Collision, Awards $140,000
One driver believed she had a green light to enter an intersection, while another driver also believed they had a green light. The two vehicles collided in the intersection. The occupants of both vehicles sustained injuries. The jury found one driver at fault for the collision.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Back Strain / Soft Tissue Injuries
Back strain and soft tissue injuries are among the most common injuries sustained in car accidents. These injuries affect muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the back, often resulting from the sudden impact forces experienced during a collision.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $140,000
- County
- Dallas County, KY
- Resolved
- 2017
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Multi-vehicle
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $140,000 is above the median of $13,980 for back strain / soft tissue cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $5,649 to $30,000, based on 1000 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A collision occurred in Whitesburg, Kentucky, on November 27, 2011, between a passenger vehicle and an ambulance at the intersection of Ky. 119 and Ky. 15. Both drivers claimed to have a green light at the time of the incident, and all four occupants, two from each vehicle, reported injuries.
The passenger vehicle's driver and a passenger filed a lawsuit against the ambulance driver, alleging fault for the crash. The ambulance driver and a paramedic passenger filed a counterclaim against the passenger vehicle driver, also asserting negligence. The central issue in the case was which driver had the right-of-way, with each side presenting evidence that their traffic light was green.
The passenger vehicle occupants sought $500,000 each for pain and suffering, citing neck and back disc bulges. The ambulance driver claimed neck and back pain, medical expenses totaling $21,519, lost wages of $135,361, and sought $250,000 for pain and suffering. The paramedic passenger sought $10,211 for medical expenses, $84,148 for lost wages, and $250,000 for pain and suffering due to injuries that ended their career.
A Whitesburg jury ultimately found the ambulance driver solely at fault for the collision. This finding defeated the injury claims brought by the ambulance driver and paramedic passenger. The passenger vehicle driver was awarded $65,000 for pain and suffering, and the passenger vehicle passenger received $75,000 for pain and suffering, resulting in a total verdict of $140,000 for the plaintiffs.
Understanding This Case
- The majority of soft tissue injuries resolve within 6-12 weeks with proper treatment. However, approximately 10-20% of cases may develop into chronic conditions requiring ongoing care.
- This case went to trial and resulted in a jury verdict. Verdicts can yield higher awards but carry the risk of receiving nothing if the jury rules against the plaintiff.
- This case was resolved in Dallas County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2017, this case reflects the legal and economic conditions of that period, including medical costs, insurance practices, and jury award trends at the time.
VerdictlyTM Score
This outcome is within expected ranges
This score is calculated by analyzing injury type, accident details, geographic location, temporal trends, and comparing against 2,000+ similar cases in our database.
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