Lake Charles Jury Awards $301,000 in Rear-End Collision

On April 19, 2018, a driver pulled an F-350 pickup truck from a parking lot onto Maplewood Avenue in Sulphur, Louisiana. The plaintiff angled the truck into a left-turn lane, partially blocking a center lane. Simultaneously, the defendant, distracted by a cellphone GPS, rear-ended the plaintiff's vehicle in a Ford Explorer. The impact was moderate, causing significant damage to the defendant's vehicle, while the plaintiff's F-350 sustained minor damage. The plaintiff later sought treatment for multiple injuries, including cervical and shoulder surgeries, and reported a need for future medical interventions.

The plaintiff filed a negligence lawsuit against the defendant, initially in Calcasieu Parish before its removal to federal court in Lake Charles. The plaintiff sought $4.75 million, including economic losses for past and future medical expenses and lost wages, as well as non-economic damages. The defendant admitted the collision but argued the plaintiff shared fault by blocking the lane. The defense presented an accident expert who calculated the impact on the plaintiff's truck as minor and a medical expert who attributed many of the plaintiff's conditions to pre-existing degenerative issues unrelated to the crash.

After a five-day trial, the jury deliberated for three hours, finding the defendant 70% at fault and the plaintiff 30% at fault. The jury awarded the plaintiff $150,000 for past medical expenses, $50,000 for future medical expenses, and $80,000 for lost wages. Non-economic damages included $75,000 for pain and suffering, $50,000 for loss of enjoyment of life, and $50,000 for disability. The jury rejected an award for mental anguish. The raw verdict totaled $430,000, which was reduced by the plaintiff's comparative fault to a final judgment of $301,000.