Jury Awards $475,000 in Multi-Vehicle Rear-End Collision

A driver filed a lawsuit following a multi-vehicle rear-end collision. The plaintiff driver contended that while stopped, a middle vehicle struck his car, and then a third vehicle struck the middle car, propelling it into the plaintiff's vehicle again. The defendant driver of the middle car maintained that he stopped before the initial impact with the plaintiff and was then struck from the rear by the third car, which pushed his vehicle into the plaintiff's car. The co-defendant, driver of the third car, asserted that the middle car had already struck the plaintiff's vehicle before his impact.

The plaintiff claimed a cervical herniation requiring fusion surgery, as well as a thoracic herniation and lumbar bulge, all confirmed by MRI. These injuries reportedly caused permanent pain and limitations, with the thoracic and lumbar injuries treated with injections. Defendants denied the plaintiff met the no-fault threshold and highlighted minimal impact damage to the vehicles. The defendant also presented evidence of the plaintiff's past grand larceny and drug convictions, though no income claims were made. The middle driver countered with deposition testimony from the co-defendant who indicated he did not see a prior impact.

At the close of evidence, the court directed a plaintiff's verdict on liability against the driver of the third car. Immediately prior to deliberations, the parties entered into a high/low agreement between $400,000 and $1,000,000. The agreement stipulated the middle driver would pay no less than $25,000 and the third car driver no less than $375,000. The jury found the third car driver 100% negligent and awarded $475,000, including $75,000 for past pain and suffering and $400,000 for future pain and suffering. The middle driver was responsible for $25,000 of the total award.