Kings County Jury Awards $125,000 in Motor Vehicle Negligence
One driver was involved in a motor vehicle accident at an intersection. The injured person was a passenger in a vehicle that collided with another vehicle. The injured person claimed the other driver's negligence caused the collision and their injuries. The other driver raised defenses including comparative negligence and failure to use seat belts. The case proceeded to trial, and a jury found the other driver liable.
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
- Settlement
- Amount
- $125,000
- County
- Kings County, NY
- Resolved
- 2018
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Multi-vehicle
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This settlement of $125,000 is above the median of $20,000 for back strain / soft tissue cases resolved by settlement. The typical range is $7,500 to $75,000, based on 235 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On September 8, 2015, a motor vehicle accident occurred in Kings County, New York, at the intersection of Bushwick Avenue and Decatur Street. A passenger, a resident of Nassau County, was injured when the vehicle he was in collided with another vehicle owned and operated by a Queens County resident.
The injured passenger filed a complaint on March 3, 2016, alleging that the collision and his resulting "serious injury" were caused solely by the negligence of the other driver. The plaintiff claimed the defendant operated the vehicle at excessive speed, failed to keep a proper lookout, did not give proper warning of vehicle movements, and violated traffic regulations. In response, the defendant filed several defenses, including comparative negligence, asserting that the plaintiff's injuries were partially due to his own conduct. The defendant also raised a seat belt defense, arguing for mitigated damages due to the plaintiff's alleged failure to use available restraints.
The case proceeded to a jury trial. On August 21, 2018, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. The jury found the defendant liable for the motor vehicle accident and awarded the plaintiff $125,000 in general damages. The court determined that the defendant's negligent operation of the vehicle caused the plaintiff's injuries.
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 was resolved through a settlement, avoiding the uncertainty and expense of a trial. Settlements typically resolve faster and provide guaranteed compensation.
- This case was resolved in Kings County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2018, 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 differs from typical similar cases
This score is calculated by analyzing injury type, accident details, geographic location, temporal trends, and comparing against 2,000+ similar cases in our database.
Want to check your case value?
Get a free case evaluation to understand what your motor vehicle accident case might be worth based on cases like this in Kings County.
Similar cases you may find useful
Handpicked by matching injury type, accident details, and outcome to this case.
Explore More Cases Like This
Browse similar cases by injury type and location to get a better understanding of case values in your area.