New York Court Awards $400,000 in Rear-End Collision After Default Judgment
One driver stopped at an intersection was hit from behind by another driver. The driver of the stopped vehicle claimed neck and back injuries requiring surgery. The passenger in the stopped vehicle also claimed neck and back injuries but did not require surgery. The defendants did not respond to the lawsuit.
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
- $400,000
- County
- Kings County, NY
- Resolved
- 2019
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Rear End Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $400,000 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
On January 20, 2016, a rear-end collision occurred at the intersection of Cleveland Place and Broome Street in New York, New York. A vehicle, occupied by a driver and a passenger, was stopped when a truck, operated by a defendant driver on behalf of a defendant company, struck its rear. The plaintiff driver sustained neck and back injuries that required surgery, while the plaintiff passenger suffered similar injuries that did not necessitate surgery.
The plaintiffs filed a lawsuit alleging the defendant driver’s negligence, citing a failure to maintain control of the vehicle, avoid the collision, regulate speed, and obey traffic rules. The defendants failed to file an answer to the plaintiffs' complaint, which resulted in the court entering a default judgment against them. An inquest followed, where the court awarded the plaintiff driver $350,000 in damages and the plaintiff passenger $50,000.
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 Kings County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2019, 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 significantly deviates from 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.
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