Queens County Jury Awards $200,000 in Rear-End Collision
One driver was stopped in traffic when their vehicle was hit from behind by another vehicle. The driver who was hit alleged they sustained severe and permanent personal injuries. The court granted summary judgment on liability, and a jury awarded damages.
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
- $200,000
- County
- Queens County, NY
- Resolved
- 2020
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This settlement of $200,000 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 20, 2017, a motor vehicle accident occurred in Queens County, New York, at Laurelton Parkway and Francis Lewis Boulevard. The plaintiff alleged their vehicle was stopped for approximately 30 seconds due to slowing traffic when it was suddenly struck in the rear by a vehicle operated by one defendant and owned by another. The plaintiff claimed to have sustained severe and permanent personal injuries, asserting they met the "serious injury" threshold and suffered economic loss as defined by state insurance law.
The plaintiff filed a complaint seeking judgment for damages. The defendants responded, asserting several defenses, including comparative negligence and the seat belt defense. The plaintiff later moved for summary judgment on the issue of liability, arguing the defendants failed to provide a non-negligent explanation for the rear-end collision. On September 24, 2018, the court granted the plaintiff's motion, ruling the defendants were liable and scheduling an assessment of damages.
Following a jury trial, a verdict was returned on February 28, 2020. The jury found in favor of the plaintiff and awarded $200,000 in general damages against the vehicle's operator and owner.
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 Queens County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2020, 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.
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