Staten Island Jury Awards $215,776 in Rear-End Collision

A plaintiff received a jury award following a motor vehicle collision in Staten Island, New York. The plaintiff alleged the defendant negligently struck the rear of his vehicle on Victory Boulevard at Christopher Lane. The defendant conceded liability for the incident, and the case proceeded to trial solely on the issue of damages.

The plaintiff, a 55-year-old construction laborer, contended he suffered a torn meniscus requiring arthroscopic surgery and an impingement of his right dominant shoulder, which also necessitated arthroscopic surgery for decompression and ligament release. He claimed these injuries caused him to be out of work for seven months. An orthopedic surgeon testified that the plaintiff's injuries were caused by the accident, and the plaintiff presented MRI scans, knee drawings, and a shoulder model as evidence.

The defendant argued that the plaintiff's conditions were degenerative, stemming from his age and occupation, and were not attributable to the collision. Following deliberations, a jury awarded the plaintiff $215,776. The damages included $110,000 for past pain and suffering, $100,000 for future pain and suffering, and $5,776 for stipulated past lost earnings not covered by no-fault insurance.