Suffolk County Jury Awards $20,000 in Rear-End Collision

One driver was stopped at a red light when their vehicle was struck from behind by another vehicle. The injured driver sought treatment for head and neck pain, diagnosed as a concussion and cervical sprain. The jury found the defendant liable and awarded damages.

Case Information Updated: October 2025

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Neck Injury (Whiplash)

Rear-end

Motor Vehicle Negligence

About Neck Injury (Whiplash) Injuries

Whiplash is a neck injury caused by rapid back-and-forth movement of the head, commonly occurring in rear-end collisions. Despite being frequently dismissed, whiplash can cause significant pain and disability.

Case Outcome

Outcome: Verdict-Plaintiff
Amount: $20,000
County: Suffolk County, NY
Resolved: 2019

Injury & Accident Details

Injury Type: Neck Injury (Whiplash)
Accident Type: Rear-end
Case Type: Motor Vehicle Negligence, Rear End Collision

Settlement Context

This verdict-plaintiff of $20,000 is near the median of $11,079 for neck injury (whiplash) cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $4,175 to $31,428, based on 656 cases in our database.

Case Overview

A motorist sustained injuries in a rear-end collision on November 18, 2015, in Suffolk County, New York. The plaintiff's vehicle was stopped at a red light at the intersection of Veterans Memorial Highway and Orville Drive when it was struck from behind by the defendant's vehicle. The plaintiff alleged head, neck, right wrist, and bilateral shoulder pain, and was diagnosed with a concussion, post-concussion syndrome, and cervical sprain and strain. The plaintiff filed a lawsuit, alleging the defendant was negligent in the operation of their vehicle.

The defendant generally denied the allegations of negligence and disputed the claimed injuries. The court granted the plaintiff's motion for summary judgment on the issue of liability, finding the defendant responsible for the collision. The case then proceeded to trial solely to determine the amount of damages owed. A jury subsequently awarded the plaintiff $20,000.

Understanding This Case

Most whiplash injuries improve within 2-3 months. However, about 25% of patients experience chronic symptoms lasting over a year, significantly impacting quality of life.
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 Suffolk 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.

Verdictly^TM Score

/100

Reasonably Fair

This outcome is within expected ranges

This score is calculated by analyzing injury type, accident details, geographic location, temporal trends, and comparing against 2,000+ similar cases in our database.