Charles County Jury Awards $1.1 Million in Vehicle Collision
A man was driving when another vehicle turned left in front of him, causing a collision. The injured man sustained a permanent lower back injury. The defense argued that a later work injury superseded the crash injuries, but doctors testified the crash made him more susceptible. The jury awarded damages for economic and noneconomic losses.
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
- $1,100,000
- County
- Charles County, MD
- Resolved
- 2015
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Charles Co. jury awards $ 1.1M to car crash victim
Settlement Context
This settlement of $1,100,000 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
A Charles County jury awarded a Friendship man $1.1 million after he sustained a permanent lower back injury in a vehicle collision in Waldorf. The plaintiff was driving on Route 925 on May 21, 2015, when his vehicle collided with a vehicle turning left across traffic. A negligence lawsuit was filed in December 2016.
At the start of the trial in January, the defendant admitted liability, shifting the focus to damages. The defense argued that a lower back strain the plaintiff experienced at work in November 2015 superseded injuries from the initial crash. However, doctors testified that the collision made the plaintiff more susceptible to the subsequent injury.
On January 9, after approximately one hour of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff. The award included $40,741.50 in economic damages and $1,061,519.50 in noneconomic damages. The noneconomic damages portion of the award was subject to reduction under a statutory cap.
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 Charles County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2015, 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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