Clearwater, Florida Jury Awards $75,315 in Rear-End Collision
A passenger in a taxicab was injured when an unidentified driver rear-ended the taxi. The collision occurred at an intersection. The passenger claimed injuries to their neck, back, and knees.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
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
- $107,125
- County
- Pinellas County, FL
- Resolved
- 2005
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Neck Injury (Whiplash)
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $107,125 is above 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
On June 21, 1998, a taxicab passenger was injured when their vehicle was rear-ended by another car at the intersection of Mandalay Boulevard and Memorial Causeway in Clearwater, Florida. The passenger subsequently filed a lawsuit for damages, alleging injuries that included the need for knee surgery.
During the pre-trial phase, the defendant’s counsel sought an independent medical examination (IME) of the plaintiff. After an initial cancellation and rescheduling, the plaintiff underwent knee surgery before the rescheduled IME could take place. The defendant filed a motion to dismiss the case, contending that the plaintiff's surgery, performed without a pre-surgical IME, violated policy terms, Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, and an agreement between counsel, thus prejudicing the defense.
At trial, the plaintiff presented expert testimony from an orthopedic surgeon and an economist, while the defendant offered testimony from their own orthopedic surgeon. The jury awarded damages that included costs related to the knee surgery, implicitly finding the defense's argument regarding the lack of a pre-surgical IME unpersuasive regarding the plaintiff's entitlement to those damages. After agreed-upon reductions for collateral source payments and medical bill write-offs, the net award to the plaintiff totaled $75,315.58. Following the verdict, the defendant filed an amended motion to dismiss and a motion concerning a lack of coverage, also objecting to the entry of judgment.
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 Pinellas County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2005, 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
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