Corinth Jury Awards $417,500 in Multi-Vehicle Rear-End Collision

On October 6, 2016, a 61-year-old collection agent was involved in a four-vehicle rear-end collision on Interstate 35 in Corinth. The plaintiff, who was driving the lead vehicle, alleged suffering head, neck, and back injuries, including post-concussion syndrome, traumatic brain injury, and disc protrusions. She claimed these injuries necessitated extensive medical treatment and caused her to stop working in February 2017. The plaintiff subsequently filed a lawsuit against the three other drivers involved, alleging negligence in the operation of their vehicles.

Plaintiff's counsel contended the initial police report was accurate, stating that the second vehicle struck the plaintiff, followed by the third vehicle striking the second, and the fourth vehicle striking the third. The plaintiff testified to feeling three impacts. Defense counsel for the second driver disputed this, arguing the initial impact occurred when the fourth vehicle struck the third, pushing it into the second vehicle, which then struck the plaintiff. This defendant presented evidence of greater damage to the third and fourth vehicles and argued the plaintiff's claimed injuries were pre-existing or excessively treated. The fourth driver admitted taking his eyes off the road just before the collision.

The jury found negligence and comparative responsibility, awarding the plaintiff total damages of $417,500. The award included $125,000 for past loss of earning capacity, $87,500 for past physical pain and suffering, $150,000 for past mental anguish, and $55,000 for future mental anguish. The jury assigned 75 percent of the responsibility to the fourth driver, 15 percent to the third driver, and 10 percent to the second driver.