Court Upholds $25,000 Award in Rear-End Collision
One driver was operating a vehicle when the other driver negligently collided with the rear of their automobile. The injured driver alleged the other driver failed to keep a good lookout, failed to exercise due care, and was following too closely. This resulted in vehicle damage and personal injuries. A jury awarded damages, but a portion for future medical expenses was later set aside. The appellate court affirmed the reduced judgment.
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
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $125,000
- County
- DeKalb County, GA
- Resolved
- 2020
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Accident
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $125,000 is above the median of $13,980 for back strain / soft tissue cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $5,649 to $30,000, based on 1000 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On December 20, 2014, a vehicle collision occurred on Redan Road when the defendant's automobile struck the rear of the plaintiff's car. The plaintiff alleged the defendant was negligent by failing to maintain a proper lookout, exercise due care, and keep a safe following distance. The incident reportedly caused vehicle damage and personal injuries to the plaintiff.
The plaintiff filed a complaint on July 14, 2016, seeking recovery for past and future medical expenses, physical and mental pain and suffering, interest, and litigation costs, including attorney's fees. The defendant responded in January 2017 with several defenses, including claims of insufficient service, lack of personal jurisdiction, improper venue, failure to state a claim, and expiration of the statute of limitations. The court later granted the defendant's February 2018 motion for partial summary judgment regarding attorney's fees and litigation expenses.
The case proceeded to trial, and on June 11, 2019, a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, awarding $25,000 in general damages and $100,000 for future medical expenses, totaling $125,000. Following the verdict, the defendant filed a Motion for Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict (JNOV), arguing that the testimony regarding future medical expenses was too inconclusive.
On September 11, 2019, the court granted the JNOV motion, setting aside the $100,000 award for future medical expenses and entering a final judgment for the plaintiff in the amount of $25,000. The plaintiff appealed this decision, but on September 3, 2020, the Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's grant of JNOV, upholding the $25,000 judgment.
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 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 DeKalb County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2020, 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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