Lexington Jury Awards $135,387 in Red-Light Collision
One driver ran a red light and collided with another vehicle at an intersection. The driver who ran the red light had a passenger in the back seat who dropped something, causing the driver to look away. The collision was moderate, and initially, no injuries were reported at the scene. However, the driver who was hit later sought treatment for neck pain.
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
- Settlement
- Amount
- $135,387
- County
- Dallas County, KY
- Resolved
- 2017
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Neck Injury (Whiplash)
- Accident Type
- T-bone
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Accident
Settlement Context
This settlement of $135,387 is above the median of $14,808 for neck injury (whiplash) cases resolved by settlement. The typical range is $3,000 to $130,000, based on 41 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On June 15, 2014, a 65-year-old plaintiff was involved in a T-bone collision at the intersection of Limestone and Maxwell in the Lexington area when a defendant driver reportedly ran a red light. No injuries were reported immediately, but the plaintiff later treated for radiating neck pain, incurring $10,387 in medical expenses. The plaintiff settled with the defendant driver for $25,000 from a $50,000 policy, then sought Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage from his own insurer for an additional $50,000.
The plaintiff contended the collision caused a new neck injury. The defense disputed liability and argued injuries were minor or pre-existing, citing no immediate injury and a prior lumbar surgery. An independent medical examiner for the defense had characterized the injury as a temporary strain on underlying arthritic conditions, but did not testify. After a one-day jury trial, the jury found the defendant driver at fault. The jury awarded the plaintiff $10,387 for medical expenses and additional sums for impairment, past suffering, and future suffering, totaling $135,387.
Following adjustments for prior payments and policy limits, the court entered a $50,000 judgment for the plaintiff, exhausting the UIM carrier's policy limits. The insurer subsequently satisfied the 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 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 Dallas County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2017, 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 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.
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