Louisville Jury Awards $7,911, Defense Judgment in Rear-End Crash
One driver was rear-ended by another driver whose brakes had been slipping. The driver who was rear-ended treated for a mild traumatic brain injury and soft-tissue pain in the shoulder, neck, and back. Medical bills were incurred. The case went to trial on damages only, with the jury awarding the amount of the medical bills.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Head/Brain Injury Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) range from mild concussions to severe brain damage. Car accidents are a leading cause of TBI, with effects ranging from temporary symptoms to permanent cognitive impairment.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Defense
- Amount
- $7,911
- County
- Dallas County, KY
- Resolved
- 2022
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Head/Brain Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-defense of $7,911 is above the median of Undisclosed for head/brain injury cases resolved by verdict-defense. The typical range is Undisclosed to $7,911, based on 18 cases in our database.
Case Overview
In Louisville, Kentucky, a vehicle operated by the defendant rear-ended another vehicle driven by the plaintiff on May 1, 2017. The defendant's vehicle had experienced slipping brakes for several weeks prior, contributing to the collision, and the defendant conceded fault. The plaintiff subsequently filed a lawsuit, alleging a mild traumatic brain injury and soft-tissue injuries to the shoulder, neck, and back, and sought $24,005 in medical expenses, along with $100,000 for past pain and suffering, $200,000 for future pain and suffering, and punitive damages.
During the trial, the plaintiff presented expert testimony from a neurologist to confirm the traumatic brain injury. The defendant disputed the extent of the plaintiff's injuries, particularly the brain injury claim, and relied on an independent medical examination from another neurologist. This expert noted that the plaintiff had visited a primary care physician the day after the collision but did not report a head injury. The claim for punitive damages was withdrawn, and the case proceeded solely on the issue of damages.
A jury ultimately awarded the plaintiff $7,911 for medical expenses but did not award any damages for past or future pain and suffering. Because the total verdict did not exceed the state's $10,000 personal injury protection threshold, a defense judgment was entered for the defendant.
Understanding This Case
- Most mild TBIs resolve within weeks to months. Moderate to severe TBI often results in permanent impairment affecting cognition, behavior, and physical function.
- 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 Dallas County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2022, 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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