Louisville, Kentucky Jury Awards $7,463 After Rear-End Collision
One driver was visiting family when they were rear-ended by another driver. The collision caused minor damage and resulted in the injured driver being taken to the hospital for treatment of soft-tissue symptoms and a bruised knee. After returning home, the injured driver was diagnosed with a lumbar disc injury and underwent treatment, including an injection that did not provide relief. The injured driver continued to experience occasional flare-ups. The case involved a dispute over the extent of the injuries and medical expenses, with the defense arguing the forces of the crash were insufficient to cause serious injury.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Lumbar Disc Injury Injuries
Lumbar disc injuries affect the lower back (L1-L5 and S1), which bears significant body weight and is particularly vulnerable to trauma. These injuries can cause debilitating pain and functional limitations.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Defense
- Amount
- $7,463
- County
- Jefferson County, KY
- Resolved
- 2022
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Lumbar Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-defense of $7,463 is above the median of Undisclosed for lumbar disc injury cases resolved by verdict-defense. The typical range is Undisclosed to Undisclosed, based on 39 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On November 23, 2018, the plaintiff, then age 61, was involved in a rear-end collision at an intersection in Louisville, Kentucky. The plaintiff was transported to a local hospital, treated for soft-tissue symptoms and a bruised knee, and released. Following six weeks of physical therapy, the plaintiff was diagnosed with a lumbar disc injury and underwent an epidural steroid injection that did not provide relief.
The plaintiff filed a lawsuit seeking damages from the defendant, alleging the collision caused their injuries. The plaintiff claimed $27,185 in medical bills and sought an additional $100,000 for pain and suffering, with a medical expert confirming the injuries. The defendant admitted fault for the collision but disputed the severity of the plaintiff's claimed injuries. A biomechanics expert testified for the defense, asserting that the crash forces were minor and could not have caused a serious injury, suggesting at worst a temporary soft-tissue injury.
The jury first determined that the plaintiff met the necessary threshold of reasonably necessary medical expenses to recover damages. However, when considering the amount of damages, the jury awarded the plaintiff $7,463 for medical expenses, which covered initial emergency treatment. The jury awarded no damages for pain and suffering. The outcome indicated the jury accepted the defendant's argument that the minor collision did not cause the more severe, lasting injuries claimed by the plaintiff, limiting the recovery to immediate, emergency medical care.
Understanding This Case
- About 90% of lumbar disc herniations improve with conservative treatment. However, those requiring surgery may face permanent work restrictions and ongoing pain management needs.
- 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 Jefferson 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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