Lynnwood, Washington Jury Issues Verdict in Rear-End Collision
A passenger was in a vehicle that was struck three times from behind by another vehicle. The passenger exited their vehicle after the second impact and was struck a third time while partially outside the car. The third impact pushed the passenger's vehicle forward.
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
- $461,200
- County
- King County, WA
- Resolved
- 2017
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Back injury, left sacroiliitis, iliolumbar ligament dysfunction
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $461,200 is above the median of $13,021 for back strain / soft tissue cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $5,408 to $31,445, based on 800 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On November 10, 2013, in Lynnwood, Washington, a plaintiff, who was a law enforcement officer, was a passenger in a Honda Accord that was struck from behind by a Ford Explorer. The defendant driver, operating the Explorer in the scope of her employment with Special Occasions, allegedly failed to stop while reaching for her phone. The plaintiff contended the defendant's vehicle impacted the Honda three times. After the second collision, the plaintiff partially exited his vehicle, and a third impact pushed the Honda forward. The plaintiff later found the defendant driver unresponsive and secured her vehicle.
The plaintiff filed a lawsuit against the defendant driver and her employer, alleging negligence and seeking damages for injuries sustained. Both sides presented expert testimony regarding vocational rehabilitation and economic damages, indicating disputes over the extent and cause of the plaintiff's injuries. The plaintiff's team also called an internal medicine expert, while the defense presented an orthopedic surgeon.
During pre-trial negotiations, the plaintiff's demands ranged from $200,000 to $500,000. The defendant's offers increased from $16,000 at mediation to $350,000 mid-trial. The case proceeded to a seven-day trial, but the provided record does not specify the final verdict or settlement.
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 King 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 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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