Mississippi Jury Awards $1,222,314 in Rear-End Collision
A county employee was rear-ended by a distracted driver on a county road. The employee treated for a disc injury and a mild head injury. The employee later had a second crash, which complicated the proof of causation for the ongoing symptoms. The case went to trial against two insurance companies. The jury awarded economic and non-economic damages.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Cervical Disc Injury Injuries
Cervical disc injuries involve damage to the intervertebral discs in the neck region (C1-C7). These injuries can include herniated discs, bulging discs, and disc degeneration accelerated by trauma.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Settlement
- Amount
- $1,222,314
- County
- Pearl River County, MS
- Resolved
- 2017
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Cervical Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Accident
Settlement Context
This settlement of $1,222,314 is above the median of $75,000 for cervical disc injury cases resolved by settlement. The typical range is $20,261 to $300,000, based on 119 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A rear-end collision occurred in Pearl River County on September 13, 2012. The plaintiff, a county employee operating a government vehicle on Ceasar Road, was struck by another driver who was reportedly distracted by a cellphone. Fault for the crash was not disputed. The plaintiff sustained a multi-level disc injury and a mild closed head injury.
The plaintiff filed a lawsuit in Pearl River County against the striking driver and two underinsured motorist (UIM) carriers: Lamorak Insurance, which covered the county vehicle, and GEICO, the plaintiff's personal insurer. The striking driver later settled, concluding their involvement in the case. Lamorak Insurance subsequently removed the case to federal court.
During treatment for the initial injuries, the plaintiff was involved in a second collision in July 2014, complicating causation proof. The UIM carriers focused their defense on this complex causation, noting the plaintiff's pre-existing cervical disc problems and the subsequent accident. They highlighted testimony from one treating doctor who was uncertain about the causal link between the three events. However, a neurosurgeon from Covington, LA, who treated the plaintiff, linked the ongoing symptoms to the first wreck and indicated a need for repair surgery.
The matter proceeded to a three-day trial in Gulfport against the two UIM carriers. The only issue for the jury was damages. The jury found in favor of the plaintiff, awarding $572,314 in economic damages and $650,000 in non-economic damages, for a total verdict of $1,222,314. A consistent judgment for the full sum was entered against both insurers.
Understanding This Case
- Many cervical disc injuries improve with conservative treatment. However, about 30% of cases may require surgical intervention, with varying degrees of permanent impairment.
- 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 Pearl River 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
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