Newton County Georgia Jury Awards $85,579 in Rear-End Collision
One driver stopped to make a left turn with a signal activated and was struck from behind by another vehicle. The driver who was hit claimed serious injuries, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. The other driver argued the injured driver was also at fault. A jury found in favor of the injured driver.
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
- $85,579
- County
- DeKalb County, GA
- Resolved
- 2019
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Civil Procedure, Torts, Transportation Law
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $85,579 is above the median of $13,980 for back strain / soft tissue cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $5,649 to $30,000, based on 1000 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On January 12, 2015, in Newton County, Georgia, a vehicle driven by the defendant struck the plaintiff's vehicle from behind while the plaintiff was stopped to make a left turn on Spring Road. The plaintiff filed a complaint alleging the defendant operated the vehicle negligently by following too closely, failing to keep a proper lookout, and driving recklessly while distracted. The plaintiff claimed serious bodily injuries, medical expenses, and physical and mental pain and suffering, seeking compensatory and punitive damages.
The defendant denied the allegations, arguing that the plaintiff's claims were barred by contributory or comparative negligence, and that no act or omission on her part caused the alleged injuries. The defendant also contended that the punitive damages claim should be dismissed, citing constitutional grounds. The court later granted partial summary judgment to the defendant, dismissing the claim for punitive damages.
The case proceeded to a jury trial. On June 12, 2019, the jury found in favor of the plaintiff. The verdict awarded $10,579.02 for medical expenses and $75,000.00 for pain and suffering, for a total of $85,579.02. After a deduction for a prior payment from an insurer, the final judgment entered on June 21, 2019, was $60,579.02, and the court also awarded court costs to the plaintiff. The jury concluded that the defendant's negligence was the cause of the plaintiff's injuries and damages.
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 DeKalb County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2019, 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 differs from typical 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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