North Carolina Jury Awards $4,000,000 in Rear-End Collision
One driver was operating a disabled truck at a slow speed on the highway. Another driver, operating a tractor-trailer, failed to stop and rear-ended a pickup truck, pushing it into the disabled truck. The driver of the disabled truck suffered a serious head injury.
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-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $4,000,000
- County
- Robeson County, NC
- Resolved
- 2018
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Head/Brain Injury
- Accident Type
- Truck/Commercial
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Traumatic Brain Injury, Cognition, Impairment
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $4,000,000 is near the median of $510,805 for head/brain injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $52,650 to $4,929,085, based on 77 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On April 20, 2015, a three-vehicle rear-end collision occurred on Interstate 74 east of Maxton, North Carolina. A truck driver, operating a partially disabled bobtail truck, was struck from behind by a tractor-trailer. The incident also involved a co-worker's pickup truck that was following the disabled vehicle. The plaintiff truck driver sustained multiple injuries, most seriously a traumatic brain injury, which resulted in permanent cognitive deficits, chronic headaches, blurred vision, and dizziness, impacting his earning capacity. His co-worker was pronounced dead at the scene.
The plaintiff filed a lawsuit against the tractor-trailer driver's employer, alleging negligence in the operation of the tractor-trailer and vicarious liability on the part of the employer. The lawsuit claimed the tractor-trailer driver failed to apply brakes or take evasive action, despite clear weather and good visibility. The plaintiff's disabled bobtail truck and the co-worker's pickup truck were traveling slowly with warning flashers activated in the right lane of the interstate when the collision occurred.
The defense contended that the plaintiff and his co-worker were contributorily negligent by operating their vehicles at a significantly slower speed than the posted limit on a major highway. The case proceeded to a jury trial. After a one-week trial, the jury found the tractor-trailer driver and his employer 100% liable for the accident. The jury awarded the plaintiff $4,000,000 in damages.
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 Robeson County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2018, 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.
Curious about your case value?
Get a free case evaluation to understand what your motor vehicle accident case might be worth based on cases like this in Robeson County.
Similar cases you may find useful
Handpicked by matching injury type, accident details, and outcome to this case.
One driver was slowing down in traffic when their vehicle was hit from behind by another car. The driver who was hit claimed injuries to their back, head, and neck. The other driver's insurance paid some of its policy limit. The injured driver then sued their own insurance company for underinsured motorist benefits, claiming their damages exceeded the amount recovered. The defense conceded fault for the accident, and the trial focused on the extent of the injuries.
A driver alleged that a tractor-trailer driver was negligent in causing a rear-end collision. The plaintiff suffered neck and spinal injuries requiring surgery. The defendants disputed causation and the extent of the injuries. The plaintiff claimed the truck driver was under the influence of drugs. The jury found in favor of the plaintiff.
One driver stopped their vehicle on a highway when the other driver struck them from behind at a high speed. The impact caused the driver to hit their head and briefly lose consciousness. The injured driver claimed the accident caused a brain injury, preventing them from completing college studies, and also affected their ability to care for their young son. The other driver admitted to the collision but disputed the extent and cause of the injuries.
One driver was traveling on a tollway when their vehicle ran out of gas and became disabled. The other driver, who was following behind, struck the disabled vehicle. The first driver claimed injuries to their neck and back. The jury found the second driver 80% liable and the first driver 20% liable.
One driver was stopped on a road when their car was struck from behind by another car. This initial impact propelled the stopped car into a third vehicle. The driver of the first car claimed injuries to their back and neck, seeking damages for medical expenses and pain.
Explore More Cases Like This
Browse similar cases by injury type and location to get a better understanding of case values in your area.