Winchester, Kentucky Jury Awards $71,886 in Rear-End Collision
One driver was stopped in traffic when another driver rear-ended them. The collision caused damage to the first vehicle. The injured driver sought treatment for back pain and underwent physical therapy. Medical bills and lost wages were claimed.
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
- Settlement
- Amount
- $71,886
- County
- Dallas County, KY
- Resolved
- 2025
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Lumbar Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Accident
Settlement Context
This settlement of $71,886 is near the median of $100,000 for lumbar disc injury cases resolved by settlement. The typical range is $40,000 to $800,000, based on 24 cases in our database.
Case Overview
In August 2020, a plaintiff, an assembly lineworker, was involved in a rear-end collision on a bypass in Winchester, Kentucky. The plaintiff sustained an L4-5 annular tear, experienced chronic low back pain, and subsequently took early retirement. Following a $25,000 settlement with the at-fault driver, the plaintiff filed a direct underinsured motorist (UIM) action against their insurer, which was later subsumed by Farmers Insurance. The plaintiff sought compensation for medical bills totaling $21,295, $682,528 for lost wages, and $500,000 for pain and suffering.
During the litigation, the plaintiff's expert, an emergency room physician, linked the symptoms to the crash, while a vocational expert quantified the plaintiff's lost earnings. The defendant insurer contested the extent of the injuries, with their orthopedic expert asserting that the plaintiff's symptoms were primarily an aggravation of pre-existing degenerative conditions from an earlier surgery, and the collision caused only a temporary flare-up of an asymptomatic tear.
The case proceeded to a two-day jury trial in Winchester, where the jury considered only damages. The jury awarded the plaintiff $21,295 for medical expenses, $35,585 for past and future lost earnings, and $14,000 for pain and suffering, resulting in a total verdict of $71,886.
A judgment against the insurer was expected for $36,886, calculated by deducting the initial $25,000 settlement and $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) payments from the total verdict. The record indicated the insurer had previously made an offer of judgment for $45,000.
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 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 Dallas County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2025, 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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