MOTOR VEHICLE NEGLIGENCE. Multiple Vehicle Collision. $______ VERDICT. Motor vehicle negligence - Multi-vehicle rear end collision - Defendant strikes rear of plaintiff's vehicle pushing it in to vehicle in front - Cervical sprain and strain - Radiculopathy - Leg injuries.

• Pages: 15-15

The plaintiff asserted that he suffered a lumbar

herniation and that after more conservative treat-

ment. Including physical therapy chiropractic manip-

ulations and an injection were insufficient he,

underwent a lumbar discectomy. The plaintiff as-

serted that he continued to experience severe symp-

toms and underwent a lumbar arthroplasty surgery.

The plaintiff maintained that although improved, he

continues to suffer some pain and limitations, which

he contended will continue to plague him perma-

nently. The plaintiff who had a limited PIP policy of

$15,000, made a claim for out-of-pocket medical

expenses of approximately $200,000.

The defendant denied that the plaintiff sustained the

alleged injuries in the accident, contending that he

suffered from age related degenerative disc disease.

The defendant pointed out that the plaintiff had

made prior complaints and underwent an MRI sev-

eral years earlier. The defendant asserted that there

was no change between the earlier MRI and the one

taken after the collision. The plaintiff countered that

he did not require significant treatment before the

accident occurred and maintained that the defen-

dant’s position should be rejected.

Theplaintiffwasabletoreturntoworkandtheplaintiff

made no future wage claims.

The case settled prior to trial for $575,000.

REFERENCE

Plaintiff’s orthopedic surgeon expert: Joseph

Lombardi, M.D. from Edison, NJ.

Santa vs. Moy. Docket no. MID-L-6503-18, 10-21.

Attorney for plaintiff: Frank Lazzaro of Lutz

Shafranski Gorman & Mahoney in New Brunswick.

.

Multiple Vehicle Collision

$10,000 VERDICT

Motor vehicle negligence – Multi-vehicle rear end

collision – Defendant strikes rear of plaintiff’s

vehicle pushing it in to vehicle in front – Cervical

sprain and strain – Radiculopathy – Leg injuries.

Harris County, TX

The plaintiff in this motor vehicle negligence

action maintained she suffered injuries to her

neck and back when her vehicle was struck in the

rear by the defendant and pushed into the vehicle

in front of her. The defendant denied all

allegations of negligence and injury.

On June 20, 2014, the female plaintiff was driving

southbound on the North Freeway in Houston, Texas

when the defendant failed to maintain a reasonable

speed and distance between vehicles, striking the

rear of the plaintiff’s vehicle. As a result, the plaintiff’s

vehicle was subsequently pushed into the vehicle di-

rectly in front of him.

The plaintiff alleged that the defendant was negligent

in failing to keep a proper lookout, failing to maintain

a reasonable, safe, and prudent rate of speed, fail-

ing to maintain a safe distance between vehicles,

failing to timely apply brakes and being inattentive

while driving. Following the collision, the plaintiff had

to seek the care of medical professionals and was di-

agnosed with cervical sprain with radiculopathy, leg

contusion and laceration.

The jury found that the defendant was negligent and

awarded the plaintiff damages of $10,000.

REFERENCE

Cecil Addison vs. Jean De Leon De La Cruz. Case no.

201633388; Judge Brittanye Morris, 12-29-22.

Attorney for plaintiff: Eman Afshar of The Hadi Law

Firm in Houston, TX. Attorney for defendant:

Benjamin Reviere of Benckenstein, Reviere and

Dresden in Houston, TX.

Rear End Collision

$22,000 VERDICT

Motor vehicle negligence – Rear end collision –

Plaintiff rear-ended by driver under influence of

drugs who was negligently entrusted to operate

vehicle by defendant owners – Right shoulder

rotator cuff tear and cervical disc herniations – 2

arthroscopic surgeries – Numerous spinal

injections, cervical rhizotomy, and physical

therapy – Plaintiff claims $271,000 in medical

expenses – Plaintiff files post-trial motion for new

trial.

Palm Beach County, FL

In this motor vehicle negligence case, the plaintiff,

an 18-year-old man, asserted that the defendant

driver struck the rear of his vehicle with such force

that it caused significant, permanent injury. The

plaintiff maintained that the defendant driver was

negligent and the defendant owners of the vehicle

were negligent in allowing the driver, who did not

hold a valid driver’s license and who was under

the influence of drugs, to operate the vehicle with

their permission. The defendant owners denied

negligence and asserted that the vehicle was

stolen by unknown persons who caused the hit

and run crash with the plaintiff.

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