MOTOR VEHICLE NEGLIGENCE. Rear End Collision. $______ RECOVERY

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Parking Lot Collision
$100,000 VERDICT
Motor vehicle negligence – Parking lot collision –
Herniated disc at C5-6 with the cord compression
– Radiofrequency ablation.
Middlesex County, NJ
On February 12, 2016 the plaintiff was operating
a motor vehicle traveling southbound on Vineyard
Road near the intersection of Old Post Road in
Edison. At that time the defendant was operating
a motor vehicle that exited a parking lot and
entered traffic on Vineyard Road near the
intersection of Old Post Road. The plaintiff
asserted that the defendant negligently operated
her vehicle such that she exited the parking lot
without it being safe to do so and collided with
the plaintiff’s vehicle.
As a result of the collision, the plaintiff sustained a her-
niated disc at C5-6 with cord compression. She un-
derwent single-level medial branch radiofrequency
ablation to treat her pain.
The defendant stipulated liability, but contested the
plaintiff’s damages. The defendant argued that the
plaintiff’s injuries were pre-existing and not caused by
the subject collision. The defendant maintained that
the plaintiff only sustained $17,000 in boardable
medical bills.
The jury found in favor of the plaintiff and awarded
$100,000 in damages with pre-judgment interest, for
a total award of $101,248.
REFERENCE
Khairulla vs. Cerqua. Docket no. L-004416-17; Judge
Patrick Bradshaw, 06-19-19.
Attorney for plaintiff: J. Sean Connelly of Seigel Law,
LLC in Ridgewood, NJ. Attorney for defendant: Karen
Quinn Sopko of Law Offices of Cindy L. Thompson in
Piscataway, NJ.
$6,500 RECOVERY
Motor vehicle negligence – Parking lot collision –
Minor plaintiff suffers neck and back strain –
Chiropractic treatment.
Union County, NJ
In this motor vehicle negligence case, the plaintiff,
a 9-year-old girl, asserted that the defendant
driver struck the vehicle in which she was a
passenger and caused significant injury. The
plaintiff’s 15-year-old sister was also a passenger
in the vehicle and her case was settled for an
undisclosed sum prior to trial. The defendant
denied liability and argued that the collision was
caused by an unidentified third party. The
defendant also asserted that the plaintiff’s injuries
were not significant and did not warrant
damages.
On May 29, 2014, the plaintiff was the minor
backseat passenger in a vehicle traveling on West
Front Street in Plainfield. The defendant was the oper-
ator of a motor vehicle that, the plaintiff contended,
shefailedtooperateinasafemannerandthereby
exited a parking lot located on Plainfield Avenue and
collided with the plaintiff’s vehicle.
As a result of the collision, the plaintiff sustained neck
and back strain which were treated with chiropractic
treatment.
The parties settled the matter prior to trial in the
amount of $6,500 broken down as follows: $1,681 in
attorney fees and $4,819 in damages to the minor
plaintiff.
REFERENCE
Polanco-Vanegas, et al. vs. Perez. Docket no. L-
001743-16; Judge James Hely, 09-04-19.
Attorney for plaintiff: Anthony R. Fattell of Lord,
Kobrin, Alvarez & Fattell in Mountainside, NJ.
Attorney for defendant: Amanda M. Dadiego of Law
Office of Cindy L. Thompson in Piscataway, NJ.
Rear End Collision
$315,000 RECOVERY
Motor vehicle negligence – Rear end collision –
Plaintiff driver struck in rear by defendant driver
using own car while delivering pizza – Cervical
herniation and 3 lumbar bulges – Cervical and
lumbar surgery following conservative therapy.
Morris County, NJ
In this action for motor vehicle negligence, the 60-
year-old female plaintiff contended that she was
severely injured when the defendant driver, who
was using his own car while delivering pizza,
struck her in the rear while she was stopped,
yielding to traffic. The verbal threshold did not
apply in this action.
The plaintiff contended that after the collision, she felt
a popping sensation in her upper back and neck.
The plaintiff related that she developed a severe cer-
vical herniation. The plaintiff also reported lower back
symptoms. The MRI confirmed the cervical herniation
and 3 lumbar bulges. The plaintiff further related that
she struck her knee on the steering wheel. The plaintiff
maintained that she suffered a knee sprain that will
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