East Baton Rouge Jury Awards $442,500 in Rear-End Collision

On April 19, 2018, a driver pulled an F-350 pickup truck from a parking lot onto Maplewood Avenue in Sulphur, Louisiana. The plaintiff angled the truck into a left-turn lane, partially blocking a center lane. Simultaneously, the defendant, distracted by a cellphone GPS, rear-ended the plaintiff's vehicle in a Ford Explorer. The impact was moderate, causing significant damage to the defendant's vehicle, while the plaintiff's F-350 sustained minor damage. The plaintiff later sought treatment for multiple injuries, including cervical and shoulder surgeries, and reported a need for future medical interventions. The plaintiff filed a negligence lawsuit against the defendant, initially in Calcasieu Parish before its removal to federal court in Lake Charles. The plaintiff sought $4.75 million, including economic losses for past and future medical expenses and lost wages, as well as non-economic damages. The defendant admitted the collision but argued the plaintiff shared fault by blocking the lane. The defense presented an accident expert who calculated the impact on the plaintiff's truck as minor and a medical expert who attributed many of the plaintiff's conditions to pre-existing degenerative issues unrelated to the crash. After a five-day trial, the jury deliberated for three hours, finding the defendant 70% at fault and the plaintiff 30% at fault. The jury awarded the plaintiff $150,000 for past medical expenses, $50,000 for future medical expenses, and $80,000 for lost wages. Non-economic damages included $75,000 for pain and suffering, $50,000 for loss of enjoyment of life, and $50,000 for disability. The jury rejected an award for mental anguish. The raw verdict totaled $430,000, which was reduced by the plaintiff's comparative fault to a final judgment of $301,000.

On December 17, 2017, a rear-end collision occurred in Gretna, Louisiana, when a defendant's vehicle hydroplaned and struck a pickup truck occupied by a driver and a passenger who were stopped at a red light. The defendant admitted fault for the crash. While the collision resulted in minor damage to the pickup's trailer hitch, the driver characterized the impact as significant. The driver subsequently sought treatment for an L5-S1 disc injury, including epidural steroid injections, and the passenger reported a cervical disc bulge, undergoing a period of pain management. Each plaintiff incurred approximately $40,000 in medical bills. The driver and passenger, as plaintiffs, filed a lawsuit against the striking defendant, seeking damages. They also brought an uninsured/underinsured motorist claim against their own insurer. The defense contended that the collision was minor and minimized the severity of the claimed injuries. Evidence presented by the defense noted that the plaintiffs did not seek immediate medical care, having driven several hours to Texas after the incident. A defense orthopedic expert concluded that the passenger sustained only a strain injury and the driver experienced an aggravation of degenerative conditions. Surveillance video depicting the driver white water rafting was also introduced to challenge the extent of the claimed injuries. The case proceeded to a three-day trial in Gretna. During deliberations, the jury requested to review vehicle photos, itemized medical bills, and the claim for car damage. Ultimately, the jury concluded that neither plaintiff sustained injuries as a result of the incident and therefore did not award damages. A judgment was subsequently entered in favor of the defense, closing the case.

A plaintiff initiated a lawsuit following a rear-end collision caused by a tractor-trailer driver. The litigation involved expert testimony concerning the plaintiff's alleged injuries and their long-term effects. A rehabilitation psychology and vocational rehabilitation expert, along with a neurological surgery expert, provided testimony on behalf of the plaintiff. For the defense, an occupational medicine expert offered testimony. The court ultimately awarded the plaintiff $3,038,077.

A head-on collision involving two tractor-trailers in Houston, Texas, resulted in the deaths of both drivers and a fire that destroyed a shipment of coffee packaging materials. The materials, valued at $228,731.89, were being transported to New Orleans, Louisiana, for Amcor Flexibles Denmark ApS. Amcor's insurer, AAI Limited, paid Amcor the full value of the goods and subsequently became subrogated to Amcor's rights. AAI then filed a subrogation lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. The complaint alleged motor vehicle negligence against the estate of the other driver, the driver's employer, Design Transportation Services, Inc., and its alleged insurers, Great West Casualty Company and Lexington Insurance Company. AAI sought to recover the value of the lost goods, plus associated freight and duty costs. The defendants denied liability, asserting defenses that included third-party fault, unavoidable accident, a sudden loss of consciousness by their driver, and contributory negligence. The case was later transferred to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. All parties involved — Amcor, AAI, the estate of the driver, Design Transportation, and Lexington — ultimately reached a settlement agreement. The court was notified of the resolution, and an order was subsequently entered dismissing the case without prejudice.

A plaintiff filed a lawsuit alleging negligent operation of a tractor-trailer, which resulted in serious personal injuries and property damages. Both sides engaged numerous expert witnesses in fields such as economics, accident reconstruction, pain management, and engineering, indicating complex issues related to liability and damages. Details regarding the specific incident, the arguments presented by each side, and the case's final outcome were not available in the record.