Indianapolis Jury Awards $11,000 in Rear-End Collision

On May 9, 2015, a rear-end collision occurred on Keystone Avenue in Indianapolis. The plaintiff, driving northbound, stopped to make a right turn onto 96th Street when the defendant, operating a vehicle directly behind, struck the plaintiff's car. The plaintiff reported immediate neck pain, which later progressed to include ongoing pain in the neck, shoulders, and upper limbs, as well as headaches, tingling, and numbness. The plaintiff's medical expenses totaled $44,502, with providers accepting $24,899 as payment in full. The plaintiff filed a lawsuit against the defendant, alleging negligence for causing the crash and subsequent injuries. A physical medicine expert opined that the plaintiff sustained a whiplash injury from the incident. The defendant contended that the plaintiff was at fault for stopping abruptly. A defense expert performed a records review, but did not physically examine the plaintiff. The case proceeded to a two-day trial in Indianapolis. The jury assigned 100% fault to the defendant and awarded the plaintiff $2,054 in damages. This amount represented less than 10% of the plaintiff's paid medical expenses. The court entered a judgment reflecting the verdict, which the defendant subsequently satisfied.

On July 12, 2012, a vehicle driven by the plaintiff-driver, with the plaintiff-passenger, stopped for a traffic light in Noblesville, Indiana. The defendant, driving an SUV, subsequently failed to stop and rear-ended the plaintiffs' vehicle. The plaintiff-driver was transported to the emergency room with complaints of neck and back pain, incurring medical expenses of $80,714, with providers accepting $48,550 as payment. The plaintiff-passenger also reported neck pain, seeking medical care two weeks post-incident, with medical expenses totaling $74,938, reduced to $40,530 by providers. The plaintiffs filed a lawsuit, alleging the defendant's negligence caused the collision and their injuries. The defendant disputed the claims, arguing that most of the plaintiffs' reported injuries were pre-existing. This defense included evidence of the plaintiffs' prior chiropractic treatment for chronic pain. The defendant further contended that the impact was low-speed and too minor to cause compensable injury, presenting testimony from a biomechanics expert. Following a three-day trial in Noblesville, the jury deliberated for approximately one hour before returning a verdict in favor of the defendant. The court then entered a judgment for the defense.

On April 27, 2012, a 51-year-old plaintiff was driving west on the Sam Jones Expressway in Indianapolis when a vehicle driven by a defendant employee, who was on the job for The Boeing Company, rear-ended her minivan at a red light. Following the collision, the plaintiff reported pain in her shoulder, arm, lower back, right hip, and lower right leg. The plaintiff filed a lawsuit against the defendant driver, alleging fault for the crash. Her husband also filed a derivative claim for loss of consortium. When it was learned the driver was working at the time, the complaint was amended to include The Boeing Company as a corporate defendant. The defendants disputed the extent of the plaintiff's injuries, presenting testimony from a defense orthopedic surgeon and a biomechanical expert, while the plaintiff presented findings from a physical medicine expert. The case proceeded to trial in Indianapolis solely against The Boeing Company after the plaintiff's motion to dismiss the defendant driver was granted. Following a three-day trial, the jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, awarding $25,000 in damages. However, the plaintiff's husband received no damages for his consortium claim. The court entered a judgment reflecting the jury's decision, which the corporate defendant paid. The plaintiffs later filed a post-trial motion to correct error concerning the court's exclusion of evidence regarding a defense expert's financial connections, which remained pending.

A personal injury case arose from a motor vehicle accident that allegedly resulted in a neck injury, described as a minor collision with soft tissue injuries. The plaintiff presented expert testimony from specialists in vocational economic analysis, epidemiology, neurology, and nursing, addressing potential injury causation, treatment needs, and economic impact. The defendant's expert provided testimony in surgery and biomechanics, potentially disputing the mechanism and severity of the alleged injury. Few additional details about the incident, specific legal claims, or the case's final resolution were available from the record.

A motor vehicle accident occurred between a passenger vehicle and a semi-tanker, which resulted in a traumatic brain injury for the plaintiff. The plaintiff presented expert testimony regarding vocational economic analysis, trucking safety, and life care planning. The defendant offered expert testimony on accounting and financial analysis, as well as vehicle accident investigation and reconstruction. The outcome of the case was not detailed in the record.