Louisiana Jury Finds No Damages in Rear-End Collision

A plaintiff's vehicle was rear-ended while stopped at a red light at an intersection in Vernon Parish, Louisiana. The plaintiff claimed the collision resulted from the other driver's negligence and asserted various injuries, including cervical and lumbar pain, bulging discs, and radiculopathy. These injuries allegedly led to pain and suffering, lost wages, and medical expenses. The plaintiff then filed a lawsuit against his own automobile insurer, a general indemnity company, in the US District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. The plaintiff claimed breach of contract and failure to pay uninsured motorist benefits, asserting the insurer refused to pay claims under his policy. The defendant insurer denied these allegations in its answer. The parties subsequently reached a settlement. Following the settlement, the court entered a judgment of dismissal with prejudice.

A rear-end collision occurred on Interstate 210 in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, when a 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan struck the rear of a 2017 GMC Sierra at a traffic light stop. The plaintiff, the driver of the Sierra, alleged severe head, neck, and back injuries, along with associated medical expenses and economic loss resulting from the collision. The plaintiff filed a lawsuit claiming negligence against the driver of the Caravan and one of the defendant insurance companies. The plaintiff also asserted breach of contract claims against two insurance companies, alleging their failure to pay underinsured motorist coverage. In response, the defendant driver and the first insurance company denied the allegations and raised affirmative defenses, including failure to state a claim, failure to mitigate damages, claims barred by prescription or statute of limitations, and pre-existing conditions. The plaintiff, the defendant driver, and the first insurance company later settled their claims. The court dismissed the action with prejudice as to these parties. Subsequently, the court dismissed the remaining action against the second insurance company without prejudice to all parties.

A passenger sustained multiple injuries in a rear-end collision in East Baton Parish, Louisiana, involving a 2004 Kenworth tractor and a 2011 BMW. The tractor was owned by Oakley Trucking, Inc., and operated by its driver. The passenger alleged the collision caused headaches, cervical and thoracic spine strain, myospasms, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and economic losses, among other damages. The passenger filed a vehicular liability and breach of contract action against Oakley Trucking, Inc., its driver, and various insurance entities, including Baldwin & Lyons, Inc., True North Insurance Company, and State Farm. The plaintiff claimed the defendants were negligent in operating their vehicles, specifically for failing to maintain a proper lookout and exercise reasonable vigilance. The lawsuit, initially filed in state court, was removed to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana due to diversity of citizenship and the amount in controversy. The parties later reached a settlement of their claims. Following the settlement, the plaintiff filed a motion to dismiss the action with prejudice, which the court granted.

A plaintiff filed a personal injury lawsuit following a rear-end motor vehicle collision. The incident occurred when the plaintiff's vehicle was stopped at a red light, alleging negligence by the defendant. Experts in neuropsychology, orthopedic surgery, and forensic economics testified for the plaintiff, suggesting claims related to injuries and lost earnings. A defense expert presented testimony regarding accident reconstruction and biomechanics, likely disputing the cause or extent of the alleged injuries. The case proceeded to trial on July 30, 2020, where a judgment was rendered.

On March 4, 2013, a collision occurred in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Monroe Street. The plaintiff was stopped at a stop sign when a vehicle driven by the defendant, an employee of Cequel Communications, rolled forward and struck the plaintiff's vehicle. The incident reportedly occurred after the defendant's foot slipped off the brake. The investigating officer noted extremely minor vehicle contact, stating it merely transferred dust between the vehicles, and neither vehicle required repairs. Despite the minor nature of the collision, the plaintiff later sought treatment for a multi-level cervical and disc herniation injury, which a chiropractor confirmed. The plaintiff incurred approximately $32,000 in medical bills and subsequently filed a lawsuit seeking damages from the defendant and his employer. The defense argued that the collision was too minor to have caused a compensable injury and that the plaintiff's alleged injuries were pre-existing and unrelated to the incident. An accident reconstruction expert and an orthopedic expert provided testimony for the defense. The case proceeded to a two-day trial focused on causation. The jury ultimately found that the defendant was negligent in the rear-end collision. However, the jury also concluded that this negligence did not cause injury to the plaintiff. Consequently, the jury did not reach a decision on damages, and no judgment had been entered several weeks after the trial concluded.