Woodbridge Jury Concludes Wrongful Death with Defense Verdict

In May 2015, a vehicle carrying a driver, his wife, mother, and 12-year-old son was struck from the rear on Interstate 84 near East Danbury. The impact caused the family's vehicle to then collide with a tractor-trailer. All four occupants claimed soft tissue injuries, with the mother also alleging ligament tears in her right knee. The family filed a lawsuit against the driver of the striking vehicle, alleging negligence in its operation. Prior to trial, the claims of the driver, his wife, and mother were settled for undisclosed amounts. The case proceeded to trial solely on the son's claim, who reported lumbar strain and nausea requiring emergency room visits and ten months of physical therapy. At trial, the plaintiff driver testified he had signaled before stopping his vehicle in backed-up traffic. He argued the defendant failed to maintain a proper lookout, leading to the collision, and noted a police report found the defendant at fault. The defendant countered that the plaintiff driver had cut in front of her without signaling, leaving her insufficient time to stop. The defense also contended that the son's injuries had resolved after his initial emergency room visit. After a one-day trial and two hours of deliberation, a jury in East Danbury found the defendant negligent in the operation of her motor vehicle. The jury awarded the son $1,372 in damages.