$100K Payout After Rear-End Crash in Middlesex County via Hi-Low Agreement

Injury Type: Back injuries—herniated discs (C6-C7, L3-L4), bulging discs (C4-C5, L5-S1), thoracic strain; Other injuries—knee strain

Accident Type: Rear-end collision

Award Amount: $100,000

Location: Middlesex County, New Jersey

A rear-end collision at an intersection caused multiple injuries to the plaintiff, including herniated discs at C6-C7 and L3-L4, bulging discs at C4-C5 and L5-S1, thoracic strain, and a knee strain. The plaintiff alleged that the defendant operated their vehicle in a careless, reckless, and dangerous manner, leading to the crash.

The defendant admitted liability for the accident but disputed the severity and cause of the plaintiff’s injuries, claiming they were unrelated to the collision. Initially, the jury set damages at $368,000, however, the award was reduced to $100,000 following the pretrial high/low agreement between the parties.

This case highlights the role of pretrial agreements in managing financial outcomes and the legal complexities of determining injury causation in motor vehicle accidents.

Case Reference: Dressel v. Sullivan, MIDL-000554-13