Lineman suffered back pain following auto accident — $125,000 verdict

Type of action: Personal injury

Injuries alleged: Back injury

Court: Richmond Circuit Court

Tried before: Jury

Name of judge or mediator: Judge W. Reilly Marchant

Date resolved: 6/2/2022

Verdict or settlement: Verdict

Amount: $125,000

Attorney for plaintiff (and city): Gray B. Broughton, Richmond

Broughton

Description of case: On June 20, 2019, the plaintiff, a 58-year-old network lineman for Dominion Energy, had just gotten into the passenger seat of a work van parked on the street in downtown Richmond. A few seconds later, the defendant struck the right rear bumper of the work van. The plaintiff did not complain of injuries at the scene and did not seek treatment for his back pain until 10 days after the collision.

The plaintiff had a long history of back pain, including back surgery approximately 10 years prior to the collision. The plaintiff’s back pain worsened following the collision, including some unexplained “popping,” but the plaintiff was able to continue working for another 18 months until his pension fully vested. The plaintiff received numerous injections for his lower back pain during the three years following the collision. Surgery was not recommended. The plaintiff was treated by a neurosurgeon and doctor of osteopathy for pain management.

State Farm was the carrier. State Farm refused to negotiate and did not make an offer to settle. The jury returned a $125,000 verdict for the plaintiff at the conclusion of the two-day jury trial.

Gray Broughton, plaintiff’s attorney, provided case information. [022-T-135]