CSK Defense Team
Jacksonville Managing Partner Patrick Snyder
Jacksonville Associate Shawn Carmical
Jacksonville Partner Christopher Walsh
Case Summary
This case arose from a 2023 automobile accident at a signalized intersection in which the Plaintiff claimed he was traveling straight through a green light when his vehicle collided with the Defendant’s vehicle as the Defendant made a left-hand turn across his lane of travel. The Defendant, an individual driver, maintained that he had a green arrow permitting the turn. There were no independent witnesses who could confirm the color of the traffic signal, leaving liability sharply contested. The only witness supporting the Plaintiff’s version of events was his wife, who was a passenger in his vehicle and testified that the light was green. The collision resulted in significant property damage, and both vehicles were totaled.
Following the crash, the Plaintiff declined medical treatment at the scene and instead went directly to the emergency room, where he did not report any neck or back complaints. Ten days later, the Plaintiff began reporting neck and back pain and pursued treatment that included chiropractic care, pain management and a one level fusion of his lumbar spine. He later claimed he would require a future three-level cervical fusion. The Plaintiff had no prior history of neck or back complaints or treatment and presented a life care plan projecting up to $1.8 million in future damages.
Defense Strategy
The CSK Defense Team focused on two core issues: liability and causation.
On liability, the defense highlighted the lack of independent witnesses and challenged the Plaintiff’s version of events by identifying inconsistencies between his trial testimony, deposition testimony, and other evidence related to the collision. These inconsistencies raised questions regarding the credibility of the Plaintiff’s account of how the crash occurred.
On the medical issues, the defense presented evidence showing that the Plaintiff’s spinal conditions were not caused by the accident but instead resulted from pre-existing degenerative changes. The defense established that the lumbar surgery performed after the crash addressed a pre-existing degenerative pars defect rather than trauma from the collision. By separating the accident from the extensive medical treatment claimed, the defense undermined the Plaintiff’s assertion that the crash was the legal cause of his alleged permanent injuries and future care needs.
The Outcome
After a four-day trial, the jury returned a complete defense verdict, finding no negligence on the part of the Defendant and concluding that the Defendant was not a legal cause of the Plaintiff’s alleged injuries. As a result, the jury awarded no damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, or future care.
The verdict demonstrated that strong defenses on liability, credibility, and medical causation can prevail even in cases involving significant property damage and claims of surgical injury. The outcome also highlights the risk Plaintiffs face when rejecting a policy limits tender and pursuing high-exposure demands without clear proof linking the accident to the claimed medical treatment.
Special Thanks to the Jacksonville Team
Paralegal Linda Culp
Legal Assistants Kim Petersen and Justine Shields
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