$750,000 Rear-End Collision Settlement in Brooklyn

Stopped at a red light. Seatbelt on. Foot on the brake. A Brooklyn driver did everything right — and was still hit from behind hard enough to require spinal surgery.

Rear-End Collision at a Brooklyn Intersection

Our client was stopped at a red light at an intersection near 49th Street in Brooklyn when a vehicle struck the rear of his car without any apparent braking before impact. The force of the collision drove our client's car into the vehicle stopped ahead of him, creating a chain reaction that compressed the cabin and jolted his spine forward and backward.

The impact caused cervical disc herniations at C5-C6 and C6-C7, lumbar disc herniations at L4-L5 and L5-S1, and a right knee contusion from striking the dashboard. After months of conservative care failed to resolve the progressive arm numbness and back pain, our client underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion at two levels, followed by a lumbar microdiscectomy.

Building a Full Damages Case in Brooklyn

Liability was clear — a rear-end collision against a stopped vehicle shifts the burden of proof to the following driver. The challenge in this case was the defense carrier's attempt to minimize damages by arguing that the cervical and lumbar injuries were degenerative rather than trauma-related. Our attorneys obtained pre-accident medical records showing no prior spine complaints and arranged an independent radiological review that distinguished the acute traumatic herniations from normal age-related changes.

We also documented the full cascade of treatment: initial emergency care, months of physical therapy, cervical fusion surgery, lumbar microdiscectomy, and the post-surgical rehabilitation that followed each procedure. The combined medical costs and recovery timeline painted a clear picture of the collision's true impact.

"The insurance carrier wanted to call these injuries degenerative. Our client had no back or neck complaints before this crash. The post-accident MRIs showed acute herniations at four levels. The independent radiology review confirmed what was obvious — these were traumatic injuries caused by a rear-end collision." — Andrew Levine, Founding Partner

$750,000 Settlement for a Brooklyn Rear-End Collision

This $750,000 settlement covers two-level cervical fusion, lumbar microdiscectomy, extensive rehabilitation, lost wages during multi-stage recovery, and the permanent spinal limitations our client now manages. It reflects the strength of the medical evidence in overcoming the carrier's attempt to attribute trauma injuries to pre-existing degeneration.

If you were rear-ended while stopped at a red light or in traffic in Brooklyn, our Brooklyn car accident attorneys have the experience to fight back against insurance company tactics and are ready to review your claim.