A couple injured in a rear-end collision was recently awarded $1.19 million in their Atlantic County, NJ lawsuit, Gonzales v. Hugelmeyer. Plaintiffs Anthony and Valerie Gonzales were driving on the Atlantic City Expressway in April 2008 when struck from behind by another car.
Anthony, then 66 years old, aggravated a degenerative back-disc condition that was previously asymptomatic, but later caused ongoing pain and limited movement. Valerie, then 54, had a prior back condition that was worsened when she suffered herniations to two cervical discs and a lumbar disc, as well as left-arm nerve damage in the accident.
The defense denied liability, alleging that Anthony, who was driving, cut into the defendant's traffic lane and stopped suddenly. The defense further attributed the plaintiffs' injuries to pre-existing conditions.
