MOTOR VEHICLE
Collision didn’t cause alleged injuries, jury finds
On Sept. 30, a jury declined to award damages to a driver, finding that the accident didn’t proximately cause his injuries. In 2007, Jose Tovar collided with a sport utility vehicle driven by Rosa Zapata, who didn’t dispute liability. Tovar claimed 2-mm disk protrusions at L2-3 and L3-4; a 1-mm disk bulge at L5-S1; and a 2-3-mm herniation at L4-5. Defense counsel argued that the collision was not the proximate cause of Tovar’s injuries. The collision took place at a low speed, resulting in only $392.77 in damages to Tovar’s car, and could not have caused the claimed injuries. Defense counsel argued the injuries were pre-existing degenerative changes.
