See average payouts for rear-end car accident claims in Alabama. Find real cases similar to yours.

Tailgating, or following too closely, is one of the top three causes of vehicle crashes in the State of Alabama, with more than 98 rear-end accidents happening every day.¹

The average injury settlement for a rear-end collision in Alabama is $37,710 based on our case examples. Actual settlements ranged from $925 for mild injuries to $760,000 for severe injuries.

Average Payouts for Alabama Rear-End Collisions

Our averages are based on a group of rear-end accident cases in Alabama that either settled with the insurance company or won an award in court. Averages reflect actual payouts, not including claims that were denied or cases lost at trial.

Average Payout by Severity of Injury
Minor Injury	$7,987
Moderate Injury	$37,710
Severe Injury	$424,110
Payout Range by Type of Injury
Soft-Tissue Injuries	$9,000 - $45,000
Neck Injuries	$925 - $252,330
Back Injuries	$6,500 - $760,000*
Head Injuries	$0 - $250,000

Factors Affecting Settlement Amounts

Standard factors that affect rear-end accident settlements include the speed at impact, the size difference between the vehicles, scope and severity of injuries, contributory negligence, insurance policy limits, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Rear-end accident claims are usually paid by the at-fault driver’s auto insurance company or a commercial vehicle’s liability insurance. The payout amount is limited by the driver’s policy limits.

Alabama law requires drivers to carry bodily injury coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.

The number of vehicles involved in an accident can also affect compensation. Rear-end collisions often involve more than one vehicle in a chain reaction. When a multi-car accident was caused by a single driver, there may not be enough insurance money to cover all the injured victims.

Case Examples: General Soft Tissue Injuries

Getting thrown against the seatbelt or car interior, or being jolted back and forth in a rear-end accident can lead to sprains, strains, bruises, and contusions. Soft tissue pain, swelling, and stiffness are common complaints after a crash.

Rear-End Collision While Stopped in Traffic Causing Soft Tissue Injuries

Type of Injury: Neck and back soft tissue injuries
Severity Rating: Mild
Award/Settlement Amount: $10,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff was stopped in traffic at an intersection when he was rear-ended by Defendant’s vehicle. Plaintiff claimed that he suffered neck and back soft tissue injuries for which no surgery was required, physical pain and suffering, and mental anguish as a result of the accident. Defendant admitted liability. The case proceeded to trial on the issue of Plaintiff’s claimed damages. The jury awarded Plaintiff $10,000 for compensatory damages.
Location: Houston County, Alabama
Case Name and Docket Number: Hernandez v. Bryant, Jr.,CV-2005-611

Rear-End Collision Causes Injuries To Minor Passenger

Type of Injury: General Soft tissue injuries
Severity Rating: Moderate
Award/Settlement Amount: $45,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff was operating his vehicle while his minor daughter rode as a passenger. Plaintiffs’ vehicle was rear-ended by a vehicle operated by Defendant. As a result of the collision, Plaintiffs sought compensatory damages for soft tissue injuries, physical pain, mental anguish and medical expenses. Defendant denied liability but his liability carrier, also enjoined in the suit, settled the claim for $45,000 in favor of Plaintiffs before trial.
Location: Baldwin County, Alabama
Case Name and Docket Number: Lewis v. Geico Insurance, CV-06-1316

Passenger Injured In Rear-End Collision Caused by Drunk Driver

Type of Injury: General Soft tissue injuries
Severity Rating: Mild
Award/Settlement Amount: $9,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff, a minor, was a passenger in a vehicle being operated by her father when they were involved in a motor vehicle accident at an intersection. Plaintiff claimed that Defendant negligently allowed his vehicle to rear-end Plaintiff’s vehicle. Defendant was arrested at the scene for driving while intoxicated. Plaintiff sustained soft tissue injuries from the accident. The Plaintiff driver, individually and as the father and next friend of the minor, filed suit against the defendant for negligence. Defendant admitted liability. The Judge approved a settlement value in favor of the minor for $9,000.
Location: Madison County, Alabama
Case Name and Docket Number: Lanier v. Duncan, CV-07-900603

Rear-End Collision with Soft Tissue Injuries

Type of Injury: General Soft tissue injuries
Severity Rating: Moderate
Award/Settlement Amount: $17,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff alleged that he was attempting to make a left turn when Defendant Driver, an employee of Defendant 2, rear-ended Plaintiff’s vehicle. Plaintiff claimed he suffered soft tissue injuries from the accident. Defendant Driver admitted liability and the case proceeded to trial on the issue of damages. The court entered a judgment in the sum of $17,000 for Plaintiff.
Location: Madison County, Alabama
Case Name and Docket Number: Goldberg v. Sims Lawn Maintenance, CV-06-1340

Case Examples: Neck and Back Injuries

Rear-end auto accidents are a common cause of whiplash and other types of neck and upper body injuries. These are caused when a person’s head and upper body are jolted forward and slammed back into the seat from the impact of the collision.

Rear-End Car Crash By Work Vehicle Injures Head, Neck, and Back

Type of Injury: Head, neck, and back injuries
Severity Rating: Mild
Award/Settlement Amount: $9,500
Case Summary: Plaintiff alleged that Defendant negligently rear-ended Plaintiff’s vehicle at an intersection by failing to yield the right-of-way. Plaintiff claimed he suffered head, neck, and back injuries requiring physical therapy. Plaintiff sued Defendant, seeking to recover damages for physical pain, mental anguish, temporary and permanent disability, medical expenses, lost income and diminished earning capacity. Plaintiff also filed a negligent entrustment claim against the owner of the vehicle operated by Defendant at the time of the accident. However, an inspection of Defendant’s driving record showed that the owner of the vehicle had no reason to suspect that Defendant would be a reckless driver, so the vehicle owner was dismissed from the case. Plaintiff was awarded $9,500.
Location: Jefferson County, Alabama
Case Name and Docket Number: Smith v. Myrick, CV-05-0088

Rear-Ended Twice Causing Neck and Back Injuries

Type of Injury: Neck and back injuries; neck and left shoulder pain
Severity Rating: Mild
Award/Settlement Amount: $12,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff was traveling and had to stop quickly when the vehicle in front of Plaintiff’s vehicle made a sudden turn without a signal. Plaintiff alleged that Defendant was following Plaintiff’s vehicle and rear-ended Plaintiff’s vehicle. Plaintiff said she sustained neck and back injuries; neck and left shoulder pain. Plaintiff was still undergoing medical treatment for injuries resulting from this accident when she was involved in a second accident. In the second accident, Plaintiff’s vehicle was rear-ended by the second defendant. Plaintiff claimed this accident exacerbated her prior injuries. Plaintiff brought a claim against both defendant drivers and settled the claim for $12,000 before trial.
Location: Jefferson County, Alabama
Case Name and Docket Number: Hall v. Escott, CV-05-2317

Rear-Ended at Red Light with Neck and Back Strain

Type of Injury: Back injury-Cervical and lumbar strain; General bruises and contusions
Severity Rating: Mild
Award/Settlement Amount: $925
Case Summary: Plaintiff, an 80-year-old female, alleged that Defendant rear-ended her while she was stopped at a red light. The plaintiff claimed she sustained cervical and lumbar strains, bruises and contusions from the collision. Defendant admitted that his car made contact with Plaintiff’s vehicle but contended that Plaintiff was not injured in this accident. Defendant relied on medical evidence and showed that plaintiff had pre-existing degenerative back and neck condition and had undergone fusion surgery from a prior motor vehicle accident. The case proceeded to trial on issues of causation and damages only. The jury returned a plaintiff verdict for $925 in damages.
Location: Jefferson County, Alabama
Case Name and Docket Number: Ghumra v. Allen, CV-04-2058

Rear-Ended In Two Crashes Causes Back, Neck, and Head Injuries

Type of Injury: Back, neck, and head injuries.
Severity Rating: Mild
Award/Settlement Amount: $6,500
Case Summary: Plaintiff was involved in two separate motor vehicle accidents. In the first accident, Plaintiff, while in the line and scope of her employment with Defendant 1, claimed that the vehicle she was operating was struck from behind by a vehicle being operated by Defendant 2. The second accident occurred two months after the first. In this accident, Plaintiff again was in the line and scope of her employment with Defendant 1 when she was struck from behind by another vehicle, being operated by Defendant 3. Plaintiff claimed that the combined effect of the two accidents caused her to suffer back, neck, and head injuries. Defendants admitted liability. The parties resolved the case for $6,500 in favor of Plaintiff before trial.
Location: Elmore County, Alabama
Case Name and Docket Number: Luster v. Kelly, CV-06-196

Case Examples: High-Impact Crashes

High-impact rear-end collisions happen when the rear vehicle is traveling at high speed or is much larger and heavier than the vehicle in front. Damages are also higher when the victim is in a vehicle subjected to more than one impact in a multi-vehicle collision.

A personal injury attorney should handle serious injury and wrongful death claims to maximize the claimant’s compensation. Most law firms offer a free consultation and personal injury case evaluation to car accident victims.

Rear-End Collision by 18 Wheeler Results in Neck and Back Injuries

Type of Injury: Neck, back, and leg pain
Severity Rating: Moderate
Award/Settlement Amount: $95,000
Case Summary: Defendant Driver was operating a log-filled eighteen-wheeler while acting in the course and scope of his employment with Defendant Employer. Plaintiff alleged that Defendant Driver negligently rear-ended Plaintiff’s vehicle while she was stopped to turn with her left turn signal on. Plaintiff suffered neck, back, and leg pain. Plaintiff further claimed that Defendant Driver had a history of armed robbery, four motor vehicle accidents, and at least three moving violations prior to his employment by Defendant Employer. Plaintiff contended that Defendant Employer was negligent for the wanton hiring and retention of an incompetent driver. Defendants contended that Plaintiff had pre-existing neck and back conditions and was not badly injured as a result of the rear-end collision. Plaintiff accepted $95,000 to settle her injury case before trial.
Location: Fayette County, Alabama
Case Name and Docket Number: Miller v. Morrison Logging, Inc., CV-07-026

Read-End Collision Injures Passenger of Vehicle Being Towed

Type of Injury: Plaintiff 1 – Back injury – soft tissue injury to the cervical area; Plaintiff 2 – Back injury-fractured cervical vertebrae
Severity Rating: Moderate
Award/Settlement Amount: $18,000 (highest award among two injured Plaintiffs)
Case Summary: Plaintiff 1 was traveling with a disabled motor vehicle in tow. Plaintiff 2 was a passenger in the disabled vehicle. Defendant rear-end the disabled vehicle being towed. The towed vehicle then collided with the vehicle Plaintiff 1 was driving. Plaintiff 1 claimed he sustained soft tissue injury to cervical area while Plaintiff 2 claimed he suffered fractured cervical vertebrae. Defendant argued that Plaintiffs were towing a vehicle with inadequate lighting and signage in heavy traffic. Defendant also claimed that plaintiff 1 was traveling at a dangerously low speed and that Plaintiff 2 was intoxicated at the time of collision. Jury returned a verdict in favor of both plaintiffs, awarding $18,000 to Plaintiff 1, and $13,000 to Plaintiff 2 for total against Defendant of $31,000.
Location: Houston County, Alabama
Case Name and Docket Number: Williams, Jr. v. Sherman, CV 2005-196/CV 2005-200

Rear-End Collision Forces Victim to Hit a Tree

Type of Injury: Fractured hand
Severity Rating: Moderate
Award/Settlement Amount: $18,971
Case Summary: Defendant was traveling below the posted speed limit in the inside northbound lane. Plaintiff was traveling in the outside northbound lane when a vehicle stopped in front of Defendant, and he swerved to avoid it. Defendant’s vehicle collided with Plaintiff’s vehicle, which caused her vehicle to leave the road and strike a tree. Plaintiff claimed she fractured her hand from the accident. Plaintiff testified that she did not believe Defendant intentionally caused the accident, and that he was operating under a sudden emergency and could not avoid the collision. Plaintiff was awarded $17,500 plus accrued costs of $1,471.50 in a bench verdict.
Location: Lee County, Alabama
Case Name and Docket Number: Green v. Davis, CV-07-148

Rear-End Accident by Company Vehicle Injures Unrestrained Minor

Type of Injury: Head injury – Facial, left eye; other-right hand injuries
Severity Rating: Moderate
Award/Settlement Amount: $25,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff, a minor, was a passenger in a vehicle operated by her step-father. Plaintiffs alleged that Defendant Driver, while operating Co-defendant Employer’s vehicle, cut in front of Plaintiffs’ vehicle. Plaintiff was unable to stop in time and rear-ended Defendant’s vehicle. The minor was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision. The minor had a cast on her left arm from a prior injury, and she raised it upon impact to protect herself. The airbag deployed, pushing the minor’s left arm into the left side of her face, injuring her left eye. Parties agreed to settle the claim for $25,000.
Location: Jefferson County, Alabama
Case Name and Docket Number: Smith v. Abbruzzo, CV-07-0310

Emergency Braking Leads to Rear-End Collision By Tractor Trailer

Type of Injury: Back injury – Cervical strain
Severity Rating: Moderate
Award/Settlement Amount: $60,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff was traveling north. Defendant Driver 1 was also traveling north on the same road and was racing another vehicle. Defendant Driver 1 passed Plaintiff on the left and, as that lane ended, Defendant Driver 1’s vehicle skidded across traffic before entering the median and overturning. Plaintiff was forced to slam on her brakes to avoid colliding with Defendant Driver 1’s vehicle as it slid across the highway. Defendant Driver 2, operating a tractor-trailer owned by Defendant 3, was directly behind Plaintiff’s vehicle at the time. When Plaintiff applied her brakes to avoid hitting Defendant Driver 1, Defendant Driver 2 was unable to stop in time and rear-ended Plaintiff’s vehicle. Plaintiff suffered Cervical strain from the accident. Defendant Driver 2 and Defendant 3 denied liability and cross-claimed against Defendant Driver 1. The Court returned a verdict of $60,000 in favor of Plaintiff verdict against Defendant Driver 1. The cross-claim also succeeded.
Location: Jefferson County, Alabama
Case Name and Docket Number: Chappell v. Clark, CV-03-5814

Rear-Ended Multiple Times by DUI Driver Injures Three Victims

Type of Injury: Plaintiff 1 – General Neck and back injuries; Plaintiff 2 – Soft tissue injuries to neck and back
Severity Rating: Moderate
Award/Settlement Amount: $30,000 (highest amount awarded to one of three injured plaintiffs)
Case Summary: Plaintiffs alleged that Defendant negligently allowed his vehicle to rear-end Plaintiffs’ vehicle multiple times. At the time of the accident, Plaintiff 1 was operating the vehicle with Plaintiff 2, a minor, and Plaintiff 3 as passengers. Plaintiffs made note of Defendant’s tag number as he fled the scene. Defendant failed to stop but was involved in another motor vehicle accident about one hour later, where he was arrested for driving under the influence. Plaintiff 1 said he suffered neck and back injuries. Plaintiff 3 sustained soft tissue injuries to his neck and back. Defendant admitted liability but argued that Plaintiff 1’s treating physicians recorded degenerative findings in his diagnosis. The jury found for Plaintiffs in the car accident case. Plaintiff 1  was awarded $5,000 in compensatory damages and $25,000 in punitive damages; Plaintiff 2 and Plaintiff 3 were each awarded $5,000; for a total of $40,000 against defendant.
Location: Montgomery County, Alabama
Case Name and Docket Number: Hill v. Peruzzi, CV-06-3046

Sun Glare Rear-End Collision with Neck, Back, Chest, and Head Injuries

Type of Injury: Neck, back, chest, and head injuries; others-strains and lower back pain
Severity Rating: Severe
Award/Settlement Amount: $252,330
Case Summary: Plaintiff was stopped on a road to make a left turn when she was rear-ended by defendant. Plaintiff sustained neck, back, chest, and head injuries. Defendant stated that she had slowed down due to the sun’s brightness. At that point, Defendant looked down to get her sunglasses but when she looked up, she saw that Plaintiff’s vehicle was too close. Although Defendant pumped her brakes and attempted to avoid hitting Plaintiff’s vehicle by swerving to the right onto the gravel shoulder of the road, she made contact with the right rear portion of Plaintiff’s vehicle. Jury returned a $252,330.48 verdict for Plaintiff, inclusive of $602 in court costs and $1,728.48 in deposition fees.
Location: Madison County, Alabama
Case Name and Docket Number: McIntosh v. Roberts, CV-05-1617

Rear-End Tractor Trailer Collision with Herniated Disc and Nerve Damage

Type of Injury: Back injury – Disc herniation and acute denervation injury at C7 resulting in loss of sensation, cervical pain, and radiculopathy; chronic lumbar radiculopathy
Severity Rating: Severe
Award/Settlement Amount: $760,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff was driving and encountered an accident on the road. He slowed down, without skidding or slamming on his brakes, and came to a complete stop to wait for traffic to clear. Plaintiff claimed that he had been stopped for at least five seconds when Defendant Driver, an employee of Co-defendant, failed to stop his tractor-trailer rig and struck the rear of Plaintiff’s vehicle. Defendant Driver was traveling at approximately fifty-five miles per hour when the collision occurred. Plaintiff suffered disc herniation and acute denervation injury at C7 resulting in loss of sensation among other injuries. Plaintiff’s wife filed a loss of consortium claim. Defendants admitted liability. Case proceeded to trial on causation and damages. The jury awarded Plaintiff $760,000.
Location: Mobile County, Alabama
Case Name and Docket Number: Jorgensen v. Mickles, CV-02-1933

Rear-Ended While Braking for Debris In the Road

Type of Injury: General back and shoulder injuries
Severity Rating: Severe
Award/Settlement Amount: $260,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff claimed that he was traveling south on the bridge over a dam when the driver of a pick-up truck in front of him negligently allowed a two-foot metal pipe to fall off the back of his vehicle in front of Plaintiff’s vehicle. Plaintiff further claimed that when he saw the pipe, he applied his brakes in an attempt to avoid hitting the fallen pipe and was rear-ended by a vehicle operated by Defendant. Plaintiff sustained back and shoulder injuries. Defendant’s liability carrier agreed to settle the bodily injury claim for $260,000 in favor of Plaintiff.
Location: Lauderdale County, Alabama
Case Name and Docket Number: Landsdell v. Embry, CV-01-656

Methodology

The case information and payout amounts listed above are from actual Alabama rear-end accident cases. We researched injury lawsuits filed on behalf of injured plaintiffs, which often settle out of court before going all the way to trial.

Some cases have more than one injured plaintiff involved in the same accident. For purposes of accurately analyzing settlement amounts, we used the highest payout received by one plaintiff in a multi-plaintiff case.

Average settlement amounts are calculated by adding the settlement amount for each case in a particular category, then dividing by the number of cases in that category.