Accident on Toll Road Leads to Injury

This case involves an accident on a toll road. The plaintiff was driving through New Jersey, and prepared to cross the George Washington Bridge. As she was driving, she went into the E-ZPass lane, which uses a device to electronically pay the toll while the vehicle remains in motion. Behind her, the defendant was talking on his cellphone and did not notice the deceleration by the plaintiff’s vehicle. The plaintiff stopped at the E-ZPass lane, and she alleged that there was a delay in the E-ZPass registering. The defendant did not notice that the plaintiff’s vehicle had not passed through the toll road, and he struck the plaintiff’s vehicle. The defendant alleged that he was traveling fifteen miles per hour, and the plaintiff brought suit for a neck injury.

Question(s) For Expert Witness

1. What kind of injuries can result from a collision at fifteen miles per hour?

Expert Witness Response E-004498

When analyzing the possible harm that can occur at a specific speed, a number of determinations need to be made. The make of each vehicle, where the vehicles struck each other, and the weather conditions can all impact the type of injuries possible. While further investigation is needed, most modern vehicles (after 1990) are built to withstand minor impacts. Because of that, it is unlikely that any significant injury resulted from the impact at fifteen miles per hour. I have been working as an engineer and biomechanics consultant for over thirty years, and based on my training and past experiences, I am very qualified to review this case.