LA Jury Awards $15K in Freeway Rear-End Crash Case

Case Background

On May 28, 2025, a Los Angeles jury delivered a verdict in a civil case that arose from a motor vehicle crash that had occurred more than two years earlier. The case involved Plaintiffs Jose M. Diaz and Blanca Estela Flores Cortes, who sued Defendant Vladimir Babenkov, a driver, and his employer, Solve, Inc.. The Plaintiffs alleged that Babenkov's reckless driving caused the collision and their subsequent injuries.

Cause

According to the complaint, on April 1, 2023, the Plaintiffs, Jose M. Diaz and Blanca Estela Flores Cortes, were in a 2007 Toyota SV on the southbound 101 Freeway near Los Angeles. Their vehicle had come to a complete stop when a 2014 Mitsubishi truck, driven by Defendant Vladimir Babenkov, violently rear-ended it. The Plaintiffs' complaint stated that Babenkov was driving the truck at an "unsafe manner for traffic conditions" and at an "unreasonable rate of speed". They contended that Babenkov had also been following their vehicle too closely. The Plaintiffs' legal team asserted that Babenkov’s actions violated California Vehicle Code §§ 22350 and 21703, which outline laws for safe speeds and following distances.

Injury

The collision caused both Jose M. Diaz and Blanca Estela Flores Cortes to sustain injuries and damages. The complaint listed a range of harms that included medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. The Plaintiffs also sought compensation for general dama