In Drucker v. Miraglia, a Monmouth County jury awarded $625,000 on Aug. 10 to a woman who suffered injuries to her neck and right knee after her car was struck from behind by a van.

Judith Drucker was waiting to make a left turn on Sweetmans Lane at Oakland Mills Road in Millstone on May 15, 2013, when her car was hit from the rear by a five-ton van, driven by James Miraglia and belonging to ABG Electric Co. of Howell. Drucker's car was pushed forward, and she collided head-on with an oncoming car.

Drucker was discharged with pain medication after the accident, but over subsequent months she required extensive physical therapy and chiropractic care for her neck and knee, said plaintiff lawyer Jonathan Lomurro of Lomurro, Munson, Comer, Brown & Schottland in Freehold.