Injuries similar to those sustained by Nivens have been held compensable under Louisiana law. See Janice v. Whitley, 111 So.2d 852 (La.App. 1959) (mild cerebral concussion causing slight headaches for four months); Ulmer v. Travelers Ins. Co., 156 So.2d 98 (La.App. 1963) (contusion and small hematoma); Augello v. Call, 210 So.2d 129 (La.App. 1968) (slight blow to head and anxiety reaction); Strother v. State Farm Mut. Auto Ins. Co., 238 So.2d 774 (La.App. 1970) (contusion of forehead); Dickson v. Zurich Ins. Co., 261 So.2d 350 (La.App. 1972) (bump on head). See also federal cases where personal injury claims, made in good faith, have withstood motions to dismiss for lack of jurisdictional amount, e. g., Mitchell v. Great Am. Indem. Co., 87 F. Supp. 961 (W.D.La. 1950) (hematoma on head and strained shoulder); Lee v. Kisen, 475 F.2d 1251 (CA5, 1973) (smashed finger with bone chip not uniting).
Most of these cases were affirmations of the trial court's judgment. Johnson v. Shreveport Transit Company, 188 So.2d 713 (La.App. 2d Cir. 1966); Ulmer v. Travelers Insurance Company, 156 So.2d 98 (La.App. 1 Cir. 1963); Rochon v. Moore, 218 So.2d 918 (La. App.3d Cir. 1969); Robertson v. Insurance Company of North America, 171 So.2d 715 (La.App. 3d Cir. 1965); Northern Insurance Company v. Grayco Marine Corporation, 176 So.2d 744 (La.App. 4th Cir. 1965); Fontenot v. Travelers Insurance Company, 179 So.2d 520 (La.App. 3d Cir. 1965); Bryant v. Hartford Accident Indemnity Company, 158 So.2d 263 (La.App. 4th Cir. 1963); McCastle v. Stewart Stevenson Truck Co., 147 So.2d 678 (La.App. 1 Cir. 1962); Cooper v. Hargreve, 210 So.2d 64 (La.App. 1 Cir. 1968); and numerous other cases. We find no manifest error in the trial court's finding that plaintiff's injuries were more severe than those in the above cases.
We do not believe the trial judge manifestly erred in awarding Mrs. Cargile $500.00 for her pain and suffering. In the recent case of Ulmer v. Travelers Insurance Company, La. App. 1st Cir., 156 So.2d 98, the court affirmed an award of $500.00 to a woman who had incurred a mild whiplash injury to the neck and contusions of the shoulder and elbow. Mrs. Cargile's injuries do not appear more serious than the plaintiff in that suit.