The accident occurred while Stephanie Pasfield's car was waiting at traffic lights on Gundaroo Drive, Gungahlin in May 2009.

The defendant ran into the rear of the stationary car behind Ms Pasfield, pushing that vehicle into hers. The damage to her car was minimal.

The defendant admitted negligence in the accident and she launched action against him and his insurer. Ms Pasfield felt neck pain immediately after the incident and visited a doctor two days later after suffering headaches.

She attended work but left early after suffering pain and a burning sensation in her mid-back and between her shoulder blades.

In the months that followed, the 29-year-old reported waking up at night in discomfort, suffering shooting pains down her right arm and headaches every two to three days.

Ms Pasfield said that since the crash she needed help with domestic duties and had moved in with her grandmother for extra support.

The ACT Supreme Court heard, in the years since the accident, Ms Pasfield had married, gone on an overseas honeymoon which included going on rides at Disneyland, and had two children.

Under cross examination, she agreed that on good days she could carry her daughter, a handbag and a nappy bag. The court also heard she had been receiving payments from income protection insurance.

She denied she had exaggerated her symptoms and it suited her not to work because of the benefits under the policy.

Medical experts agreed Ms Pasfield had suffered injuries to her spine in the accident, with imaging showing it had exacerbated pre-existing scoliosis. She suffered headaches and depression as a result.

However, two experts found the mental stress of the accident may have caused physical symptoms to be felt more intensely and for a longer period than expected.

Master David Harper, in a judgment handed down on Wednesday, was satisfied the crash caused damage to the cervical and thoracic spine which resulted in pain and restriction of movement in the neck, and pain in the mid-back.

"It seems to me more likely than not that the plaintiff had pre-existing scoliosis in the thoracic spine and that this made her more vulnerable to injury to that part of her spine causing pain in the mid-back," Master Harper wrote.

"I am also satisfied that she has had some psychological consequences by reason of the pain, though not amounting to a psychiatric or even a psychological condition requiring treatment."

Master Harper found Ms Pasfield's condition had plateaued.

"She should over time get back to working full normal hours, and in this regard I note that the claim for loss of earning capacity for the future is limited to a range of the order of three to five years, which seems to me appropriate."