DANBURY - A Bethel woman who suffered chronic back pain after being injured in a car accident has been awarded $65,000 by a Danbury Superior Court jury.

The woman, who had turned down a $20,000 settlement at the beginning of the trial, was awarded the money by a jury which deliberated for about. six hours over two days following seven days of testimony.

The $65,000, plus about $8,400 in interest, will be paid Lesley A. Lovallo formerly of Milltown Road, Brewster and now a Bethel resident.

It will be paid by the insurance company representing Maria Kean of North Salem Road, Ridgefield.

According to the legal papers filed by Harvey J. Kulawitz, her attorney, Lovallo was injured in a two-car accident three days before Christmas in 1982. The accident occurred on Route 116 in Ridgefield when Kean lost control of her 1974 Plymouth while pulling out of her driveway.

Kean, 51 at the time, drove across a portion of her front lawn, knocked down a wooden fence and drove off an embankment before crossing the highway and colliding with Lovallo's 1982 Toyota, according to the police report.

Lovallo, who was 27 and a real estate specialist at the time of the crash, suffered back injuries to her soft tissues, leaving her with chronic back pain. The middle of her back and her neck were injured when she hit her head on the windshield.

Before the trial began before Judge Francis M. McDonald Jr., KuIawitz had already won the issue of liability in another court hearing.

Judge Howard J. Moraghan had ruled that Kean was liable, but her Insurance company refused to settle, according to Kulawitz.

Kulawitz described the verdict as a "fair and reasonable victory" for plaintiffs, adding he hopes insurance companies will take soft-tissue injuries seriously. His client's medical bills were about $5,000.

The jury heard testimony from Lovallo's chiropractor, Dr. Edward Markowitz of Brookfield. They also heard two medical experts in the fields of orthopedics and neurology testify for the defense.

- RUTH LOCKWOOD