A California jury awarded a young man $21.5 million for serious injuries he sustained in a car accident. The plaintiff, who was 18 years old at the time of the accident, was a passenger in a van that was rear ended by a pickup truck traveling approximately 55 mph just before crashing into the van. The plaintiff suffered severe injuries to his back, causing him to become paralyzed from the neck down.
Although local investigating officers attributed fault to the driver of the dodge ram for the rear-end collision, his insurer, offered to pay the plaintiff the policy limit of $25,000. There was no further compensation from insurance, so he filed a civil lawsuit.
Lawyers for the plaintiff sued for general damages, including loss of enjoyment of life, grief, emotional distress, and mental suffering. During the four-day trial, the focus of the evidence introduced was on the intangible value of the plaintiff’s inability to provide independently for himself and his young family. The jury heard evidence that the young man would need physical assistance for the rest of his life due to the permanent injuries he sustained.
After only an hour of deliberation, the jury returned their verdict awarding $21.5 million in favor of the plaintiff.
If you or someone you know has been injured as the result of a car accident, contact an attorney at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling 713-231-9360 or toll free at 1‑800-594-4884.