Colorado Jury Awards $37,626 in Cement Truck Accident

A plaintiff filed a lawsuit following a motor vehicle accident, claiming severe and permanent injuries. The plaintiff sought damages for significant pain, suffering, discomfort, emotional distress, and a diminished ability to enjoy life. During the proceedings, both sides presented expert medical testimony. The plaintiff's experts included specialists in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, and Physical Therapy. The defendant's expert was also a specialist in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. The case concluded with an award of $779,627 to the plaintiff.

A passenger was rendered quadriplegic following a vehicle rollover accident on Interstate 25 in Colorado on July 5, 2013. The plaintiff, a front-seat passenger, alleged that a defendant driver operating a Jeep Cherokee negligently made a sudden left turn from the highway shoulder without a signal, striking the plaintiff's Honda Accord. The collision caused the plaintiff's vehicle to hit the median and roll over multiple times, resulting in a spinal cord injury and a spinal fracture. The plaintiff filed suit against the defendant driver for negligence. Product liability claims were also brought against the vehicle manufacturer, windshield manufacturer, and seatbelt manufacturer, alleging dangerous and defective designs. Specifically, the plaintiff contended the windshield failed to provide sufficient roof support during the rollover, leading to roof collapse, and that the seatbelt was defective, allowing slack that contributed to the injuries. The defendants denied liability and disputed the plaintiff's allegations of damages. The seatbelt manufacturer, Takata, specifically argued the alleged slack was due to the plaintiff's body position, not a product defect. The case proceeded to a ten-day trial against only the defendant driver and the seatbelt manufacturer. Following approximately 8.5 hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, awarding $52,000,000. This amount included $5,000,000 for non-economic losses, $15,000,000 for economic damages, $30,000,000 for physical impairment or disfigurement, and $2,000,000 for the plaintiff spouse's loss of consortium claim. The jury apportioned 50% liability to the defendant driver, 40% to the nonparty vehicle manufacturer (Honda), and 10% to the nonparty windshield manufacturer (AGC Flat Glass North America). The jury found no liability on the part of the defendant seatbelt manufacturer, Takata.

A civil lawsuit stemmed from a rear-end collision in Denver, Colorado. The defendant presented expert testimony from an individual specializing in orthopedic surgery. Specific details regarding the incident, the plaintiff's claims, or the ultimate resolution of the case were not available in the record.

On March 31, 2015, a head-on collision occurred on Dixie Highway near Pages Lane, Kentucky, when an at-fault driver ran a red light. The plaintiff, not wearing a seat belt, sustained soft-tissue injuries and sought emergency care the next day; her minor daughter also sustained a laceration. The plaintiff first settled with the at-fault driver for $25,000. The plaintiff then filed an underinsured motorist (UIM) claim against her insurer, seeking medical expenses and pain and suffering for chronic neck and back pain. The insurer disputed the injury extent, asserting they were minor and degenerative. The insurer also argued the plaintiff's non-use of a seat belt contributed to her damages. Expert medical testimony addressed the severity and origin of the plaintiff's reported symptoms. The at-fault driver's liability was not contested at the UIM trial. A Kentucky jury found the at-fault driver 90% at fault and the plaintiff 10% at fault for not wearing a seat belt. The jury awarded $17,985 for medical expenses and $133,750 for pain and suffering, totaling $151,735. During deliberations, the jury questioned the court about agreeing on a damage number. A final judgment was anticipated to reflect deductions for comparative fault and prior payments.

A rear-end collision occurred on Highway 80 in Perry County on August 25, 2014. The defendant, who was reportedly checking to see if the road was clear to pass, struck the plaintiff's vehicle. The defendant stipulated fault for the moderate collision. The plaintiff, a 64-year-old retired coal miner, was treated and released from a local emergency room for apparent neck and back strain, then sought follow-up care with a family doctor before beginning chiropractic treatment. Evidence also indicated a disc protrusion in the plaintiff's neck. The plaintiff filed a lawsuit blaming the defendant for the injuries sustained. Medical proof at trial included testimony from a chiropractor and an orthopedic expert. The plaintiff sought damages for medical expenses totaling $18,156 and $500,000 for pain and suffering. The defense argued that the plaintiff exaggerated the injuries, presenting expert testimony suggesting only a temporary strain that should have resolved quickly and that the disc protrusion was pre-existing and unrelated to the crash. The defense also questioned the plaintiff's credibility regarding a prior accident from 25 years earlier, which the plaintiff had denied during a deposition but had previously pursued a lawsuit over. The plaintiff stated a lapse of memory for the prior incident. During deliberations, the jury requested to see the police report and the deposition from the plaintiff's prior accident case, but the judge informed them these items were not admitted into evidence. After 90 minutes of deliberation, the jury awarded the plaintiff $12,000 for medical bills and $110,000 for pain and suffering, totaling $122,000. Prior to the verdict, the parties had entered a Hi-Lo agreement with parameters of $100,000 to $25,000. Consequently, judgment was entered for the plaintiff in the sum of $100,000.