Albany, Georgia Jury Awards $25,000 in Car Crash

In October 2015, a collision occurred at the intersection of Nottingham Way and Ledo Road in Albany, Georgia. A driver operating a 1996 Ford Ranger, traveling north, reduced speed at the intersection when a driver operating a 2001 BMW 325i, traveling east, attempted a right turn onto Nottingham Way. During the turn, the BMW crossed double-yellow lines and struck the Ford Ranger in the outside lane. The Ford Ranger's driver sustained injuries, lost wages, and experienced pain and suffering.

The injured driver filed a complaint alleging the other driver's negligence and negligence per se, citing violations of Georgia traffic laws. The complaint also named a second defendant, asserting liability under the family purpose doctrine. The defendants raised various defenses, including claims that the plaintiff was contributorily negligent, that the striking driver acted with ordinary care during a sudden emergency, and that the plaintiff failed to report the accident.

During litigation, the court granted the plaintiff's motions for attorney's fees related to discovery issues, totaling $5,040. The court also granted a motion to add the second defendant as a party and denied the defendants' motion for summary judgment. In September 2018, a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, awarding $10,000 for medical expenses, $500 for lost wages, and $14,500 in general damages, for a total of $25,000 against both defendants.