Dekalb County Jury Awards $64,000 in Negligent Left Turn Collision

On December 19, 2014, a motor vehicle collision occurred at an intersection in Dekalb County, Georgia. The defendant allegedly operated a vehicle in a negligent manner, making an improper left turn and colliding with the plaintiff's car before leaving the scene without rendering aid. The plaintiff filed a complaint on June 30, 2016, alleging the defendant's negligence and reckless driving, including a violation of a state statute regarding leaving the scene of an accident, an offense to which the defendant had previously pleaded guilty. The plaintiff claimed to have sustained personal injuries, resulting in ongoing bodily pain, mental suffering, and medical expenses, and sought compensatory and punitive damages.

The defendant responded with several defenses, including claims that the plaintiff's complaint failed to state a valid claim for relief, that the plaintiff's own negligence contributed to or exceeded the defendant's, and that the plaintiff had the last clear chance to avoid the collision. The defendant later added arguments that the complaint was barred by the statute of limitations and that the plaintiff failed to specifically state special damages under state law. On January 30, 2018, a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. The jury found the plaintiff to be 20% at fault and the defendant to be 80% at fault. An initial award of $80,000 in damages was subsequently reduced to $64,000 due to the plaintiff's comparative fault. The court entered judgment for the plaintiff for $64,000 in general damages on March 1, 2018.