Georgia Jury Awards $739,500 in Motor Vehicle Collision

On February 25, 2013, a vehicle collision occurred in Georgia. A driver, operating a vehicle owned by another individual, attempted a lane change and struck a car occupied by a married couple. The plaintiffs, the driver and passenger of the struck vehicle, allegedly sustained severe, permanent, and catastrophic personal injuries. They subsequently filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, alleging the defendant driver was solely responsible for the incident and their injuries.

The plaintiffs asserted claims for negligence and negligence per se, citing violations of Georgia Rules of the Road. They sought special and general damages, including past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, permanent disability, and loss of enjoyment of life. An amended complaint later added individual claims for loss of consortium. Before trial, the plaintiffs dismissed their claims for punitive damages and for stubborn litigiousness.

The case proceeded to a jury trial, which concluded on June 22, 2016. The jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs, finding the defendant driver negligent. Total damages of $739,500 were awarded. The driver plaintiff received $89,500, and the passenger plaintiff was awarded $650,000. Judgment was entered the same day, reiterating the jury's findings.