Jury Awards $1,350,000 in Medical Intubation Negligence
A pregnant mother was involved in a car accident and sustained a neck injury. Medical professionals attempted to ventilate her, but there were complications with the procedure.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Neck Injury (Whiplash) Injuries
Whiplash is a neck injury caused by rapid back-and-forth movement of the head, commonly occurring in rear-end collisions. Despite being frequently dismissed, whiplash can cause significant pain and disability.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $1,350,000
- County
- Maricopa County, AZ
- Resolved
- 2017
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Neck Injury (Whiplash)
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Physical Injury
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $1,350,000 is above the median of $9,367 for neck injury (whiplash) cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $3,100 to $25,000, based on 590 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A pregnant plaintiff sustained a neck injury after being involved in an automobile accident. Following the incident, she required ventilation, during which her heart monitor reportedly indicated distress. Medical personnel then performed an intubation procedure, during which the tube was mistakenly placed into the plaintiff's esophagus instead of her trachea.
The plaintiff subsequently filed a lawsuit, alleging medical negligence stemming from the improper intubation. The defendant disputed the allegations.
After the case proceeded to trial, a jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, awarding her $1,350,000.
Understanding This Case
- Most whiplash injuries improve within 2-3 months. However, about 25% of patients experience chronic symptoms lasting over a year, significantly impacting quality of life.
- This case went to trial and resulted in a jury verdict. Verdicts can yield higher awards but carry the risk of receiving nothing if the jury rules against the plaintiff.
- This case was resolved in Maricopa County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2017, this case reflects the legal and economic conditions of that period, including medical costs, insurance practices, and jury award trends at the time.
VerdictlyTM Score
This outcome differs from typical similar cases
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