Gainesville Jury Awards $120,000,000 in Motor Vehicle Negligence
A 20-year-old passenger sustained severe spinal cord injuries in a collision. The accident occurred when a utility truck ran a stop sign and hit the vehicle he was in. The defense argued the host driver's speed and the plaintiff's failure to wear a seatbelt caused the injuries. The jury found the truck driver's negligence caused the injury and awarded damages.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Spinal Cord Injury Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are among the most catastrophic outcomes of car accidents, potentially resulting in partial or complete paralysis. These injuries require extensive medical care and significantly impact quality of life.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $120,000,000
- County
- Alachua County, FL
- Resolved
- 2021
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Municipal Liability
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $120,000,000 is above the median of $25,955,498 for spinal cord injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $7,000,000 to $67,470,000, based on 23 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On October 7, 2015, a City of Gainesville utility truck ran a stop sign in Alachua County, Florida, colliding with a pickup truck. A 20-year-old back-seat passenger in the pickup sustained spinal cord injuries, resulting in permanent paralysis from the chest down, lifelong wheelchair confinement, a reduced life expectancy, and continuous medical needs.
The plaintiff filed a negligence lawsuit against the utility truck's driver and the City of Gainesville. While defendants admitted the utility truck ran the stop sign, they asserted the accident was caused by the host driver's speeding and that the plaintiff was comparatively negligent for not wearing a seat belt. Defense experts testified to support these claims.
The jury found the defendant employee's negligence was the legal cause of the injuries, determining neither the plaintiff nor the host driver was negligent. The plaintiff was awarded $120,000,000 in damages, covering medical expenses, loss of services, and pain and suffering. Post-verdict, defendants filed motions challenging the outcome and stated they would seek to limit the City of Gainesville's liability to a statutory cap of $200,000.
Understanding This Case
- Spinal cord injuries are typically permanent, though some incomplete injuries may see partial recovery. Life expectancy may be reduced, and quality of life is significantly impacted.
- 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 Alachua County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2021, 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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