Georgia Jury Awards $1,706,000 in Red-Light Collision
One driver failed to stop at a red light and hit the other driver's vehicle. The defendant admitted to using a cell phone while driving. The plaintiff sustained an ulnar nerve injury to their dominant arm, which causes diminished use and difficulty with daily activities. The plaintiff also suffered a cervical herniation and lumbar sprains. The jury awarded damages for compensatory losses and for the defendant's frivolous defense.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $1,706,000
- County
- Gwinnett County, GA
- Resolved
- 2018
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Arm / Elbow Injury
- Accident Type
- T-bone
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Intersection Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $1,706,000 is above the median of $237,000 for arm / elbow injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $41,176 to $733,500, based on 7 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A driver filed a lawsuit in Georgia after a motor vehicle collision. The plaintiff alleged that the defendant driver negligently failed to stop at a red light, striking the driver's side door of the plaintiff's vehicle. During discovery, the defendant conceded using a cell phone's GPS at the time of the incident and stipulated to negligence.
The plaintiff contended significant and permanent injuries, including an ulnar nerve injury to the dominant arm, which required surgery. This injury reportedly led to diminished use of the arm and hand, making daily activities cumbersome and causing the plaintiff to frequently drop objects. The plaintiff also claimed a cervical herniation, confirmed by MRI, and soft-tissue lumbar sprains and strains, asserting permanent symptoms. The plaintiff reported difficulties at an office job and an inability to continue a long-standing needlepoint hobby.
The plaintiff further argued that the defendant's refusal to acknowledge the plaintiff's injuries until trial constituted a frivolous defense under Georgia law. The jury was asked to consider this aspect in its award. The defendant did not testify at trial.
The jury awarded the plaintiff $1,706,000. This amount included $1,200,000 for compensatory damages related to the injuries and their impact, and an additional $506,000 specifically due to the defendant's frivolous defense.
Understanding This Case
- 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 Gwinnett County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2018, 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
This score is calculated by analyzing injury type, accident details, geographic location, temporal trends, and comparing against 2,000+ similar cases in our database.
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