$4 Million Settlement in Head-on Collision 10x Higher than Best Offer
Heading home after work, looking forward to some R&R, a young woman was driving on a two-lane road that curved significantly to the left. As she traveled along this section of road, a driver in a work vehicle crossed over the double yellow line and into her lane, causing a head-on collision. The woman’s severe injuries included a closed comminuted subtrochanteric fracture of her left femur; fractures, torn ligaments, and dislocation of her right ankle with an open wound; a coup contrecoup head injury; as well as bruising and abrasions. The femur and ankle both required surgery. The woman retained Jeffrey Ward of The Thumbs Up Guys Personal Injury Attorneys to represent her through her legal battle.
The defendants maintained that the plaintiff was partially responsible for the collision, although no evidence existed to prove such a claim, other than the defendant driver’s testimony, wherein he continually tried to place blame solely on the plaintiff. Gouge marks in the road, as well as other marks caused by the crash, were analyzed by an engineering expert and, combined with detailed measurements of the crash scene, he was able to determine that the crash occurred completely within the plaintiff’s lane of travel. The data from the electronic control module also showed that no corrective steering action was made by the defendant prior to the collision. There was also an eyewitness following behind the defendant who testified that the defendant completely crossed into the plaintiff’s lane and caused the crash.
Mr. Ward had learned about Focus Graphics at a conference and reached out to get some exhibits to help at trial. After discussion with one of our visual strategists, it was decided to do an animation showing the crash from multiple angles, along with the road marks, and include an injury summary. Imaging was colorized to support the injury summary. Surgical animations were also done to show what the plaintiff went through to have her hip and ankle repaired. When faced with all of this, the defense opted to settle 3 days before the trial began for $4 Million, ten times more than the top pre-suit offer of $400,000.00.
“After hearing Focus Graphics present at a conference, I knew we needed some strong exhibits for this case. I worked closely together with them and my engineering expert to ensure accuracy for the crash animation, and with our expert doctors for the surgical animations. The resulting exhibits were very powerful and helpful in securing a settlement only 3 days before our trial began. We were so pleased that we are already working with Focus Graphics on another case.”
~Jeffrey Ward, Esq., N Charleston, SC | The Thumbs Up Guys Personal Injury Attorneys
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