“How Not Giving Up Got Her A $969K Verdict”
Last week, I had the privilege of going to trial.
Our client was driving home. She was 21 years old. The other driver, the at fault driver, crossed a double yellow line and hit our client head on. Unfortunately, our client suffered severe injuries. She suffered a compound fracture of her right ankle where the bone was actually sticking out of her leg. She got taken to a hospital in Dade City. Because it was not a proper level trauma center, she had to be airlifted to Lakeland Regional.
Now, we sent a demand to the insurance company. It’s funny how in trial, the defense attorney stood up there and said, “We take responsibility for this crash, and we understand that your client has suffered serious injuries of the crash.” They never once took that position until the Friday before trial. Even though at the defendant’s deposition she admitted that she crossed over the double yellow lines, they were still fighting and saying our client was at fault for the crash. Even though her ankle bone was sticking out of her ankle after the crash, they were saying, “Well, you know, not all of this was caused by the crash.” It’s amazing what these insurance companies will do.
So, we filed a lawsuit. We litigated throughout the entire process, took depositions, went to mediation, took the doctor’s depositions, and then, like I said, the Friday before trial, they admitted to a lot of the things, but we still took the case to trial. The most they had ever offered on this case was $10,000, and we were lucky enough to get a verdict for $969,000. Now, that verdict may be reduced because of some legal things that happened on the back side of the verdict, but it’s still significantly more than whatever they were offering prior to the case going to trial, which is really rewarding.
It’s why we do what we do. This poor lady was involved in a serious crash. Her ankle fused. She’ll never be able to bend her ankle ever again. They’re trying to say that she was at fault for this crash when she did nothing wrong. You take it to trial. You get in front of six of our client’s peers. You let them hear the facts, and our client was able to get justice.
Getting a hug from your client after you get a good verdict. It’s why we do what we do because, unfortunately, people’s lives are thrown upside down after a crash. And the only remedy the legal field has is money. I can’t go and make this poor young lady’s ankle be 100%. For her not to have any issues. But we fought for her. We never gave up. We took it to the finish line and were able to get her a good result. And seeing the smile on her face, understanding that, yeah, things were frustrating throughout the process, but she was happy she stuck with it. She’s happy she did not give in to the insurance company, and she got justice.
It’s why we do what we do. It makes me get up in the morning, want to go to work because I’m already looking forward to my next trial. But it’s fun, and can’t wait for the next one.