When a Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) truck ran a red light, our client suffered multiple injuries to her back, arm, leg, and pelvis. As our client was attempting to turn from Howard Road onto 1-985 against a green light, she was struck by a tractor-trailer belonging to the GDOT. The truck hit her minivan’s front left fender, causing her to spin and collide with the truck’s trailer. All the while, the truck kept moving, ran off the road, and ended up in a ditch.
When the paramedics got to our client, she was pinned in the car “in an extreme amount of pain.” The paramedics had to pry the door open to get her out of the vehicle and into the ambulance. Fortunately, our client was treated at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center, the proximity of which may have been a saving grace.
Lucky to Be Alive
As our very own Attorney Jonathan Pope explains:
“She was very fortunate to be alive…The safety features of her car helped out, and the accident was very close to the [Northeast Georgia Medical Center], which is an excellent facility…She was [also] an avid jogger, and she’d done a lot to get in shape and stay in shape…In my experience that can really make a difference in these kinds of accidents.”
At the scene, the client had acute pain in both knees, right shoulder, neck, and back along with hematomas (bruises) on both knees and hematomas and abrasions on her arm. Our client was diagnosed with multiple injuries to her neck, left shoulder, low back, right and left knees, hips, and left foot. She underwent knee surgery for a torn medial meniscus and ultimately right total hip arthroplasty. Finally, she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mild neurocognitive disorder due to a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Permanent Injuries
At the time of the settlement, the client was continuing to seek treatment for injuries to her knees, hip, and spine. Many of her injuries are permanent. Prior to the accident, our client was an avid runner and had participated in many races, including several marathons. Our client’s injuries prevented her from running and doing many of the activities she enjoyed prior to the accident.
We Did Not Back Down
The lawsuit was filed in Hall County Superior Court where the collision occurred.
Under the Georgia Tort Claims Act, the GDOT faced up to $1 million in liability. The state was initially reluctant to pay out the policy limit. While the case was in discovery, and after we made it clear we would accept nothing but the full $1 million, the state agreed to pay our client the full $ 1 million amount.
Pope believes the state realized the strength of our case during this phase and decided to pay out the damages to avoid the costs of an unsuccessful trial:
“I think, as it got closer to trial, they realized ‘they’re not going to take a lesser amount,’” he told Law.com.
We are extremely pleased to have helped our client resolve her claim in this $1 million settlement, which will help her adjust to her life-changing injuries as a result of the accident.
At Hasty Pope, LLP, this kind of case result is not unusual. We have 150 years of combined experience, and we have recovered millions of dollars for our clients. If you need help with a similar lawsuit, we will be on your side from start to finish.
Give us a chance to exceed your expectations – call us at (770) 741-1951 or contact us onlineto schedule your free consultation today!