After repeated attempts to settle a personal injury case brought by two men who suffered serious injuries in a car accident caused by an off-duty police officer who allegedly failed to yield to the right-of-way at an intersection, a Texas jury returned a car accident verdict awarding the plaintiffs more than $1 million, according to KLTV.
Following the three-day trial, the 12-member panel voted unanimously in favor of Odis G. and Terry T., who were injured in a September 2014 crash at the intersection of US 271 and State Highway 154 in Upshur County, Texas. The crash resulted in both men sustaining significant injuries as well as aggravating pre-existing ones.
Despite recommendations by the City of Gilmer’s attorney to enter into a car accident settlement, the insurance carrier hired by the city refused to do so, according to news station.
“It was unfortunate, in a sense, that this case had to be tried,” the lead plaintiffs’ counsel told KLTV. “The City of Gilmer was given every opportunity to resolve this matter without the necessity of wasting taxpayers’ time and resources. However, the attorneys hired by the City of Gilmer’s insurance carrier refused to settle the case. In the end, the jury sent a strong message that the citizens of Upshur County will not tolerate governmental misconduct or negligence.”
According to KLTV, the plaintiffs’ attorneys plan to donate a portion of their fees from this car accident verdict to the City of Gilmer for additional training of patrol officers.
Two hours after Judge William Porter ruled that the City of Gilmer was not entitled to governmental immunity, jurors returned their $1 million car accident verdict, which will be divided between the plaintiffs.
Governmental immunity prohibits lawsuits against a government entity and/or caps the amount of money the government agency must pay if found liable.
How is a Car Accident Settlement Calculated?
The amount of a car accident settlement is calculated based on a number of factors..
Economic losses are monetary losses that include things like past and future medical expenses, loss of past and future earnings, property damage and the loss of use of property, costs of repair or replacement, the economic value of domestic services and the loss of employment or business opportunities.
Compensation for non-economic damages, commonly known as pain and suffering, covers non-monetary losses such as mental anguish, emotional distress, loss of companionship, loss of consortium and loss of enjoyment of life.
If you’ve been injured in an car wreck, filing a lawsuit could help you obtain a car accident verdict or settlement.. Contact the attorneys at McDonald Worley today for a free case evaluation..
