Jury Awards Woman $200,000 for Crash Affecting Her Wedding Plans

 Posted on February 24, 2016 in Hartford personal injury lawyer

“The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”

You have probably heard this line derived from an 18th century Scottish poem, thanks largely to the 1937 John Steinbeck novel Of Mice and Men. The maxim is meant as a reminder that, even with the best intentions and meticulous planning, occasionally things go wrong. When they do, in some instances, there is little to be done other than to pick up the pieces and move on, making the best of a bad situation. Other times, plans are upset by the actions or negligence of another, who, depending on the circumstances, could be held responsible for such actions under the law. Such was the case in a Rockville courtroom, where a jury found in favor of a woman whose wedding was delayed following an auto accident which greatly affected her health and well-being.

Uncertainty Regarding Injury

In late 2012, the woman was injured in a motor vehicle accident on Trumbull Highway in Lebanon, Connecticut. The driver of the other vehicle was ticketed for failure to yield the right of way and admitted to police, and eventually in a deposition, that he was at fault for the crash. The woman was taken to the hospital by ambulance where she was diagnosed with a fractured bone in her neck. Doctors, however, were not positive that the fracture was caused by the accident, positing that it could have been a preexisting condition. A specialist subsequently shared the emergency doctors’ uncertainty.

Upsetting Her Plans

Regardless of the fracture’s cause, the woman’s injuries significantly impacted her life, and she filed a claim for medical bills and non-economic damages, including the delay of her impending wedding. Her attorneys indicated that she was a very active person before the accident, enjoying various outdoor activities and weight training. She was also working and taking classes toward a respiratory therapy career, which was derailed as a result of her injuries, her suit claimed, leading her to take a more sedentary office job. Her lawyers say she gained approximately 40 pounds, leading her to postpone her upcoming wedding, which, at the time of the trial, still had yet to take place.

A Sizable Verdict

While defense counsel argued that the neck fracture could not be proven to be a result of the accident, the woman’s attorneys maintained that it really did not matter. Her life, the suit claimed, was directly impacted in a negative way by the crash, regardless of when the fracture occurred. The jury of five women and one man heard extensive testimony from the woman’s friends and family, contrasting her quality of life before and after the accident. After three days of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of $206,000 for the woman, including $150,000 in non-economic damages.

Seeking Damages Following an Injury

When you have been hurt in an auto accident or another type of incident, you have the right to seek compensation from the liable party or parties. Damages, though, are not limited to medical bills or lost wages; instead, a personal injury attorney can help you build a case for non-economic damages, including pain and suffering, emotional distress and other impacts to your life.

If your life and future plans have been significantly altered by a car or truck accident, contact an experienced Connecticut personal injury attorney. At the Woolf Law Firm, LLC, we are committed to helping you get the full compensation you deserve and need to put your life back together. Call us today at 860-290-8690 to learn more about your available legal options.

Sources:

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173072

http://www.ctlawtribune.com/id=1202748176431/Plaintiffs-Neck-Injury-Wedding-Plan-Delay-Lead-to-200000-Verdict

https://www.jud.ct.gov/JI/civil/part3/3.4-1.htm