$1.1 Million Verdict for Motor Vehicle Accident at Gas Station

Blume Donnelly partner Kenneth Elwood represented a 42-year old man who was involved in a head-on collision after being cut off by a car exiting a gas station. The man sustained a tibial plateau fracture to his right leg, which necessitated two surgeries to repair. Our client, who is employed as an auto body repairman, lost six months from work, and has been told by his treating orthopedist that he will likely need future knee surgery and/or knee replacement. The defendant in the case claimed that she did not cut him off, but that our client lost control of his car, and crashed because he was speeding.

At trial, Mr. Elwood utilized an accident reconstruction expert, and an orthopedic surgeon to establish liability and damages.

A Union County jury deliberated for four hours before returning a verdict, finding 70% culpability on the defendant’s behalf, 30% on the plaintiff, and a gross jury verdict of $1.1 million plus lost wages.