Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Attorney Richard Griffin specializes in personal injury and wrongful death claims. As a part of his practice, he routinely monitors Georgia jury verdicts in order to better serve his clients and to inform the public on the potential value of their personal injury, wrongful death, worker’s compensation, and social security claims. Jury verdict research helps in two important ways. First, it allows the personal injury and wrongful death attorney to educate the client regarding the likely value of his or her claim. Second, it allows the experienced personal injury lawyer and wrongful death lawyer to negotiate higher settlements from the adjuster and defense attorneys by providing evidence of how much a jury verdict would likely be for a specific case.

One source of jury verdict research is The Georgia Trial Reporter. According to The Georgia Trial Reporter, Vol. 21, Issue(s) 8, 11, for June and September 2009, several civil juries returned high dollar verdicts in several Georgia counties for cases involving personal injury claims and wrongful death claims. Some of these cases involved truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and car-wrecks which involved head-on collisions, t-bone collisions, and rear-end collisions. Some of these cases also involved drivers who were distracted by cell phone use or even DUI (driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs).

Some of the recent large settlements published in The Georgia Trial Reporter include:

(1) In Bulloch County Superior Court, a jury awarded a Plaintiff $1,160,000.00 for pain and suffering and $75,000.00 for loss of consortium damages in a trucking accident.

(2) In Chatham County State Court, a jury awarded a Plaintiff $90,000.00 for damages suffered in an auto-accident when the Defendant rear-ended the Plaintiff’s vehicle, while picking up a cell phone.

(3) In Clayton County State Court, a jury awarded a Plaintiff 17,716,401.00 in compensatory damages for an auto-accident involving a head-on collision and a design defect.

(4) In DeKalb County State Court, a jury awarded a Plaintiff $6,100,000.00 for damages suffered when the Defendant negligently inserted a needle into the Plaintiff’s neck causing pain and limited paralysis.

(5) In DeKalb County State Court, a jury awarded a Plaintiff $1,300,000.00 in wrongful death damages resulting from an interstate auto-accident.

(6) In Fulton County State Court, a jury awarded a Plaintiff $5,835,000.00 in wrongful death and pain and suffering damages in a auto-accident involving a drunk driver.

Great jury verdicts usually involve plaintiffs who are like-able and believable, as well as, injuries that are serious. The pain and suffering damages are determined by the jury and often include permanent restrictions on the injured victim's personal or work activities. Jurors are often extremely motivated by the testimony of before and after witnesses who describe how the plaintiff's life was disrupted by the injures. Before and after witnesses that can describe the negative impact on the plaintiff from different view points and with specific details work best. For example a neighbor who explains how they no longer can job or exercise with the plaintiff is much more effective than someone who just says the plaintiff was generally less active. Good before and after witnesses can include family members, friends, co-workers, and any one else that has had significant contact with the plaintiff.