Georgia Law Firm Secures $1.2 Million Verdict for Crash Victim After Defense Offered $25,000 Settlement

Davies Hothem Injury Law secured a $1,200,000 jury verdict in the Superior Court of Hall County for a man seriously injured in a four-vehicle collision on January 1, 2023. The defense had offered only $25,000 to settle the case despite medical bills approaching $200,000, creating a significant disparity between the insurance company's valuation and the jury's ultimate award.

Witnesses reported the defendant was speeding and passing in a no-passing zone before striking the rear of another vehicle at an intersection. The impact pushed that vehicle across the center line into the oncoming path of the firm's client, causing a violent head-on collision. The defendant then left the roadway and came to rest in a ditch, demonstrating the dangerous consequences of aggressive driving behavior.

First responders transported the client by ambulance to the emergency room following the crash. In the days that followed, he developed numbness, tingling, and radiating pain through the left neck, shoulder, arm, and hand. After months of therapy, he was diagnosed with neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome, a condition that can result from blunt force trauma or rapid acceleration and deceleration in motor vehicle collisions. He underwent a rib resection to decompress the injured nerves at Northeast Georgia Medical Center and later required two surgeries to repair an avulsion fracture of the thumb. Following two years of treatment and multiple surgeries, he made a full recovery, illustrating the extensive medical intervention often required after serious collisions.

At trial, the defense presented a neurologist who billed more than $20,000 and claimed the client did not suffer from neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome and that surgery was unnecessary. During cross-examination, Partner Kristy Davies used the neurologist's own cited literature to undermine his conclusions and secure key admissions that other injuries were caused by the crash. Partners Dustin Davies and Kristy Davies tried the case to verdict, demonstrating the value of thorough preparation and expert challenge in personal injury litigation.

This result highlights the importance of experienced trial counsel who are prepared to challenge defense experts and present complex medical evidence clearly. Car crashes remain a leading cause of serious injury in Georgia, and speeding and aggressive driving are persistent contributors to severe collisions. For victims, the effects can last long after the initial impact, requiring extensive medical treatment and potentially permanent lifestyle changes. The substantial difference between the initial settlement offer and the final verdict underscores how insurance companies may significantly undervalue serious injury claims, making skilled legal representation crucial for obtaining fair compensation.

The case outcome serves as an important reminder that jury trials remain an essential mechanism for ensuring justice when settlement negotiations fail to adequately address the true costs of serious injuries. Davies Hothem Injury Law represents clients across North Georgia in complex car accident and personal injury cases, bringing extensive trial experience to cases where insurance companies refuse to offer reasonable settlements.