Medical Waste Company Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit After Traffic Accident

The parties to a wrongful death lawsuit in Lawrenceville, Georgia, recently settled the lawsuit as the jury was deliberating. The case involved a medical waste company and one of its drivers who allegedly caused a fatal accident, killing a 31-year-old woman. The plaintiffs had requested $150 million in damages, but the terms of the settlement are unknown.

According to the lawsuit, the decedent had been stopped at a traffic light on Highway 316 in Gwinnett County, GA. Her vehicle was then struck from behind by a Ford T350 van that was driven at highway speeds by an individual working for Curtis Bay Medical Waste Services of Georgia.

Curtis Bay admitted fault for the accident, so the three-day trial focused on damages only. This is a common tactic for defendants in a personal injury lawsuit, where it is clear that their client is at fault for the accident. In a wrongful death lawsuit, damages include lost wages, medical expenses, the pain and suffering the decedent experienced while they were dying, and the emotional grief and loss experienced by close family members such as spouses and children.

Arguing damages in a wrongful death lawsuit 

The plaintiff’s attorney asked jurors to consider what a settlement would look like if the decedent had only lost her leg. She would be entitled to receive tens of millions of dollars for that type of injury. Then, he asked the jury to consider what her family should receive, given the fact that she lost her entire life, and she was only 31 years of age. Her family was, therefore, entitled to recover $150 million for this accident.

The defense argument presented by Curtis Bay Georgia’s attorney, asked jurors to consider the fact that the decedent suffered from multiple health conditions that could have reduced her life expectancy. An expert presented by the defense concluded that the economic loss stemming from the decedent’s death totaled a meager $1.945 million. The defense argued that economic loss should be “the foundation” when calculating the damages award. They thus suggested a damages award that was closer to $5 million rather than $150 million. The defense argued that a $5 million award would incorporate the economic measurement and compensate the plaintiffs for non-economic damages, which could not be calculated in the same manner. In other words, the defense wanted to keep the damages figure close to the economic damages calculated by their expert witness.

Before the jury could reach a verdict, however, the parties settled the suit. The details of the settlement are unknown because the parties agreed not to talk about the matter further.

Talk to a Brunswick, Georgia Traffic Accident Lawyer Today 

The Brunswick, GA, personal injury attorneys at Gillette Law represent the interests of injured plaintiffs and grieving families in injury lawsuits filed against negligent defendants. Call our office today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin investigating your case right away.

Source:

blog.cvn.com/parties-settle-wrongful-death-crash-case-as-jurors-deliberate-at-trial-over-150m-claim