A jury in a Los Angeles Superior Court awarded a PARRIS client more than $4 million after she was struck by a suspected distracted driver while crossing the street.
While our client was lawfully crossing a Santa Monica street in March 2018, a 2016 Fiat slammed into her going 25 miles per hour. The collision threw her body 25 to 30 feet forward, causing severe and permanent injuries.
During the trial, the personal injury lawyers for PARRIS Law Firm successfully argued that the driver of the car should have seen a pedestrian crossing the street. A jury sided with the team, awarding our client $2,305,551 in future medical expenses, $200,000 in past-noneconomic losses, and $1,500,000 in future noneconomic losses.
The monetary award, in this case, was paid by the defendant’s insurance company, not out of the defendant’s own pocket.
“The defense was so desperate to blame our client that they refused to produce her cell phone records to hide the possibility that Lisa was distracted at the time of the crash,” said Bruce L. Schechter, Of-Counsel at the PARRIS Law Firm.
Lawyers for the defendant tried to argue in court that the victim “chose” to walk in front of the car in an attempt to take her own life. But the PARRIS attorneys successfully defeated this point using reasoning and logic with the jury.
“We’re talking about a car traveling on a city street in a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood – the likelihood of someone jumping in front of a Fiat going less than 35 miles per hour to take their own life is slim to none,” said PARRIS attorney Khail A. Parris.
The verdict will help compensate our client for her lifelong pain and discomfort that has affected her ability to earn a living. Following the crash, our client went through multiple surgeries to repair the injuries to her head, neck, back, and knees.
“This verdict will not take away the suffering our client will feel from this crash, but it will at least make certain that she is properly cared for,” said Parris.
Even though liability was admitted by the driver, the case still went to trial because the victim was not offered a reasonable settlement amount.
By working early on with a team of PARRIS personal injury attorneys, our firm can help determine whether a settlement offer by an insurance company is fair. Sometimes insurers negotiate in bad faith, which is a major reason to hire an attorney as soon as you are involved in a collision. A lawyer with the proper experience can protect your rights and make sure you recover what is owed.
In this case, the victim suffered severe injuries, including a fractured nose and orbital lobe. Her right ACL was completely torn, and her knee required reconstructive surgery. She experienced headaches, cognitive issues, post-concussion syndrome, tinnitus, and cervical and lumbar spine pain. She later required surgery to her nose.
As part of the case, PARRIS attorneys were able to prove that our client lost earning potential as a result of the crash, which substantially enhanced the damages.
Pedestrian traffic crashes and especially fatalities are on the rise in California. In 2020, the rate of pedestrian deaths rose by 20% after factoring in vehicle miles traveled, according to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association.
Distracted driving is the leading cause of pedestrian collisions. Such factors such as stress and anxiety, larger vehicles, poor visibility, and simple negligence are leading causes of vehicle-on-pedestrian crashes.
PARRIS Law Firm has been fighting for injured pedestrians in California since 1985. We have secured more than $1.9 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients. Our hardworking team of PARRIS accident attorneys are ready to help.
At PARRIS, we have an unyielding commitment to our clients. We know what a challenging period it can be following a severe accident. That is why when you choose PARRIS; you pay nothing in fees until we win.
