$1.1 Million Verdict Obtained For Woman Who Rear-ended Lane Changer
SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (Dec. 14, 2012) — Los Angeles personal injury attorneys Jonathan E. Howell of Pocrass & De Los Reyes LLP and Shawn J. McCann of Girardi & Keese recently obtained a $1.1 million verdict for a woman who suffered serious personal injuries in a car accident.
Natalia North was traveling south on Pacific Coast Highway, near the intersection of Coastline, when Francis Vogl, who was driving a rental car and was in the lane to the right of North, changed lanes in front of North in order to make a left turn. North rear-ended Vogl’s Chevy Malibu.
Though Vogl eventually admitted liability, he initially contended that North was liable for the accident because she rear-ended him. He also claimed that since her Toyota Land Cruiser only sustained scratches, it was not possible for North to have suffered personal injuries as serious as she claimed.
“Many people think that if you rear-end another vehicle you are automatically liable for the accident,” says Howell. “Frequently you are, but in this situation the other driver cut in front of our client and braked to make an illegal left turn. She couldn’t have avoided the accident.”
North suffered serious personal injuries to her left shoulder and to her right foot. She underwent anthroscopic surgery to repair her shoulder and a number of procedures to resolve the injuries to her foot. Her doctors believe she will need surgery on her foot in the future.
After six days of trial, it only took the jury one day to determine that Vogl’s negligence was the cause of the North’s injuries and awarded her $1,120,000.
If you suffered serious personal injuries in a motor vehicle accident, contact Pocrass & De Los Reyes for a free, no-obligation consultation.
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