$1,750,000 Verdict for Driver Hit by Another Car While He Was Making a Right-Hand Turn

Our client was driving down a road in New Jersey. At the same time, the defendant was traveling in the same direction behind our client. Our client intended to make a right turn onto an intersecting road. As our client slowed down to make his turn, the defendant attempted to pass our client on the right side by entering the shoulder of the roadway. As the defendant was attempting to pass, our client made the right-hand turn and came into contact with the defendant’s vehicle. As a result of the accident, our client was injured and there was damage to the right-hand side of his vehicle. The case was eventually taken to trial and the jury returned a verdict of $1,750,000 in favor of the plaintiff.

Court and County
Supreme Court, New York County

Age and Occupation of Plaintiff
At the time of the accident, Plaintiff was a 54-year-old carpenter.

Description of Case
On the date of the accident, our client was driving down the road in New Jersey. Simultaneously, the defendant was traveling behind our client on the same road, moving in the same direction. The road that our client and the defendant were traveling on has one lane of traffic moving in each direction. Both sides of the street had shoulders that bordered the roadway for emergency vehicle use only.

Right before the accident, our client was going to make a right turn onto an intersecting street. The defendant saw our client slow down and believed that our client was going to make a left turn across the other lane of traffic. At that point, the defendant attempted to pass our client on the right-hand side by entering onto the shoulder of the roadway that should only be used for emergencies and emergency vehicles. As the defendant was attempting to pass our client’s car, our client made the right-hand turn and came into contact with the defendant’s vehicle. As a result of the accident, our client was injured and there was damage to the right-hand side of his vehicle.

At trial, the plaintiff argued that it was improper for the defendant to attempt to pass our client’s vehicle on the right-hand side by entering onto the shoulder of the roadway. The defendant should not have used the shoulder of the roadway to pass our client on the right-hand side.

Injuries and Damages
As a result of the accident, Plaintiff sustained an exacerbation of a prior back problem from a previous accident. Our client had sustained herniations to the lumbar and sacral spine. He conservatively treated for his back injuries, but ultimately required back surgery to conduct a disc replacement. Prior to and following the surgery, our client also received injections into the lumbar spine to help with the back pain.

Verdict Amount
This case was taken to trial and the jury awarded a verdict of $1,750,000 for our client.

Handling Attorney
This case was handled and tried by Partner Jeffrey A. Block.