Virginia Lawyers Weekly VA Lawyers Weekly
Type of action: Auto accident
Injuries alleged: Subarachnoid and subdural hemorrhage; left tympanic bone fracture; three fractured ribs; partial lung collapse; hiatal hernia; left scapular fracture
Name of case: Ward v. Lane
Court: Albemarle County Circuit Court
Date resolved: 6/15/2022
Special damages: $271,252 in past medical costs
Verdict or settlement: Settlement
Amount: $1,150,000
Brian Glass
Attorney for plaintiff: Brian Glass, Fairfax
Description of case: On Feb. 22, 2020, Mr. Ward and his wife were travelling home from watching their 9-year-old grandson play in a basketball tournament when an out of state driver, unfamiliar with the area, ran a red light and smashed into the plaintiff’s car.
Following an extrication from his car by the fire and rescue crew, Mr. Ward was rushed to the hospital. CT scans of his head revealed both subarachnoid and subdural hemorrhaging as well as a fractured left tympanic bone. Because of the bleeding on his brain, ER doctors discontinued the use of his blood thinners. A few days after being discharged from the hospital, he suffered a stroke which his doctors attributed to the lack of blood thinner medication.
As a result of these injuries, he is left with vertigo, mood changes, memory issues and mild hearing loss.
In addition to the brain injury, Mr. Ward suffered three fractured ribs on the left side, a small pleural effusion with partial lung collapse, a comminuted scapular fracture, and a small hiatal hernia attributable to the seatbelt.
The plaintiff was a retired University of Virginia police officer who enjoyed restoring old cars, refrigerators, and other electronics in his garage. His wife’s injury case was settled in 2021 for $235,000.
No offer was made by State Farm before suit was filed in September 2021. This case was set for trial by jury in Albemarle County Circuit Court in January 2023 and was settled for $1.15 million in June 2022.
Brian Glass, counsel for plaintiff, provided case information.
[022-T-117]
