Driver sustained permanent hearing loss after traffic collision — $240,000 settlement

Type of action: Personal injury, auto accident

Injuries alleged: Permanently decreased hearing, spinal strains, thumb sprain and knee contusion

Name of case: Lopez Garcia v. Blair, et al.

Court: Chesterfield County Circuit Court

Case no.: CL 21003357-000

Tried before: Mediation

Name of judge or mediator: Judge Beverly Snukals (Ret.)

Date resolved: 5/19/2023

Special damages: Past medicals of $22,559.24; future medicals of $64,440; wage loss of $1,250

Verdict or settlement: Settlement

Amount: $240,000

Attorney for plaintiff: Tara L. Tighe, Arlington

Description of case: The plaintiff was on his way to work when the defendant, driving a company van, ran a stop sign and caused the plaintiff to crash into the side of the defendant’s van. The plaintiff’s airbags deployed and the car was a total loss.

Plaintiff took an ambulance to the ER and followed up with an orthopedist and physical therapy. When decreased hearing didn’t improve, he went to an ENT where he was diagnosed with permanently decreased hearing. Plaintiff’s expert explained that the sound of the air bag deploying can cause hearing loss. Plaintiff was only 29 when he was injured, leaving him to deal with decreased hearing loss for two-thirds of his life.

The defendant contested the amount of hearing loss done by the airbag and that the decrease in hearing was minor.

The case resolved at mediation before the defendant’s experts were disclosed.

Plaintiff’s counsel Tara L. Tighe provided case information.

[023-T-084]