A young woman riding her bicycle suffered severe facial injuries when a van crashed into her. She was left with highly visible facial scars. Our Athens bicycle accident lawyers secured a $750,000 settlement for her – more than 25 times her medical bills.
Case Summary: $750,000 Athens Bicycle Accident Settlement
Location: Athens, Georgia (near Prince Avenue & Dougherty Street)
Accident Type: Bicycle vs. Van Collision
Injuries: Severe facial lacerations, permanent scarring
Medical Treatment: Emergency transport; 36 stitches to the face and neck
Medical Bills: $30,000
Insurance Position: Top offer before lawsuit was $300,000
Legal Action: Lawsuit filed and case prepared for trial
Outcome: $750,000 settlement before trial
What Happened in the Athens Bicycle Accident
Our client was riding her bike down Dougherty Street towards Prince Avenue. A van turned left from Hull Street directly into her path. She didn’t have time to stop and crashed into the side of the van. Her helmet shattered the window and she suffered deep cuts to her face and neck.
Paramedics rushed her to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center. Emergency room doctors needed 36 stitches to close her wounds.
Injuries and Long-Term Impact
Our client’s wounds healed but left very visible scars on her face and neck that cannot be covered up with makeup, concealer, and clothing. She is now very self-conscious about her appearance and her scars and has to deal with other people staring at her or doing double takes when she’s out in public. Several times, she’s had children look at her and ask their parents what happened; one person rudely asked whether she had tried to kill herself. She’s consulted with several plastic surgeons who have told her that while scar revision surgery will reduce the appearance of the scars, they are never going away.
Focusing on Impact of Injuries, Not Medical Bills
Our client’s medical bills were only $30,000. To win a fair settlement, we knew that we would have to focus on the long-term impact of her injuries on her, and not her medical bills. To do so, we introduced evidence that our client had a life expectancy of over 50 years. We argued that she would have to live with facial scarring every day for the next 50 years. We explained that we would ask the jury to award compensation for every day of those next 50 years.
Legal Action: From Demand to $750,000 Settlement
Our client wanted to resolve the case without a lawsuit, but the insurance company for the van driver offered only $300,000. We filed suit and prepared the case for trial. After several months of litigation, the insurance company offered $750,000, which our client chose to accept.
Take the Next Step
If you were injured in a bicycle or car accident in Athens, Georgia, Ruppersburg Injury & Accident Attorneys offer free, no obligation consultations to understand your rights and legal options. There is no fee unless we win. Contact us today!
FAQ
Will I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Bicycle or Car Accident in Athens, Georgia?
Not every injury case requires a lawsuit. Some claims settle through negotiations with the insurance company without ever filing a lawsuit.
However, in serious cases — especially those involving permanent injuries like facial scarring — it is often necessary to file a lawsuit and begin preparing for trial before the insurance company makes a fair settlement offer.
Insurance companies usually increase their offer as the case gets closer to trial and they see that you’re willing and able to take the case to trial. You usually win the best settlement offer on the courthouse steps, so to speak.
What is the settlement value of facial scarring cases?
Facial scarring cases have significant value. We have resolved cases involving facial scarring for as high as $1,250,000 and $750,000. However, the amount you may be able to recover depends on a variety of factors including how much insurance the at-fault driver has.
How Does a Georgia Jury Decide Pain and Suffering in a Facial Scarring Case?
The judge tells the jury that in determining pain and suffering they should consider the following factors:
- Interference with normal living;
- Interference with enjoyment of life;
- Loss of capacity to labor and earn money;
- Impairment of bodily health and vigor;
- Fear of extent of injury;
- Shock of impact;
- Actual pain and suffering (past and future);
- Mental anguish (past and future); and
- Extent to which the injured person must limit activities
How Is Pain and Suffering Calculated in a Facial Scarring Case?
There is no formula or calculator to decide pain and suffering in a Georgia personal injury case and it’s up to the jury to decide using their life experience and the evidence presented at trial.
In facial scarring cases, lawyers sometimes use what’s called the “per diem” method to ask the jury for compensation for pain and suffering. This means asking the jury to assign a dollar amount for each day the injured person must live with the physical and emotional effects of the injury.
For example, an attorney might argue that $100 per day is fair compensation for living with permanent facial scars. Over 30 years, that would total $1,095,000.
This method helps jurors think about how a long-term injury affects everyday life — not just for a few months, but for decades after a serious bicycle or car accident.
How Do Lawyers Introduce Life Expectancy Evidence in a Georgia Injury Case?
In serious injury cases involving permanent scarring or disability, lawyers may present evidence showing how long a person is expected to live so the jury can understand the lifelong impact of the injuries.
This is typically done in one of two ways:
1. Government Life Expectancy Tables
The Social Security Administration publishes actuarial tables showing average life expectancy based on a person’s age and sex. Lawyers can ask the judge to allow those tables into evidence so the jury can consider them when deciding damages.
2. Expert Witness Testimony
In some cases, an economist or medical expert explains the life expectancy tables and how they apply to the injured person.
This type of evidence helps jurors evaluate long-term damages — such as daily pain, emotional suffering, or permanent facial scarring — that may last for decades after a bicycle or car accident.