Plaintiff’s Damages Reduced By Compromising Tweets

Jury Says Evidence From Tweets Led To Reduced Award

A woman who was injured in an automobile accident may have hurt her own case thanks to certain posts she made on the social media site Twitter. The jury in the case claims they reduced her damages by almost $100,000 after the defense produced twitter pictures showing the plaintiff on vacation and carrying a purse around with her allegedly injured arm.

According to court documents filed in connection with the case, the plaintiff, a 22-year old woman who works as a stylist in a hair salon, was injured in a car accident in 2011. On June 6^th of that year, she was a passenger in her friend's 2004 Ford Taurus heading eastward on Jimmy Carter Boulevard when a work van driven by an employee of the Atlanta Refrigeration Service Co. made a sudden left turn in front of them.

The driver slammed on the brakes, but was unable to stop in time to prevent a collision with the van. The plaintiff was severely wounded as a result of the crash, and was transported to Gwinnet Medical Center for treatment of a broken arm, separated at the shoulder, as well as a large gash across her forehead. Medical personnel eventually inserted screws and metal plates to fix the limb, hoping to return the arm to normal functionality.

In the suit, the plaintiff alleged that the defendant, the Refrigeration Company, had been negligent in hiring the driver, who had a history of traffic violations, including several DUIs. In addition, they argued that her arm had been permanently damaged, leading to reduced earning capacity in her employment as a hair stylist.

To counter these claims, the defense released several allegedly compromising twitter posts and photographs showing the plaintiff traveling and having fun. The argument they made was that the victim had recovered and seemed to be living well, reducing er need for damages. Her attorney claims that the all-white composition of the jury biased them against his client, an African-American woman.

"The implied argument was if you give her the money, she's going to travel and blow it," said her attorney, citing possible racism on the part of the court. "For that jury that was the right argument to make."

Originally asking for as much as one million dollars in damages, the plaintiff was eventually awarded only $142K dollars, enough to cover her medical costs and pay for her trauma, the jury said. This was reduced from the original allotment of $237,000 due to the twitter pictures, they said in a statement.

Seek A Personal Injury Lawyer Who Can Help You

If you have suffered as a result of the negligent actions of another driver, it is imperative that you seek the help of a trained professional as soon as possible. With the aid of the skilled team at the Andrew W. Jones Law Firm, you can pursue maximum compensation for the trauma you have suffered. Please, seek an attorney you can trust. Contact our offices or visit our website at www.awjoneslaw.com to learn more right away!