Wisconsin Woman Gets Huge Soft-Tissue Injury Settlement

In 2012 a Wisconsin Dells woman was awarded over $535,000 by a jury in a personal injury claim. This award is one of the state's largest for a personal injury claim not involving any broken bones. The case was settled on March 15, 2012 and the editor of Wisconsin Verdicts and Settlements called the verdict “astonishing” because of the rarity of such a large sum awarded in a case involving soft-tissue injuries.

The woman's attorney reports that they tried to settle the case but were unable to come to an agreement, so the case proceeded to trial. The attorney was concerned about the fate of the case due to the uncertainty that goes with a jury trial, but was extremely pleased with the jury's ultimate decision.

The woman was driving southbound on U.S. Highway 12 in Wisconsin Dells when another driver hit her from behind. This collision pushed her forward, causing her to collide with the car in front of her as well. The attorney relays that his client has medical bills exceeding $20,000.

The jury awarded her $60,000 for pain and suffering, $175,000 for predicted future medical expenses, and $300,000 for future pain and suffering. The difference between this case and others is that the injuries sustained in this crash were soft-tissue injuries, meaning that they are not visible, unlike injuries involving broken bones.

The editor of Wisconsin Verdicts and Settlements has been reporting on Wisconsin trials for over 20 years and he relates, “That's a lot of money. It's a huge amount of money for dealing with soft-tissue injuries.” According to him there was one other Wisconsin soft-tissue case that resulted in a larger settlement. In that 2010 case, the person involved was awarded $677,094.

Both the woman and her attorney were very happy with the verdict and to have the case behind them. The uncertainty that accompanies jury trials can be nerve-wracking, but in this instance the decision to go ahead with the trial, rather than settle, was well worth it.

A case like this demonstrates how important it is to seek advice from an experienced personal injury attorney following an accident. An attorney who is experienced and confident will be able to steer you in the right direction when it comes to how to proceed with your case. Whether settling or proceeding to trial will be ultimately be beneficial is a difficult decision, but having a personal injury attorney who has dealt with similar cases in the past, will make you confident that you are making the right decision. Contacting a personal injury attorney immediately following your accident will help your attorney to maintain the integrity of your case. After an injury, take back control by finding an attorney who will fight for you and do everything in his or her power to seek the damages that you deserve. Pain and suffering, lost wages, and medical expenses, are all damages that you may be entitled to, so do not assume that the burden of these costs should all fall on your shoulders after an accident.