In a hard-fought personal injury case out of Franklin County, Missouri, Attorney Jenifer Snow secured a significant settlement on behalf of a mother and her three children injured in a serious head-on collision caused by a distracted driver. The defendant had been distracted by her dog and/or her cell phone at the time of the crash. Although the defendant denied any distraction, an eyewitness provided testimony regarding the circumstances of the collision. The impact was severe enough that one of the children required emergency air transport to a regional trauma center for a facial injury, leaving a permanent scar on her forehead. All four plaintiffs, the mother and her three children, have since made full physical recoveries. Because the physical injuries resolved, the case proceeded as an emotional distress claim.
The evidence of the defendant’s distracted driving, including the dog and the possible cell phone use, gave our legal team sufficient grounds to plead punitive damages. The punitive damages claim helped increase the settlement value of the claim. This result is a reminder that distracted driving cases are not always straightforward. Witness credibility, available evidence, and the strength of your legal strategy all play a role in the outcome. Identifying every available legal theory, including punitive damages where conduct warrants it, can make a meaningful difference in what injured families ultimately recover.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident caused by a distracted driver in Missouri, contact our office today for a free consultation
