An Oconee County jury has returned a $1.1 million verdict in favor of a woman who was injured in a head-on car collision.
Hodge
Charles Hodge and Ryan Langley of Hodge & Langley Law Firm in Spartanburg represented the plaintiffs, Trina and Steve Adams. Langley said that Trina Adams was on her rounds as a utility meter reader in Seneca when another driver, Ted Bragg, crossed the double-yellow center line and crashed into her vehicle head-on.
As a result of the crash, Adams’ heel bone was broken and required multiple surgeries, and additional surgery may be necessary, Langley said. In video testimony, Dr. Michael Tollison, an orthopedic surgeon and foot-and-ankle specialist in Greenville who testified for Adams, described the injury as a “smashed” heel and said she may not walk normally again.
Langley said despite her injuries, Adams is determined to continue working as a meter reader and has worked hard to keep her injury from limiting her physical activity. Langley said the verdict amount was significant for Oconee County, where juries tend to be among the most conservative in the state when it comes to medical awards.
“This lady had worked through all of this terrible foot injury, permanent limb, permanent altered gait, but had found a way to stay employed as a meter reader,” Langley said. “And working with her company to modify the way that did her job … And so that was very admirable and [she] just made a great witness, and her husband did as well, and had some very specific examples of how her life had been altered, and their home, with having to build different entrances and a ramp … her going up and down the steps, which was very challenging for her to do.”
Langley
The jury returned its verdict on July 31 after a two-day trial over which Judge R. Scott Sprouse presided. The verdict included $193,000 in special damages for medical expenses. Langley said a workers’ compensation settlement involved with the case is confidential.
George Hanna of Howser, Newman & Besley in Columbia represented the defendant. He could not be reached for comment on the verdict.
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VERDICT REPORT – MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT
Amount: $1.1 million
Injuries alleged: Broken foot requiring multiple surgeries
Case name: Trina M. and Steve Adams v. Ted Bragg
Court: Oconee County Circuit Court
Case No.: 2017-CP-37-00530
Judge: R. Scott Sprouse
Date of verdict: July 31
Highest offer: $640,000
Demand: $1.2 million
Special damages: $193,000
Most helpful experts: Dr. Michael Tollison of Greenville (orthopedic surgeon)
Insurance carrier: Federated Insurance
Attorneys for plaintiff: Ryan Langley and Charles Hodge of Hodge & Langley Law Firm in Spartanburg
Attorney for defendant: George Hanna of Howser, Newman & Besley in Columbia
[Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly listed the plaintiff’s demand as $640,000. That was actually the defendant’s highest offer.]