Warnett Hallen LLP secured a $534,000 jury award for a young woman who suffered shoulder, back, and ankle injuries as a passenger in a 2017 rear-end accident.

At the time of the 2017 accident, the plaintiff was early in her career as an actor and stunt performer and was working in various film and television productions. Her injuries – especially to her shoulder ligaments and ankle and chronic headaches – made it impossible for her to continue to do much of the stunt work she had been doing prior to the accident.

Rory Johnston, a lawyer at Warnett Hallen LLP, represented the young woman at trial and laid out her case to the jury, using some of her professional colleagues and family members as witnesses to speak to the accident’s effect on her life and career. Mr. Johnston showed the jury a selection of film clips from her acting and stunt career, and presented evidence from expert medical witnesses to show how her injuries were caused by the accident.

As part of the overall $534,000 award, the jury accepted that the young woman had suffered over $200,000 in lost past and future income. The jury also accepted that she would need substantial ongoing treatment and help with housekeeping going forward and that the woman’s family should receive compensation for the help they provided to her while recovering from injury.

“Auto insurers often think that they can scare off victims by asking for the case to be heard by a jury,” says Mr. Johnston. “The courtroom process can be intimidating for anyone, but if you and your lawyer can tell your story, a jury of British Columbians will be understanding and fair. British Columbians know how serious car accidents can be and will treat you fairly if your case is presented in a clear and persuasive way.”