In a significant win for our client, Daniel Stark Law has obtained a $1.6 million jury verdict in a drunk driving case. The case involved a 19-year-old college student who suffered life-altering injuries as a passenger in a car driven by an intoxicated driver. 

Background 

The incident took place in 2019 when both the plaintiff and defendant attended a party organized by a fraternity they were interested in joining. Despite being underage, both individuals were served alcohol at the bar and consumed excessive amounts. Believing himself to be sober, the defendant decided to drive home. 

Traffic cameras captured the moment when the defendant lost control of the vehicle, resulting in a high-speed crash into a tree. The impact caused the plaintiff to sustain a severe traumatic brain injury, with emergency professionals uncertain if he would survive the crash scene. 

Due to his brain injury, the plaintiff now faces permanent mental impairment and requires lifelong assistance with daily tasks. His cognitive abilities have been severely affected, preventing him from living independently. 

We filed a lawsuit on behalf of our client against multiple parties, including the bar, the fraternity chapter, and the drunk driver. The claims against the bar and fraternity chapter were settled for confidential amounts prior to trial. 

Our team, led by attorneys Michael Bristow and Zain Pleuthner, pursued the case in court. The jury ultimately awarded our client a total of $1,680,784.00. This amount includes compensation for our client’s past and future physical pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, and loss of earning capacity. 

Per Attorney Bristow: “Daniel Stark Law is aggressively committed to holding all responsible parties accountable for drunk driving crashes and ensuring our clients receive full value for their injuries. This recent verdict serves as a reminder of the perils of drunk driving and underage drinking. We hope this verdict will encourage students, fraternities, and bars to make better decisions for the good of themselves and for the community at large.”