Pearson v. Hanna

On motion. This is an action to recover damages for personal injuries suffered in an automobile accident which occurred between 12 o'clock noon and 1 P.M. on the eighth day of July, 1947. The case was tried at the November Term 1948 of the Superior Court held in Lincoln County. The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff in the sum of $5,000. The defendant filed a motion for a new trial on the sole ground that the damages were excessive. The case is now before this court on said motion. As a result of the accident the plaintiff was rendered unconscious and so continued until the following day. He suffered what is commonly known as a brain concussion. His nose was broken, his face was discolored to a marked degree about both eyes, his right eye was completely closed and for four or five weeks he had a complete numbness of the right side of his face which extended from the lower part of his right eye, the side of his nose, and included a portion of his lip and all of his right cheek. He lost blood and required the administration of blood plasma. In addition to the foregoing injuries, the jury were justified in finding that as a result of the accident the plaintiff received an injury to his brain; that, although the plaintiff had never had headaches before the accident, commencing in April, 1948, his brain injury caused recurring headaches of increasing frequency, severity and duration. The jury were further justified in finding that the brain injury itself was progressive in its nature and that the ultimate result thereof could not be predicted with certainty.