San Diego, California--(Newsfile Corp. - April 20, 2025) - HHJ Trial Attorneys, a leading personal injury law firm in San Diego, California, won a jury verdict of $10 million as a result of a car accident lawsuit in Ventura County after the defense used AI in assessing and calculating the plaintiff's medical costs which grossly underestimated the actual value.

The verdict stems from a car accident that occurred in March 2019 where the plaintiff's Chevy truck crashed into a GMC Savanna van performing an illegal U-Turn. The plaintiff initially sought medical care for neck and back pains but ended up undergoing a cervical spine fusion surgery four years later.

"This verdict represents justice for our client who, even with life-altering injuries, wanted nothing more than to remain a father and husband," said Elliott Jung, lead attorney for the plaintiff. "The jury saw through the defense's attempts to minimize both liability and the serious nature of our client's injuries."

Of the $10,024,171 granted, $1.9 million was awarded for economic damages and $1.3 million for past non-economic damages, and $7 million for future non-economic damages. This marks the second-largest single-level fusion surgery verdict in Ventura County history.

In an extraordinary turn of events that significantly affected the direction of the case, the defense's life care planner confessed under cross-examination that she utilized ChatGPT and a hospital chatbot to estimate future medical expenses. Even more startling was her admission that defense counsel directed her not to prepare a report, which meant that the plaintiff's team could not review her analysis.

"When we found out their expert was literally using AI for something as sensitive as future medical needs calculations, their credibility went out the window," remarked Emma Van Ginneken, from HHJ Trial Attorneys. "It was quite evident to the jury that the life-changing injuries sustained by our client required professional evaluation, not estimates pulled from a chatbot."

Throughout the trial, the defense maintained that the plaintiff was following too closely and driving unsafely. They also attempted to attribute the plaintiff's injuries to preexisting conditions, highlighting his history as a football player and medical records showing spinal issues before the accident.

Despite these efforts, personal injury lawyers of HHJ Trial Attorneys effectively demonstrated how the crash fundamentally altered their client's quality of life, particularly his ability to fulfill his roles as father and husband.

The defense made multiple settlement offers, beginning with $350,000 described as a "gift," then $1 million at the start of trial, and finally $3 million after closing arguments-all of which were rejected by the plaintiff's legal team.

"This case serves as a critical reminder of the risks defendants take when attempting to downplay legitimate injuries by relying on questionable expert methods," said Taylor Gaines of Batta Fulkerson, who partnered with HHJ on the case. "It also highlights the dangers of using artificial intelligence as a substitute for proper medical cost evaluation."

As car accident attorneys in San Diego, HHJ Trial Attorneys has built a reputation for securing substantial verdicts for injured clients. This verdict reinforces their standing as experienced personal injury lawyers committed to ensuring accident victims receive full compensation for their injuries.

About HHJ Trial Attorneys

HHJ Trial Attorneys is a standout San Diego-based personal injury law firm specializing in car accidents, catastrophic injuries, and wrongful death cases. Founded by experienced trial attorneys committed to client advocacy, the firm has established a track record of securing significant verdicts and settlements for injury victims throughout San Diego.

Contact Information

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/249124