Motorcycle Crash on Highway 47 Results in Significant Jury Verdict
On June 10, 2012, a motorcycle accident involving Ulysses Rodney Anderson and Brian Preston Hensley on Highway 47 led to a jury awarding over $1 million in damages.
The incident occurred on the Little River Bridge between McDuffie and Columbia County. According to witnesses, Anderson was riding his motorcycle behind Hensley’s truck when he attempted to pass. Hensley’s truck reportedly collided with Anderson’s motorcycle, resulting in severe injuries to Anderson’s leg.
Authorities confirmed that Hensley, who had been drinking at the time, fled the scene but later returned and was arrested for DUI. He claimed that Anderson and his nephew were traveling at high speeds and that he tapped his brakes to alert them. The Andersons alleged that Hensley attempted to obstruct their path before the collision.
To clarify the conflicting testimonies, Anderson’s attorney presented accident reconstruction expert Jeffrey Kidd. Kidd noted there was no evidence supporting Hensley’s claim that Anderson had braked after passing. His analysis suggested that Hensley was primarily at fault for the crash due to failure to maintain a proper lookout.
The jury awarded Anderson $786,733.30 in compensatory damages, plus $250,000 in punitive damages, totaling approximately $1,036,733.30. However, the jury also found Anderson 10% at fault, reducing the final judgment to about $958,060.
McDuffie County records show this verdict as the largest in its history.