When a Pennsylvania accident in 2009 resulted in the amputation of a man’s leg, it led to civil litigation in 2011. This case proved to be a complex, as there were multiple cars involved in the chain of car accidents that occurred that day. The jury’s decision to award $19.1 million to the plaintiff was challenged and on April 10, 2014 a civil trial judge upheld the jury’s verdict after finding it not to be excessive.
When two friends were in a car that rear-ended another vehicle on a busy Boulevard in July 2009, the passenger tried to push their vehicle off the roadway. A third vehicle came from behind and also rear-ended the first car before careening into the man who was unprotected while pushing the second vehicle. The man’s leg was crushed so severely that it had to be amputated.
The civil court had to determine which of the parties were negligent in a manner that contributed to the man’s severe injuries. After examining the evidence, the court decided to apportion fault between two of the parties involved. A 45 percent portion of negligence was apportioned to the driver of the vehicle where the injured victim was a passenger, while the driver of the third car that crushed the man’s leg, was apportioned 55 percent of the negligence.
When residents of Pennsylvania are injured in car accidents that may have been caused by the negligence of another party, even if that party is only partially responsible, they retain the right to file a personal injury claim in a civil court. Successfully represented claims may result in a court awarding damages to cover medical expenses. Depending on the specifics of the case, the court may award restitution to include future and other expenses as deemed appropriate by state laws.
Source: pennrecord.com, “A Philadelphia Common Pleas Court judge has upheld a $19.1 million plaintiff???s verdict in case of vehicle accident ending with leg amputation“, Jon Campisi, April 24, 2014