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$5,160,916 Verdict for Victim Hit by Vehicle That Ran a Stop Sign

Our client, a 38-year-old man, was a passenger traveling in a company-owned truck in Queens, New York. As the truck passed through an intersection where there was no stop sign and they had the right of way, the Defendant car ran a stop sign and hit the front passenger side of the truck. As a result of the collision, our client sustained serious injuries that required two spinal fusion surgeries. He was not able to return to his job as a landscaper.

Court and County

Supreme, Queens

Plaintiff Description

38 years old; born in El Salvador; working as a landscaper at the time of the accident

Description of Case

Our client was sitting in the front seat of a truck owned by his employer on the day of the accident. The vehicle was travelling on 33 rd Avenue in Queens as the Defendant drove southbound on 155 th Street.

The company vehicle carrying our client approached an intersection with no stop sign and where they had the right of way. As they drove through the intersection, the Defendant vehicle ran a stop sign and struck the front passenger side of our client’s vehicle. The accident happened very fast and our client didn’t recall seeing the Defendant before he was struck. He was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.

The Defendant later admitted in deposition that she failed to see the stop sign because she was looking for a park where she was planning to take her son. She had been to the park many times before.

Injuries

In the aftermath of the accident, our client immediately felt pain in his neck, low back and right shoulder. He was then brought to Flushing Hospital by emergency services, where he was eventually discharged from. He returned to the hospital two days later, however, when he began to feel weakness and tingling in his right arm and hand, as well as occasional numbness in his right leg.

An MRI revealed that our client had suffered disc bulges at L3/4 and L5/S1 and disc protrusions at C3/4, C4/5 and C5/6. He eventually required spinal fusion surgery at C5/6 and L5/S1.

He began to undergo a weekly treatment of chiropractic therapy, physical therapy and acupuncture. His surgeries helped the pain in his neck and lower back, but he still found it very difficult to turn his head or bend at the waist. It became clear he would not be able to return to his previous job as a landscaper.

Verdict Amount

At trial, Defendant argued that Plaintiff’s condition existed prior to the accident and that the surgeries were unrelated to the accident.

The jury disagreed, finding Plaintiff’s injuries were caused by the accident, and awarded Plaintiff $5,160,916.17 in damages. The jury verdict came after five weeks of trial and nearly three days of jury deliberations.

Handling Attorneys

This matter was handled by Partners Jeffrey A. Block and S. Joseph Donahue.

To learn more, call the New York City personal injury lawyers at Block O’Toole & Murphy at 212-736-5300 or contact us online for a FREE consultation.

Accidents Caused by Running Stop Signs

If you’ve been hurt in a crash caused negligent driving, such as a driver running a stop sign and hitting you, it’s important to understand your legal rights after a devastating accident. Our law firm has one of the best records in car accident cases, including 6 of the 10 highest New York settlements for auto injury victims in 2016 alone. We offer free legal consultations and are here to provide you with the help you need after a crash.

Select results for victims hurt by drivers running stop signs include:

  • $4,600,000 settlement for a man with spinal injuries after he was involved in a car accident caused by a driver running a stop sign and crashing into the passenger side of his car
  • $2,925,000 settlement for a driver who lost consciousness after he was hit by a school bus that ran a stop sign in Queens, New York
  • $1,750,000 recovery in a Long Island case for an auto accident victim with back injuries after he was hit by a large vehicle that ran a stop sign
  • $1,600,000 settlement for a 49-year-old man who crashed with a vehicle that ran a stop sign at an intersection
  • $1,300,000 settlement for a car passenger who suffered back and knee injuries after a driver ran a stop sign and struck the vehicle he was in

To learn more about our auto accident results, please visit our main Car Accident Settlements & Verdicts page. To speak with a Block O’Toole & Murphy attorney today, simply call 212-736-5300.

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