Over $1 Billion in Verdicts and Settlements

Elderly Woman Seriously Injured in Rear-End Collision with Truck – $765,000 Settlement

In September of 2003, an 84-year-old woman was sitting in the back passenger seat of a van driving on the New Jersey Turnpike in Carney’s Point Township. Her brother was driving and her sister was sitting in the front passenger seat when they were suddenly rear-ended by an 18-wheeler truck. Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. Partner Garry R. Salomon filed suit in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Middlesex County, proved that the truck driver had been driving inattentively, and won the client a $765,000 settlement.

The woman was taken by ambulance to Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware, where she was treated for injuries to her head, hips, pelvis, and back. She suffered parenchymal, subarachnoid, and frontal hemorrhages in her head, numerous rib fractures, and fractures throughout her cervical and thoracic spine, as well as sacral ala, ilium, and superior and inferior pubic rami fractures in her pelvis. The client was hospitalized for several months and underwent a tracheotomy and the placement of a feeding tube, and completed months of physical therapy. All of her medical bills were paid by insurance or Medicare.

Her sister, who tragically passed away in the accident, was also represented by Partner Garry R. Salomon.

Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. hired medical experts to author narrative reports proving the permanent nature of our client’s injuries. Their reports helped show our client’s entitlement to financial compensation for her loss in income, medical bills, and pain and suffering. The firm also retained an accident reconstruction expert to determine liability in this case. The expert found that the truck driver had been driving inattentively and not abiding by the Turnpike’s speed limit, causing him to collide into our client. With the help of these experts, Partner Garry R. Salomon won her proper compensation for her injuries, pain, and suffering, in the form of a $765,000 settlement.

Settlements are often limited by the total available insurance coverage. Insurance company adjusters and their lawyers often defend cases by claiming that a client was negligent and could have avoided being injured by arguing comparative negligence on the part of an injured client; or that their pain and suffering was caused by pre-existing medical conditions or prior injuries. Despite those defenses, the Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, PC lawyers won their client’s injury claim. Each client’s case is unique. Results may differ because of different facts, circumstances and available insurance coverage.

Call us now for a free and confidential case evaluation. We are also available 24/7 online at our website, www.dsslaw.com.  

 

Medical Glossary:

Frontal Hemorrhage: Bleeding that occurs in the frontal lobe of the brain, which is responsible for functions such as decision-making, personality, and voluntary movements. It can happen due to head trauma, ruptured blood vessels, or other causes.

Ilium Fracture: A type of broken bone in the pelvis, specifically in the ilium bone. The ilium is the large, wing-shaped bone that forms the upper part of the pelvis. These fractures usually result from significant trauma, such as a fall or car accident.

Parenchymal Hemorrhage: Bleeding that occurs within the actual tissue or substance of an organ, such as the brain. It happens when blood vessels rupture or break, causing blood to accumulate in the organ. Parenchymal hemorrhage can lead to symptoms such as headache, confusion, weakness, and can have serious implications depending on the location and extent of the bleeding.

Sacral ala Fracture: A type of broken bone in the sacrum, which is the triangular-shaped bone at the base of the spine. The sacral ala refers to the wing-like portions of the sacrum on either side. These fractures typically occur due to high-energy impact or significant trauma to the pelvis, such as from a fall or car accident.

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A type of bleeding that occurs in the space between the brain and the thin membrane called the arachnoid. It usually happens due to a ruptured blood vessel, such as an aneurysm. Subarachnoid hemorrhages can cause severe headaches, loss of consciousness, and other neurological symptoms, requiring immediate medical attention to prevent further damage to the brain.

Superior and Inferior Pubic Rami Fracture: Refers to a broken bone in the pelvis, specifically in the pubic rami. The pubic rami are the branches of the pubic bone that form part of the front of the pelvis. These fractures typically occur due to high-energy impact or significant trauma, such as from a fall or car accident.

Tracheotomy: A surgical procedure performed to create an opening in the front of the neck and into the windpipe (trachea). This opening, called a tracheostomy, is made to help a person breathe when their normal breathing is compromised or restricted. It is often done in emergency situations or for individuals with long-term respiratory issues, providing an alternate pathway for breathing and allowing for easier management of the airway.