While virtually no one wants to think about being involved in an accident, they happen every day in New York City and across the nation. These accidents occur in a variety of situations including motor vehicle crashes and work related accidents. Depending on the specifics surrounding each incident, the degree of injuries suffered will vary.
Injuries to a person’s spine are some of the worst. When they are severe, they can lead to paraplegia or quadriplegia. Either type of paralysis is life-changing to the individual facing it. In addition to needing to learn to use medical equipment, the emotional toll such a change usually has needs to be addressed as well.
To ease the difficulties associated with both the physical and emotional issues, many find it beneficial to file a civil personal injury lawsuit against the individual or entity that through some sort of negligence caused the injury inducing incident. When successful, these types of lawsuits provide not only the finances needed to adapt to the new and usually expensive way of life, but sometimes the emotional closure needed as well.
A 51-year-old woman from another state who became a paraplegic as a result of a car accident several years ago filed a lawsuit against the company that made the seat that was installed in her vehicle. As a result of the impact, that seat in which she was sitting reportedly collapsed, inflicting the spinal cord injury.
The case went to trial and a jury recently returned its verdict. It found in favor of the woman and awarded her a total of $43.1 million. While such a large award is not common, the woman who filed the lawsuit is likely quite pleased with the result. Hopefully it will help to make her life easier.
Source: Insurance Journal, “Vermont Jury Awards $43.1M to Woman Paralyzed in Crash,” July 3, 2013