Sometimes, trucking accidents in New York, and elsewhere, may seem minor when they occur. However, some serious injuries which are not immediately visible may prove fatal. Since people in these cases may say they are okay and not seek emergency treatment, those responsible for causing such accidents may attempt to dodge their liability. This may leave families devastated and struggling to deal with their losses.
In 2011, a Queens man was rear-ended by a large truck while he was on his way to work. The man hit his head, but thought he was fine. However, he began suffering from headaches, taking naps and stopped eating. Two days after the accident, the man took himself to the hospital. He had a brain bleed and the left side of his body became paralyzed when he suffered a hemiparesis. While he initially seemed to get better with treatment, the man died as a result of his injury
Recently, the man’s family reached a settlement with the truck driver, Brooklyn Bottling Corp. and North Shore Bottling Co., receiving more than $10 million. His family claimed the man was healthy and the family’s primary earner prior to the accident. For its part, the company that owns the truck involved in the accident continues to argue the man’s death was not their fault. Instead, the defense suggested the man had suffered a stroke.
Unfortunately, collisions involving large trucks may lead to the death of those involved. As a result, families may be left struggling to deal with their losses and figuring out how they will go on without the support of the deceased. Those who have experienced situations such as this may benefit from consulting with an attorney to understand their options for seeking financial compensation.
Source: New York Daily News, “EXCLUSIVE: Family of Queens dad who died days after accident gets $10M settlement,” Christina Carrega-Woodby, Feb. 15, 2016