Peter Chamas, ESQ was awarded a $15,500,000 verdict by a jury in Hunterdon County, New Jersey for his client who suffered a traumatic brain injury after being hit by a piece of flying debris at a construction site. With interest and pre-trial settlements, the total recovery is in excess of $20 Million.
The plaintiff, Mr. L, was working as an electrician’s helper and was driving his employer’s van when he was struck by a piece of metal on the right side of the neck and jaw. The object broke through the vehicle’s window before hitting him.
He suffered a fractured mandible that required surgery and he is left with permanent metal plates in his jaw. He also suffered three fractures on the right side of his cervical spine and a severe traumatic brain injury. After two weeks in a hospital, he had two weeks of inpatient treatment at a rehabilitation center, learning to walk again and how to go up and down steps.
There were three defendants in the lawsuit. The plaintiff settled with Defendant #1 and Defendant #2 after mediation. Defendant #3, a construction company, did not make a significant offer to settle, and therefore went to trial before Judge Patrick D. Heller from November 12th through November 21st. The suit alleged the defendant was negligent for failing to provide a trained traffic control coordinator and trained flaggers and failed to provide proper traffic control for the construction zone.
Jurors found Defendant #3, the Construction company 90% responsible, and that Defendant #1, which previously settled, was 10% responsible for the plaintiff’s injuries.
