A lawsuit filed on behalf of a 37-year-old woman who was struck by a truck in Brooklyn recently settled for $22 million, the largest in state history. The woman, Shirley Miller, suffered a traumatic brain injury in the accident and is now blind and largely unable to speak. Truck accident attorneys at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm report on this case and the circumstances surrounding it.
The accident occurred in Brooklyn, New York City, in 2008. Shirley Miller, a healthy veterinarian, was crossing the street at Ninth and 48th, in the crosswalk, when a truck driving for Duane Reade struck her head-on. It was her 32nd birthday.
Miller suffered devastating head injuries that left her immobile, blind, and mentally handicapped. Her family filed a traumatic brain injury lawsuit, naming the truck driver and Duane Reade, seeking $100 million for the medical care she will need for the rest of her life.
During trial, Duane Reade, a pharmaceutical company, attempted to argue that Miller slipped on a patch of ice and fell under the truck’s rear wheel. Miller’s lawyers were able to prove that scenario was impossible through eyewitnesses and medical expert testimony.
Also revealed during trial were the truck’s drivers’ negligent, even malicious actions immediately after the accident. Instead of calling 911, the driver first called his union and bosses at Duane Reade.
This was the second trial concerning this particular accident; the first ended in 2012 because jurors had to be excused. The judge was also asked to excuse himself from the case after he was overheard saying negative comments about Duane Reade’s defense attorney. The judge went so far as to hang “Wanted” posters with the attorney’s head on it and a bulls-eye.
The second, final trial began in November 2013. Duane Reade ultimately agreed to settle for $22 million. The details of the settlement remain confidential, however, as stated, it remains the single largest dollar amount awarded to a single plaintiff in New York history.
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Trucking accidents, more than most other types of vehicle crashes, often result in devastating, life-changing injuries. These types of accidents often involve hit-and-runs, intoxicated drivers, rollovers, overloaded or unsafe trucking equipment, or distracted or sleep-deprived drivers.
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These types of lawsuits are also very complex due to a range of factors, including federal versus state and local regulations and the influence of trucking companies. If you or someone you love was seriously injured in a trucking accident, contact an experienced truck crash lawyer as soon as possible.
It is critically important to find a law firm with the experience and knowledge to handle such a complex case. Our team of truck accident lawyers have decades of experience litigating these types of cases, and we have won millions on behalf of our injured clients. If you have any questions regarding truck accident injuries and consequent legal action, contact our firm today for a free consultation.
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