The Law Office of Richard M. Kenny successfully negotiated a $6.2 million settlement on behalf of a construction worker client. The case was filed after the young worker lost his leg in a highway construction accident. While on-site, the client was performing his assigned tasks when his leg was pinned between two massive concrete pylons.
Concrete pylons are the large pillar type structures used to support road bridges, buildings, and electrical poles. The accident was severe enough to result in the traumatic amputation of his leg on the site of the accident. Traumatic amputation, as opposed to surgical amputation, is the partial or total loss of a body part during a serious accident. In the case of this particular client, the pylons were heavy enough that the force of pinning him between the two caused the dismembering of his leg before medical and emergency personnel were able to respond to the situation.
While most construction accidents are dealt with through the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance, serious and fatal accidents allow for further civil action because of the severity of the damage. Limb amputation, especially traumatic amputation, is legally considered a catastrophic injury, warranting a much larger recovery than less severe injuries. In this particular case, the firm’s personal injury attorney was able to demonstrate the massive effect these injuries would have on the young client’s life in terms of physical, financial, and emotional impacts.
The $6.2 million settlement was reached on the eve of the court trial. Both parties had been negotiating on an agreement that would keep them out of court for many days. After much hard work, the firm was able to obtain a settlement from the insurance company that was proportionate to the young man’s injuries. The settlement took into account the immediate and future medical expenses accrued by injuries such as emergency medical treatment, surgical procedures, prescription medication, and physical therapy.
Furthermore, the loss of a limb significantly impacted the client’s ability to continue in his current line of work and for that matter, any line of work. Therefore, the injury attorneys added the loss of wages and the ability to live independently to the damages being claimed. Other factors were also considered such as the client’s loss of enjoyment, and pain and suffering from the experiences he had to endure. The outcome was satisfactory to both parties and the firm is happy to see its client provided with the compensation he deserves to recover and recuperate from his unfortunate injuries.
