Overview
A teenage passenger suffered a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down after the vehicle he was travelling in was struck by a drunk driver. A lawsuit was brought against both the driver and his employer, and the case settled shortly before trial for more than $4 million.
Key Takeaways
- Settlement: More than $4 million
- Accident type: Motor vehicle accident involving a drunk driver
- Primary injury: Spinal cord injury
- Additional injuries: Paralysis from the waist down
- Resolution method: Settlement shortly before trial
- Notable legal issues: The driver’s employer knew workers were drinking alcohol at the job site after work
- Medical treatment: Not specified
- Long-term impact: Paralysis from the waist down
The Case
Our client was a teenager and a passenger in a vehicle when it was struck by a drunk driver. The collision caused a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down.
The impaired driver had been working at a construction job site, where he and his co-workers drank beer in the employer’s work trailer at the end of the workday. During the investigation, it was learned that the employer knew workers were drinking at the job site after work.
A lawsuit was brought against the drunk driver for causing the crash and against the employer for allowing the worker to become intoxicated and leave the job site while his ability to drive was impaired by alcohol. The case settled shortly before trial for more than $4 million, with the employer’s insurer paying the majority of the settlement.
Why It Matters
This case is significant because the legal proceedings extended beyond the impaired driver who caused the collision. The investigation identified the employer’s knowledge of drinking at the job site, resulting in a claim against the employer as well.
The settlement provided more than $4 million following a collision that left the teenage client with a permanent spinal cord injury and paralysis from the waist down.