Overview
A 20-year-old man lost his right leg below the knee after a dangerously worn snowmobile track broke apart and struck his tibia and fibula. A lawsuit was brought against the seller and owner of the snowmobile, and the case settled before trial for more than $1.2 million.
Key Takeaways
- Settlement: More than $1,200,000
- Accident type: Snowmobile accident
- Primary injury: Grade IV open fracture of the right tibia and fibula
- Additional injuries: Below-the-knee amputation of the right leg
- Resolution method: Settlement prior to trial
- Notable legal issues: Claims were brought against the seller and owner of the snowmobile
- Medical treatment: Right leg amputated below the knee
- Long-term impact: The client had to learn to walk again and live with a prosthetic leg
The Case
Our client was a 20-year-old man who was severely injured when a dangerously worn track on a snowmobile shredded into pieces. The debris struck his right tibia and fibula, causing a Grade IV open fracture. The injury was so severe that his right leg was amputated below the knee.
The snowmobile was a used 1996 Polaris that had been sold to a young family. At the time of the incident, the owner had asked our client to hold up the back of the snowmobile while attempting to make repairs. When the owner revved the engine, the track broke apart and struck the client.
A lawsuit was brought against the seller of the dangerously worn snowmobile and its owner. The case settled prior to trial for more than $1,200,000. Following the injury, the client had to learn to walk again and adjust to living with a prosthetic leg.
Why It Matters
This case involved a devastating injury caused by a dangerously worn snowmobile track and claims against both the seller and the owner of the vehicle.
The settlement provided compensation following an injury that resulted in the loss of the client’s lower right leg and required him to relearn how to walk with a prosthetic leg.