Woman, 82, hurt when truck turned left in front of vehicle — $450,000 settlement

Type of action: Personal injury

Injuries alleged: Cervical C-2 fracture, wrist fracture, mild concussion, severe abdominal and chest bruising

Court: Chesapeake Circuit Court

Tried before: Mediation

Date resolved: 12/15/2020

Special damages: $96,000 in medical bills, no surgeries or future medicals and no lost income

Verdict or settlement: Settlement

Amount: $450,000

Attorney(s) for plaintiff (and city): Adam H. Lotkin, Norfolk

Plaintiff’s experts: treating hospitalist

Description of Case: Plaintiff, a 82-year-old mother, grandmother and caretaker for her husband was driving her son to the DMV for his license renewal one sunny afternoon when the collision occurred. They were driving on a large local highway when the defendant commercial truck abruptly turned left in front of their vehicle. Plaintiff suffered orthopedic injuries including a non-surgical neck fracture, a severely broken wrist and other soft tissue injuries as well as a short term mild concussion from the incident. Plaintiff’s vehicle was pushed off the highway surface into a ditch. The plaintiff was unable to crochet or hold any large items for months following the collision and was in a neck collar for an extended period of time as her cervical fracture healed. The case was continued due to COVID-19 last summer (2020) but upon motion of counsel for the plaintiff, the court granted an expedited trial setting for January 2021. The case settled days before the COVID orders reissued continuing all trials to mid-late 2021.

[021-T-06]