Dental hygienist tripped, fractured right wrist, foot — $190,000 settlement

Type of action: Personal injury

Injuries alleged: Injured right wrist and foot; closed intra-articular fracture of the distal end of the right radius and a closed non-displaced fracture of distal phalanx of her lesser toe on right foot

Name of case: Samerilli v. Iliff Nursing, Genesis Health Care et al.

Court: Fairfax Circuit Court

Case no.: 2020-13829

Date resolved: 2/10/2023

Special damages: Medical specials of $25,396.84; lost wages of $27,125.50

Demand: $400,000

Offer: $10,000

Verdict or settlement: Settlement

Amount: $190,000

Attorney for plaintiff: Dickson Young, Fairfax

Description of case: On Sept. 14, 2018, the plaintiff tripped on a black drainpipe that had been laid across her path while she was walking to the rear of the nursing facility, breaking her right wrist and a toe on her right foot. She was seen at Inova Fairfax hospital and later underwent an internal fixation of a distal radius fracture of her wrist. She participated in physical therapy and remained restricted in her work as a dental hygienist. She was discharged from treatment in January 2019 with a 20% permanent partial disability of the right arm. As a result of the injuries, she had a loss of wage claim and a diminution of earnings claim. The loss of wages caused a great deal of hardship for her and her family. She was unable to drive her manual transmission vehicle, unable to care for her mom, unable to run and participate in preventative health practices for herself and her family. She was required to wear a wrist support when at work or outside of her home for protection of her wrist.

Dickson Young, counsel for the plaintiff, provided case information.

[023-T-027]