Woman hit in parking lot while walking to car with boyfriend — $2.25 million settlement

Injuries alleged: Right sacral ala fracture, right superior rami fracture, right inferior pubic rami fracture, degloving left knee injury, left proximal fibula fracture, left posterior malleolus fracture and left distal fibula fracture

Special damages: $781,926.05 in medicals, lost wages of $66,490.38

Date resolved: March 28, 2025

Attorneys for plaintiff: Stephanie E. Grana and Elliott M. Buckner, Richmond, Cantor Grana Buckner Bucci

Description of case: While visiting Richmond from New York City, the plaintiff and her boyfriend went to a restaurant at Short Pump Town Center on Jan. 16, 2024. While walking together to her parked vehicle, they were struck from behind by the defendant’s Ford F-150.  The defendant claimed they failed to see couple.

The plaintiff was taken by ambulance to the hospital and remained there for eight days before being transported to a hospital in New York closer to home.

Her injuries included a right sacral ala fracture, right superior rami fracture, right inferior pubic rami fracture, degloving left knee injury, left proximal fibula fracture, left posterior malleolus fracture, left distal fibula fracture, along with many cuts and bruises. Following the original injuries, the plaintiff’s left knee wound became infected requiring two irrigation and debridement surgeries, infectious disease and plastic surgery follow up and a third surgery for a pedicled flap and skin graft.

The plaintiff was hospitalized for an additional 66 days until she was released to home health care. Physical therapy continued through late July as the plaintiff had to progress from a wheelchair to a rolling walker, to a cane, before returning to independent ambulation and full weight-bearing. In mid-August, the plaintiff underwent a fourth leg surgery to further correct the soft tissue abnormality at the flap and donor sites. Despite corrective measures, a highly visible knee to ankle scar remains and is permanent.

The plaintiff was finally able to return to her job as the director of respiratory therapy for a hospital in New York but was unable to return to her “on call” employment and her second job as a part-time staff respiratory therapist. The plaintiff suffers from lingering pain and fatigue at the end of each day. The plaintiff’s retained experts opined that the plaintiff had reached MMI but will suffer from early-onset arthritis due to her injuries.

The plaintiff’s experts included: PM&R, orthopedics, plastic surgery, and her work supervisor. The plaintiff’s settlement package included a damages video created by DJB Settlement Storytellers as well as medical illustrations and an animation created by Amicus Visual Solutions. The case settled once State Farm tendered all limits.

The plaintiff’s boyfriend’s case was settled in October 2024.

Stephanie E. Grana, counsel for the plaintiff, provided case information.

[025-T-098]