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Milwaukee Car Accident Verdict Upheld

By Frank Pasternak, Esq.

A $16.8 million jury verdict to a Milwaukee man who was badly injured in a car crash was upheld on Friday by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

I know this may become fodder for those that stand against civil justice (because at the time, the man was 79-years-old, now 84, and the woman causing the crash was volunteering for a Milwaukee Archdiocese Church), but there are several items to keep in mind:

1) The defendant ran a red light;
2) The defendant was fully insured up to $40 million;
3) The victim's injuries included:
~ Amputation of one leg;
~ Quadriplegia, paralysis from the neck down;
~ Loss of bladder control;
~ Loss of bowel function;
~ Inability to feed himself;
~ Required 24-hour care;
~ Losing his part-time job as a barber; and
~ $558,366.06 in medical expenses incurred between the time of the crash and trial.
4) The victim was on Medicaid Title 19 and thus, his care was being paid for by taxpayers. As a result of the jury verdict, Medicaid Title 19 will be paid back for all the medical expenses it paid.
5) This insurance company could have SETTLED for $3 million back in 2004 and made a specific choice not to.

So, doesn't this now make sense? Who should be held responsible for this crash the driver's insurer or taxpayers? Don't you think the car insurance company should have settled for $3 million?

Think about the above and this man's horrific injuries before you buy into those that cry fowl regarding this Milwaukee jury verdict.

For $16.8 million, WOULD YOU GIVE UP A LEG AND ALL BODILY FUNCTIONS FROM THE NECK DOWN?

Wisconsin Personal Injury Attorney

Full post as published by Wisconsin Personal Injury Lawyers Blog on October 14, 2007 (boomark / email).