$1.1 Million Settlement From a New Jersey Turnpike Truck Accident

John E. Molinari represented a 58-year-old truck driver who was involved in a significant crash on the New Jersey Turnpike with two other trucks.  The truck driver who caused the collision was killed in the crash.  The drivers of the two other trucks were injured and both filed lawsuits against the deceased driver and his trucking company employer.  Mr. Molinari’s client was in the course of his employment and therefore his medical bills and his time lost from work were paid through his worker’s compensation carrier who then asserted a lien on any recovery against the negligent truck driver and his employer. Plaintiff suffered multiple disc herniations in his neck, for which he underwent conservative treatment that failed and ultimately underwent a two-level anterior cervical fusion approximately fourteen months post-collision.  Plaintiff was also diagnosed as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and was eventually declared to be unable to operate a tractor-trailer.

Through payments made by the worker’s compensation carrier and with benefits paid by the government through being declared permanently disabled, the plaintiff’s future wage loss was minimal.  The settlement amount included $84,000.00 that had to be repaid to the worker’s compensation carrier for the payment of all medical bills incurred by the plaintiff.  Plaintiff and defendant agreed to proceed to Mediation at which time the case settled for a total settlement amount of $1,100,000.00.