$1,450,000 Recovered After Bus Accident for Brooklyn Art Teacher

COURT AND COUNTY

Supreme Court, Kings County

AGE AND OCCUPATION OF PLAINTIFFS

Plaintiff was a 44 year old art teacher at a Brooklyn public school at the time of the accident.

DESCRIPTION OF CASE

The case stemmed from a two-vehicle collision between a Dodge sedan driven by the Plaintiff and a bus driven and owned by the Defendants. Both vehicles were attempting to turn right from East New York Avenue onto Mother Gaston Boulevard in Brooklyn. Plaintiff claimed that she reached the intersection first, and the bus turned into her car after negligently failing to see her. Defendant claimed that her bus reached the intersection first, and that Plantiff improperly sped up and tried to pass the bus on its ride side, causing the contact.

DAMAGES

As a result of the accident, Plaintiff suffered tears to her left shoulder and left knee, as well as herniated discs in her neck and lower back. Plaintiff underwent four surgeries – arthroscopic surgeries to her shoulder and knee, followed by fusion surgeries to her cervical and lumbar spine. Plaintiff claimed damages for lost earnings, medical expenses, as well as her pain and suffering. Defendants claimed that the impact between the vehicles was too minor to have caused Plaintiff’s claimed injuries and that Plaintiff already had prior injuries and pre-existing damage to the same body parts that she claimed were hurt in this accident.

SETTLEMENT

This matter was settled prior to trial for $1,450,000.

The case was handled by firm Partners Stephen J. Murphy and David L. Scher