Truck Accident in West Palm Beach, Florida Causes Traumatic Brain Injury
According to the National Center on Caregiving, a traumatic brain injury is an insult to the brain caused by an impact, internal damage or loss of oxygen, and although not always visible, may cause enduring physical, emotional, intellectual and social changes for the survivor.
This organization also reports that there are about two million head injuries of all types each year in the U.S., with 300,000 individuals suffering brain injuries severe enough to require hospitalization, and 99,000 resulting in a lasting disability. A total of 56,000 people die each year as a result of traumatic brain injury.
The victim in this case was an 18 year old woman who had just left her mother’s home and the police report indicates that she was making U-turn when the accident occurred. Not only was the victim injured to the point that she was unable to communicate or remember this incident from her substantial head injuries, but the passenger in her vehicle died at the scene of the accident. An eyewitness indicated that the other driver operating a truck, was in the far right lane and believed to be turning right. However, he changed lanes as she commenced her turn resulting in the collision between the two vehicles.
The defendant driver in this Florida truck accident case was in the course and scope of his employment and the permissive user of a motor vehicle owned by his employer at the time of this accident. He stated that he did not see the victim’s vehicle prior to the impact, and denied changing lanes before the accident.
Sadly, even though the victim in this case was not killed in the accident as the passenger was, her life has been altered to the point that she no longer is able to care for herself and must remain in a facility where she can be supervised and cared for at all times. As a result of this accident, this lady suffers from: dementia, personality disorder, psychosis/delusional disorder, depression, joint and muscle contracture, neurogenic incontinence of bowel and bladder, and she is wheelchair bound and therefore faces increased risk of cardiopulmonary system compromise, just to name a few.
Unfortunately, this victim will never again be able to take care of herself, have a family of her own, or even live by herself in a home of her own. Her family contacted Attorney Steven W. Halvorson for assistance in this matter. Mr. Halvorson was successful in obtaining a gross damage award of nearly $20,000,000.00 for this victim so that she will be able to live in a facility that will care for her and she will get the medical treatment she needs in the years to come.
