Auto Accident in Lake Worth, Florida Results in Serious Physical and Psychological Injuries
Any time you are traveling on a multi-lane highway like I-95, you are more susceptible to dangerous accidents from careless drivers weaving in and out of traffic. Such was the case with this victim, even though she did nothing wrong.
The victim in this Florida automobile accident was 39 years old at the time of this accident and was driving southbound on I-95 with her husband in the front passenger’s seat of the vehicle. She was in the second lane from the right when a vehicle approached very fast and attempted to pass her on the right, but when he moved over into her lane, his left rear struck the right corner of the victim’s vehicle, causing her to veer out of control across the southbound lanes and traffic and strike the median separating the north and southbound lanes of I-95 with tremendous force. Luckily, she did not strike any other vehicles.
Witnesses to this accident stated that the other driver had been driving erratically, cutting in and out of traffic and speeding just prior to the impact. One witness stated that as he came up to the car to offer assistance, he noted that the driver’s right leg bone was broken and was sticking out through her skin.
The victim was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center complaining of right arm pain and right leg pain. X-rays were taken which showed a right arm ulnar fracture and right leg fractures. She was immediately taken to surgery where procedures were performed on both her right leg and right arm. The arm surgery required a plate and screws to secure the repairs. Similarly, the right leg necessitated the use of a clamp, guidewires and screws to stabilize the fractures. She complained of tremendous pain and in approximately six months time, another surgery was performed on her right leg, since the x-rays revealed a non-union of the fibula and displacement of the fracture.
This victim continues to have headaches and perhaps more serious that the physical injuries were her psychological problems. Shortly after the accident, the victim stated “It all took a few seconds. I was terrified for my life.” She stated she looked down and saw a bone sticking out of her right ankle and she felt extremely helpless. “I feared I’d lose my foot. I started screaming, and then I fainted.”
Very soon after the accident, the victim reported that she developed emotional problems. She felt nervous and afraid. She lay awake in bed thinking about the accident. She had nightmares from which she awoke screaming. She wouldn’t watch shows on TV that involved accidents, blood, disasters, or violence. She tried not to ride in cars unless she had to. She lost nearly all interest in things she previously enjoyed, such as shopping, going to the beach and watching her husband play golf. She avoided socializing and stated “I’m completely alienated from the world. I can’t feel happy. I can’t even feel as much love for my husband as I used to.” She didn’t give the future any importance.
After the accident, the victim even began having paranoid thoughts of conspiracies and that someone was watching her, and out of this fear, she would often spend hours or days locked in her house, afraid to go out alone. She has been psychiatrically hospitalized on several occasions lasting a few days each, all since the accident.
This lady met with Attorney Jason D. Weisser for assistance with her case. Mr. Weisser investigated the case thoroughly, retained experts to review the matter, and then brought suit against the driver and owner of the vehicle that struck this victim. Fortunately for the victim, Mr. Weisser was successful at settling this case as the jury was being brought into the courtroom for over 15 times the policy limits of the at fault driver, without the necessity of her having to relive the events of this horrific accident during a long and tedious trial.
