Plaintiff With One Eye Doesn’t See Police Car on Wrong Side of Road

Verdict: $774,988

Date: December 2010

County: Cook

PLTF Medical: Dr. Augustyn Stec (Neurologist) and Adam Stricker, P.T. (Physical Therapist)

Summary: Plaintiff was exiting the parking lot of the Chicago Police Department 16th District Jefferson Park Police Station, were he was employed as a janitor, and was struck by a police officer’s vehicle driving on the wrong side of the road. Defendant police officer did not have her lights or the siren activated on the squad car. Plaintiff was diagnosed with bulging discs at L4-5 and L5-S1, mild radiculopathy at S-1, and aggravation of pre-existing asymptomatic degenerative spondylolisthesis at L5-S1. Plaintiff eventually underwent L5-S1 fusion and disc decompression surgery leaving him with a 15 pd. maximum lifting restriction. He was unable to return to his job as a janitor. Defendant police officer claimed to have been driving on the median and that she made a proper left turn. Defense contended that the Plaintiff speed out of the parking garage. Defense also argued that because the Plaintiff had a glass eye he failed to see the defendant’s vehicle and caused the crash.

Category: Car Accidents, Low Back Injuries