Half A Million Dollar Settlement After Motorcycle Accident
The future of a man severely injured in an accident in August last year was secured when the insurance company agreed to a proposed settlement. The 49-year-old man has been hospitalized since the motorcycle accident, and a guardian had to be appointed to represent his interests, as his only family is his 20-year-old son. In New Jersey, an incapacitated victim of a motorcycle accident, who has no one to act on his or her behalf, may have his or her interests protected by a court-appointed guardian.
The accident happened just before 7:00 p.m. in Aug. 2014. The 49-year-old man was waiting to turn at a traffic light when he was hit from behind by a car. The victim suffered severe brain injuries and has had three brain operations since the accident. Although the victim came out of a coma after the second procedure, he slipped back into a coma after a third brain operation. He is paralyzed on his left side with little hope of improvement.
The 73-year-old driver of the car received a summons for careless driving but was not charged. His insurer agreed to a settlement for an amount just under the $500,000 limit of his policy. The money will be placed in a special needs trust to ensure that the victim receives the care he needs for the rest of his life.
A New Jersey victim of a motorcycle accident, who has suffered severe injuries — or his or her family — may choose to file a personal injury claim against a negligent driver. In cases where incapacitated victims have no family to represent their interest, a guardian will be appointed by the court. Should negligence be the root cause of the accident, the court may award financial damages that can be used to provide care for the victim.
Source: dailyrecord.com, “Injured Randolph motorcyclist gets $500,000 settlement after crash“, Peggy Wright, Feb. 13, 2015
