Lawsuit After Traumatic Accident Results in Huge Award

Lakewood, Colorado Personal Injury Lawyer Serving Denver, Boulder, and Nearby Areas

Posted: March 30, 2018

A car crash that occurred in December 2008 has resulted in a huge judgment for the husband of the woman who died in the accident. A wrongful death suit was filed by the husband against a state’s department of transportation in February 2010. Recently, a judge awarded the man nearly $4 million for the death of his wife, his son’s injuries and his own emotional trauma.

On December 26, 2008, the parents were traveling between his family’s holiday celebrations and their home when the accident happened. The family took two cars. The mother and son were in one vehicle, while the father and daughter were in another. The son was 5 years old and the daughter was 11 at the time. The father and daughter arrived home but when the mother and son didn’t, the father and daughter went to look for them. They soon found the accident scene.

According to reports, a tree on side of the road fell and hit the mother’s vehicle, causing it to veer off the roadway. It struck several trees and a fence. The wife died at the scene of the crash and the 5-year-old son suffered serious injuries. Records show he was in the hospital for nearly two weeks after the accident with brain swelling, a skull fracture and a traumatic brain injury. The lawsuit claimed the Department of Transportation was responsible for keeping the road safe and the agency knew of other instances involving trees falling onto the same road.

In April 2012, the father lost his job due to a psychological evaluation that deemed him unfit for his job. The evaluation diagnosed him with post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder. In addition to this, his son was found to have some developmental issues that may have been caused by the crash.

Individuals from Jefferson, Colorado, that have been involved in a life-changing crash should speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. You can learn more about your rights and how best to proceed with civil case for damages.

Source: zanesvilletimesrecorder.com, “Family could get almost $4M in wrongful death suit” Hannah Sparling, May. 24, 2013