A recent case in Philadelphia resulted in the largest personal injury settlement on record in a Philadelphia County personal injury case, after a man suffered atraumatic spinal cord injury during a truck accident that left him paralyzed.

The aforementioned case was brought by plaintiff, 32-year-old Centre County resident David Williams, who was previously employed as a landscape technician with TruGreen, a former subsidiary of ServiceMaster. Williams was driving a company truck in November of 2011 when the truck rolled over. He sustained a fractured spinal cord that left him a quadriplegic as a result of the truck accident.

Upon investigation, the plaintiff’s legal team identified a bald tire as the primary cause of the accident. It was subsequently revealed that the truck had failed a company inspection and was left unrepaired, exposing Williams to undue harm. Williams and his wife Jaimi brought a personal injury lawsuit against ServiceMaster, TruGreen, and Dickinson Fleet Services, LLC., among other defendants, for their negligence in contributing to the catastrophic truck accident.

On Monday, June 6th, the parties reached a $26.55 million settlement, the largest settlement on record in Philadelphia County history. With estimated lifetime medical expenses in the millions and three children, the compensation provided to Williams and his family will serve as much-needed financial support.

It is important to note that this settlement fell within the purview of personal injury litigation, as opposed to workers’ compensation. Although these legal measures may overlap, the fundamental differences are significant. In New Jersey, workers’ compensation cases provide compensation for workers who suffer temporary or permanent disability on the job. In these cases, the workers’ pain and suffering is not generally considered in the monetary award. Also, the compensation is provided regardless of fault, meaning that it is irrelevant whether or not the employer was negligent in causing the workers’ injuries.

A workers’ compensation case may extend to personal injury litigation when the employer’s negligence contributes to the workers’ injuries. In this case, failing to adequately repair the truck that Williams was driving demonstrated negligence on the part of the defendants. As a result, Williams had to prove the negligence of the defendants in order to recover damages, which can include monetary compensation for pain and suffering.

In order to ensure that your interests are thoroughly protected and advocated for as an injured victim, it is highly advisable to enlist an attorney who is well-versed in workers’ compensation and personal injury law. At Smith & Doran, our New Jersey civil litigation attorneys have vast experience with workers’ compensation and personal injury matters. We address all facets of your case and pursue all available legal options. For a cost-free consultation, contact our Morris County offices today at 973-261-6254.

For additional information pertaining to this matter, access the following article: Personal injury settlement is largest in Philadelphia history