Boy Suffers Brain Injury After Jumping From A Moving Pickup Truck
The following is a description of the accident and the injuries of a former Davis Law Group client. *Initials are used to protect the identities of the parties involved.
Davis Law Group Client Accident Report
He suffered massive brain injuries that left him with spastic quadriplegia. He is unable to walk or talk and must be fed through a gastric tube. His cognitive function has also been affected, although he has some level of cognitive ability and is able to show emotion. His past medical bills totaled $2.9 million.
They boy's mother sued the driver, alleging he was negligent in permitting the boys to ride in the back of his truck and in ordering them to jump out.
The defendant argued that the boys had climbed onto the back of the truck without his knowledge and denied having given them permission to ride or ordering them to jump out.
The plaintiff offered evidence that the present value of the boy’s future life-care costs was $11.9 million, while the defense contended that the present value of such costs was $4 million.
The jury awarded $32.2 million, finding the driver 80 percent liable and the boy 20 percent responsible. After apportionment of fault, the verdict totaled about $25.7 million.
The parties subsequently settled for a confidential amount.