$6.6 Million Car Accident Jury Verdict

JULY 15, 2016 (Salvi Law) – Elizabeth Olszewski of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., obtained a $6.6 million bench verdict on behalf of a mentally disabled man who was catastrophically injured in a 2011 hit and run crash.

On August 10, 2011, Cesar Hurtado, a mentally disabled man, was walking southbound on Thomas Dillon Drive in Ottawa at approximately 8:15 p.m when the driver of a 1999 Toyota Solara struck him from behind. Hurtado was thrown 82 feet after being struck. The driver of the vehicle never once hit his brakes either before or after impact. He continued driving, ultimately fleeing the scene of the crash without calling 911.

The impact of the crash nearly killed Hurtado and left him with catastrophic injuries, the most severe of which were to his right arm and left leg, including a left tibia comminuted fracture and fibular fracture, near complete severing of the right brachial artery, right radial and median nerve injuries, a right first rib and fourth rib fracture, and a pulmonary hemorrhage. He also sustained a C5 cervical fracture.

Authorities later identified the driver of the vehicle involved in the crash as Donald Wood, whose license had been revoked in 1986 due to a DUI conviction. Additionally, cell phone records support testimony by Plaintiff’s expert that Wood was distracted by text messaging at the time of the crash.

On July 15, 2016, a Will County Court awarded the guardian of Cesar Hurtado a $6.6 million verdict, after entering default against Donald Wood and his company, Don’s Automotive Repair for failing to appear.