CHICAGO (December 9, 2021) – A Cook County jury has awarded more than $21 million to a 33-year-old single mother who suffered a thoracic spine injury requiring T1-6 fusion in a 2017 Maywood, Illinois crash.
On March 24, 2017, Defendant Driver Ericka Taylor was driving a Ford utility vehicle southbound in an alleyway between 9th and 10th Avenues and near the intersection of Oak Street in the City of Maywood, Illinois. At the same time, Plaintiff Kayla Neese was a passenger in a vehicle traveling westbound on Oak Street near 9th and 10th Avenues. According to a complaint filed in Cook County Circuit Court, Ms. Taylor failed to stop at the intersection and yield to the right of way while emerging from the alleyway and struck the vehicle carrying Ms. Neese. Damage to the vehicle required emergency personnel who responded to the scene to cut Ms. Neese out of the car.
As a result of the crash, Ms. Neese suffered fractures of her thoracic spine at the 3rd and 4th vertebrae and developed a spinal cord injury that the required a six-level spinal fusion surgery. Ms. Neese’s doctors say she will live the rest of her life with thoracic back pain and is unable to lift, pull or push anything weighing more than 40 pounds. Thankfully, Kayla can walk and has no residual weakness in her legs.
“Kayla lost a lot of the independence she worked so hard to achieve because of this crash. Before the crash, Kayla was working two jobs and was solely responsible for her young daughter. Unfortunately, despite her efforts to live a normal life, especially for her young daughter, she suffers whenever she is active,” Plaintiff’s attorney Patrick A. Salvi II said.
Prior to trial, the court found the defendant negligent in causing the collision and a damages-only trial began on Tuesday, November 30, 2021 in Cook County Circuit Court. During trial, Defense experts disputed the extent of Kayla’s injury and her future medical needs.
On December 9, 2021, a Cook County jury awarded $21,059,014 to Ms. Neese to compensate her for her injuries.
“Kayla will unfortunately need substantial medical and psychiatric care for the rest of her life. Her ability to work has been dramatically impacted by her injuries. In short, this crash shattered life as she knew it,” Plaintiff’s attorney Aaron D. Boeder said.
“We waited more than a year to try this case due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are incredibly thankful to the jury for recognizing Kayla’s injuries. This verdict will help Kayla and her daughter begin the healing process and provide for her future medical needs,” Plaintiff’s attorney Brian L. Salvi said.
The Plaintiff was also represented by Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard attorney Rob L. Kohen.
Please contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard’s Director of Public Relations, Marcie Mangan, at (312) 372-1227 or mmangan@salvilaw.com for more information.
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Case No: 18 L 6732 [Neese v. Taylor]
