CHICAGO (November 1, 2021) – – Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard attorneys Patrick A. Salvi, Aaron D. Boeder, Tara R. Devine, and Eirene N. Salvi obtained an $11,050,000, settlement for a Dolton, Illinois married couple after the husband lost his leg when he was struck by a vehicle while helping a woman whose car broke down.
On August 7, 2020, 64-year-old Walter Lennett was helping a woman push her stalled vehicle across the 14000 block of South Halsted Street in Riverdale, Illinois. Just after 8:15 p.m., David Collins, an employee of a not-for-profit organization, UCAN, fell asleep at the wheel and struck Mr. Lennett and the vehicle he was pushing. Mr. Lennett’s right leg was traumatically amputated by the impact, and he also suffered injuries to his shoulder, head and ankle. Following the collision, Mr. Collins fled the scene.
In October of 2020, a lawsuit was filed alleging Mr. Collins failed to control his vehicle, failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to use his horn to warn nearby pedestrians and motorists, and was driving at an unreasonable speed.
“This is a tragic case –a Good Samaritan was just trying to help a woman in need and ended up losing his leg because of the driver and defendant company’s negligence. Walter and his wife Devorie have endured long periods of time in the hospital, have suffered ongoing disability and pain, and he could no longer work his manual labor job because of the collision,” Plaintiffs’ attorney Patrick A. Salvi said.
On October 14, 2021, the parties agreed upon an $11,000,000 settlement (policy limits from the not-for-profit) to compensate Mr. and Mrs. Lennett for their injuries. Had the case gone to trial, the Plaintiffs were prepared to demonstrate that Mr. Collins misled the police investigators as to who was driving the vehicle.
The not-for-profit defendant was represented by attorney Michael T. Sprengnether of Doherty & Progar. The broke down vehicle’s insurer also offered its $50,000, policy limits.
Attorney Adam Shapiro from the Disparti Law Group, P.A., also represented the Plaintiffs.
For more information, please contact Marcie Mangan at (312) 372-1227 or mmangan@salvilaw.com.
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Case No.20 L 010802 [William Lennett and Devorie Lennett, Plaintiffs v. David Collins, Individually and as Agent of UCAN; UCAN, an Illinois Corporation; UCAN TITLE HOLDING COMPANY, an Illinois Corporation; and UCAN TITLE HOLDING COMPANY II, an Illinois Corporation; Defendants.]
