Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard recently obtained a $15,750,000 settlement on behalf of a Florida man who lost his left leg in a forklift collision.
On September 12, 2019, 61-year-old Plaintiff was working at a Southwest Florida condo building as the maintenance supervisor and assisting with the delivery of bagged concrete. Defendant was using a forklift to execute the delivery. Plaintiff was walking in front and to the right of the forklift, waving Defendant along and showing him where to put the concrete along the side of the building. Plaintiff wanted Defendant forklift driver to place the bagged concrete in an empty parking space next to a steel shed containing various construction materials. When Plaintiff stopped in front of an empty parking space directly next to a shed, the front right tire of the forklift pinned the Plaintiffs left leg to the shed.
As a result of the collision, Plaintiff immediately sustained a traumatic crushing injury of his left leg through the knee. He was taken to a local hospital where he underwent multiple surgeries on his left leg. Unfortunately, his injury ultimately resulted in an above the knee amputation.
“The risks inherent to forklift operation require that any operator be properly trained and OSHA certified and use that training to ensure the safety of people nearby. Sadly, our firm has represented too many victims who have suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of companies not properly training its employees and creating a culture of safety,” Patrick A. Salvi II, lead Plaintiffs attorney said.
As a result of his injury and amputation, Plaintiff suffers from significant and permanent disability and pain, difficulty with prolonged standing and walking, and difficulty with mobility of any kind.
“Before this injury, our client was a healthy and independent individual. That has all changed. We hope this settlement will take care of him for the rest of his life,” attorney Lance D. Northcutt said.
After mediation, the parties agreed to settle the case for $15,750,000, to be paid by confidential insurers for the Defendants.
The Plaintiff was also represented by attorneys Aaron D. Boeder and Michael J. Schostok.
For more information, please contact Marcie Mangan at (312) 372-1227 or mmangan@salvilaw.com.
