"$4M Settlement For Catastrophic Injuries From Motorcycle Crash
By: Renee Sexton
A man who suffered catastrophic injuries when he was hit by a car while riding his motorcycle in Lancaster County was awarded a $4 million pre-suit confidential settlement as a result of the victim’s attorney negotiations. Mark S. Jetton, Jr. of Jetton & Meredith, PLLC in Charlotte reports that his client, a 29-year-old man, was riding his motorcycle at about 50 mph in May 2017 when a car’s driver failed to yield the right-of-way and accelerated through a stop sign. The client was t-boned by the car’s driver and was ejected from his motorcycle, thrown to the pavement, and had to be airlifted to a trauma center.
Among his many injuries requiring surgery, the client suffered a broken and a dislocated hip, broken collarbone, broken ribs, broken vertebrae, internal injuries, and an elbow injury. He was hospitalized in intensive care for 8 days and since being discharged has required continuous therapy, medication, and care.
Because of his injuries, the client was not able to return to his physically demanding job, or to his previously active lifestyle. The value of the story of this case was much more powerful than just injuries, medical expenses, and lost wages. Through vivid illustrations, Mr. Jetton was able to show the life of a 29-year-old newlywed who was enjoying snowboarding, rebuilding and riding Harley Davidsons, and mountain biking compared to someone who now has permanent hardware in his back and lives a life of physical limitations
Among the expert witnesses, Penny Cates, a life care planner in Archdale, North Carolina evaluated the amount of medical treatment and care the plaintiff would require for the rest of his life as a result of his injuries and its projected cost. Economist J.C. Poindexter conducted a lost wage evaluation to determine a fair reimbursement for a man who would lose an estimated 35 years of income.
Richard Hinson of Florence mediated the settlement, which the parties agreed to on May 31. Many details about the case, including the identities of the parties and of the defense’s counsel, were withheld pursuant to a confidentiality agreement."
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