A pile up accident can be incredibly dangerous. They are even worse when they involve the massive traffic of the city. It only makes it worse when the city itself shares some of the blame. This next case helps demonstrate just how difficult pursuing these cases can be.
The Facts of the Pile Up Accident
The City of New York hired a contractor to repair a seam in the roadway of the northbound lanes of traffic on the West Side Highway. The City and the contractor developed a plan. They decided as to how to do the work and what safety measures to take for closing lanes of traffic. At the time of the pile up accident, the closed the left and center lanes of the northbound side of the West Side Highway. This left only the right lane available for passing traffic.
While performing work, a two-car accident occurred approximately 200 feet south of the taper where the lanes of traffic merged. They did not make any changes following the accident. Work resumed on the roadway. Approximately two hours later, five cars crashed and caused a the incident in the area of the earlier accident. A vehicle in the left lane rear-ended a taxi which merged from the left to center lane. The front vehicle, in turn, struck the car in front of him in the center lane. Following the collisions, the motorists exited their respective vehicles and stood in the roadway. A fourth vehicle coming over a blind hill in the road tried to stop but rear-ended the stopped vehicles. The driver of the fourth vehicle exited his vehicle to exchange insurance information. A fifth vehicle rear-ended his vehicle after he exited. The driver of the fourth vehicle sued the City, its contractor, and the driver of the fifth vehicle for negligence.
The Injuries
The plaintiff (driver of the fourth vehicle suffered severe injuries to his legs, knees, pelvis, shoulder, and ribs, including fractures of the tibia, fibula, and numerous tears of the ligaments supporting both knees, requiring that he spent three weeks in a hospital.
His doctors told the plaintiff he needed to undergo five surgeries to stabilize his knees. Following the first surgery, they transferred him to a nursing home for rehabilitation.
Following the removal of his casts, his legs swelled and severely declined in usage. They fitted him with braces retaught him how to walk. Plaintiff underwent further surgery on his left knee and on his right knee. Two years later, he underwent further surgery on the left knee. Following each surgery, he was required to resume the use of braces and to re-start physical therapy. Plaintiff continues to require anti-inflammatories and pain medication. Over the course of his life, he will require four total knee replacement surgeries, two on each leg. Plaintiff, who was 41 at the time of the accident, will suffer pain in his knees for the rest of his life due to the extent of his injuries.
The Trial of the Pile Up Accident
At trial, plaintiffs’ expert testified that the accident happened because the closed lane was unsafe and deviated from standard practices. Using the City and contractor’s safety plan, he said the standards for a two-lane closure on a three-lane highway is multiple and specific signs of the impending lane closures prior to the narrowing of the roadway, including “roadwork one mile,” “left two lanes closed one half mile,” “left two lanes closed 1500 feet,” and an arrow board directing drivers to merge; as well as lighted barrels marking the lane closures.
Plaintiffs’ expert further testified that because defendants did not comply with these standards, drivers were forced to suddenly, and without warning, merge to the right lane. Following a six-week trial, the jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiffs and against the City and the contractor, finding the City to be 65% responsible and the contractor to be 35% responsible for plaintiff’s injuries. The jury awarded the injured driver $2.2 million for past pain and suffering and $3.8 million for future pain and suffering. Plaintiff’s wife was awarded $700,000 for past loss of services and $425,000 for future loss of services and consortium.
The Appeal
The defendants appealed. The appellate court held that the verdict was not against the weight of evidence. Both the City and the contractor owed the plaintiff a duty of care. The City has a duty to keep its roadways in a reasonably safe condition. There was evidence that the contractor’s narrowing of the roadway, without properly warning, created a dangerous condition. The appellate court also held that the awards for past and future pain and suffering were not unreasonable. Finally, the appellate court found that the award for past and future loss of services and society to plaintiff’s wife was reasonable, as she essentially became solely responsible for managing the household, caring for their children, and tending to the plaintiff’s basic needs following his accident. The appellate court, however, did find that the apportionment of fault to the City for the pile up accident was against the weight of evidence. It directed the case to be remanded for a new trial only on the apportionment of fault between the City and the contractor. If you or someone you know find yourself in a similar situation, please contact our law firm for further assistance.
