I was recently successful in securing a favorable verdict for an Allegheny County, PA motor vehicle accident victim. Alhaj v. C&K Industrial Services, Inc. and Keeder, No. GD08-001439 (Allegheny County, PA February 5, 2010).
This motor vehicle wreck occurred in Munhall Borough, Pennsylvania. As the plaintiff pulled his car into an intersection, he was struck on the passenger side by a truck coming up the intersecting street on his left. The plaintiff had a stop sign, but the truck driver did not. This presented a challenge in proving that the truck driver was responsible.
An accident reconstructionist, an engineer, testified for the plaintiff. He explained to the jury that based on his observations and measurements at the scene and the damage to the vehicles, he was able to recreate the path of the two vehicles. There was no dispute that the plaintiff had stopped before entering the intersection. According to the engineer, because of the unusual configuration of the intersection, the plaintiff’s view to his left was limited. The truck, on the other hand, was speeding as it approached the intersection. If the truck driver had been traveling the speed limit, he would have had an opportunity to stop before impact.
The plaintiff was taken by ambulance to the hospital. They found that he had a broken acetabulum (hip socket). He missed several months of work as a cook in two local restaurants. He had extensive follow up treatment for his injuries.
The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff for almost $65,000. The jury also determined that the defendant was 70% at fault while the plaintiff was 30% at fault.
The trial judge denied the defendants’ appeal.
