$950,000 Settlement for Calif. Man Injured When Truck Hits His SUV

A 30-year-old California man has received a $950,000 settlement from the City of San Diego, Calif., after a city water department driver drove his truck into the victim’s SUV in June 2012.

The settlement award to James Heath was approved by San Diego City Council members on Oct. 7, five months after the victim was awarded a $1.3 million jury verdict in the case, according to a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune. The city then appealed the verdict and decided to seek a new trial, but recently reversed course and chose to settle the case, the story reported.

Heath suffered long-term neck and arm injuries in the crash, which occurred when a city truck driven by water department employee John Romero crashed into Heath’s SUV on Jackson Drive near Mission Gorge Road in San Carlos, the paper reported. The original jury had awarded Heath $1.3 million for pain, suffering and previous and future medical expenses.

Romero’s city water truck had drifted from one lane of the roadway and into Heath’s lane, according to the victim.

Under the settlement, the city will pay Heath $97,000 immediately and then fund an annuity that will give him about $1,300 a month through late 2025, according to the story. The victim will also receive $20,000 per year from 2027 through 2030. The payout also includes $153,000 in attorney’s fees and payments to several doctors who have examined and treated Heath, the story reported.

Heath’s long-term injuries forced him to leave his work with the Navy, the report stated.

These kinds of injury cases occur every day when innocent victims are hurt or killed in vehicle crashes through no fault of their own due to the actions, inattentiveness or indifference of others. That’s why it is critical to have a legal team on your side that uncovers every fact to bolster your case and maximize your damage award.

We here at MyPhillyLawyer stand ready to assist you with your legal case if you or a loved one is ever seriously injured in a vehicle incident or accident anywhere in the United States. We represent the families of victims who die in such tragedies as well, to ensure that their families receive every penny of damages that they are eligible to receive.

Call MyPhillyLawyer at 215-227-2727 or toll-free at 1-(866) 352-4572 anytime and our experienced, compassionate, aggressive team of attorneys and support staff will be there for you and your family every step of the way as we manage your case through the legal system.