A civil trial jury in Maryland recently exonerated a woman whose actions allegedly led to the spinal injury of a man following a hit-and-run accident. During the three-day trial, the plaintiff, Joshua Gomes of La Plata, testified that he was already lying in the road after being struck by an unrelated hit-and-run driver, when
A civil trial jury in Maryland recently exonerated a woman whose actions allegedly led to the spinal injury of a man following a hit-and-run accident.
During the three-day trial, the plaintiff, Joshua Gomes of La Plata, testified that he was already lying in the road after being struck by an unrelated hit-and-run driver, when Vivian E. Burch ran him over with her Ford pickup truck. Gomes sustained significant injuries in the incident, including broken ribs, broken shoulder blades, a punctured lung and additional spinal injuries.
Gomes testified that he had crashed his mother’s vehicle on the night of the accident – May 2, 2010 – and was walking for help when the first vehicle struck him. Court testimony also revealed that Gomes had no memory of the night, and could not recall if he had been drinking.
In the suit, Gomes argued that Burch, who had been driving home from York, Pennsylvania in the early hours of the morning, acted in a negligent manner at the time of the accident. However, Burch testified that the road was pitch dark, and it was impossible to see Gomes before it was too late – a claim that was backed up by additional witness testimony.
What Is a Spine Injury Claim?
In the United States, spinal injuries are predominantly caused by something as simple as a slip, trip, or fall. Other incidents, like motor vehicle accidents or acts of violence, also continue to be leading causes of spine injuries.
However, there are some cases where an individual or entity has acted in a negligent manner, with such actions having the potential to lead to devastating accidents and personal injury.
The most important thing to do if you have been involved in any type of accident is to consult a doctor and determine the extent of your personal injury. Because spinal injuries are so severe, any delay in treatment or diagnoses can carry negative consequences for recovery. A delay can also hurt your chances of successfully recovering damages with a personal injury claim.
Once you have consulted with a doctor, a qualified attorney can help evaluate your case and determine a course of action that gives you the best chance for recovering damages or other financial compensation to cover:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Lost quality of life
If you have sustained a spinal injury due to an accident or someone else’s negligence, you should not delay in enlisting the expertise of a qualified personal injury attorney.
In Las Cruces and the surrounding communities in New Mexico, the injury attorneys at Samuel I. Kane are personal injury advocates for clients dealing with varying degrees of injury, including spinal trauma. Our firm’s extensive experience and superior subject matter knowledge allow us to help our clients build strong cases that yield favorable results, and we are committed to doing the same for you and your loved ones.
We are happy to offer the convenience of a free initial consultation to help assess your case. To get started, call us today at (575) 541-3004.
Related Links:
- Compensation for Spinal Cord Injuries in Las Cruces Negligence Cases
- Texas Woman Suffers Spinal Injury in Severe Three-Vehicle Collision
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- Top Three Las Cruces Personal Injury Mistakes
- When to Call a Personal Injury Attorney
- New Mexico Supreme Court Rules on Personal Injury Statute of Limitations