$1,500,000: Pedestrian Struck by Car in Parking Lot; Leg Pinned Under Front Wheel

parking lot

CASE DESCRIPTION: Plaintiff was hit by defendant when Plaintiff was walking in a post office parking lot on her way to a friend’s vehicle. Defendant only realized he had collided and pinned plaintiff’s leg under his car when he thought he heard something and exited the vehicle. It was not until a bystander saw plaintiff under the vehicle and alerted the defendant that he realized plaintiff was trapped.

FINAL RESULT: The matter mutually resolved at mediation for $1,500,000.

Plaintiff contends that she was struck by defendant in the post office parking lot where she was forced to the ground and trapped underneath defendant’s front tire. Defendant never noticed he had hit her until he heard a noise, exited his vehicle, and was notified by a bystander that he had hit plaintiff.

Defendant contends that he did not see plaintiff walking in the parking lot before he struck her with his vehicle.

TYPE OF CASE: Personal Injury; Auto v. Pedestrian

PLAINTIFF’S INJURIES: Closed head injury, contusion/abrasion to elbows, bruising bilaterally in the inner elbow areas, small density to right hip joint possibly representing calcification, swelling within hip girdle musculature, suspicion of a meniscal or cartilage injury, left knee mildly displaced comminuted intra-articular fracture of the proximal tibial plateau, extending to the proximal tibial metaphysis into the lateral tibial plateau, swelling of the left knee, large left lateral meniscus bucket handle tear, swelling of right leg, left ankle fractures of the mild fibular and medial malleolus with soft tissue swelling, right ankle sprain with contusion and abrasion, right leg, and right elbow bruising.

DATE & LOCATION OF INCIDENT: June 30, 2010 at a Post office parking lot in Laguna Hills

PLAINTIFF’S OCCUPATION: Before the accident, plaintiff worked full time at the post office and was the landlord and property manager of 8 homes.

PLAINTIFF’S ATTORNEYS:
Christopher R. Aitken, Esq.
AITKEN —AITKEN—COHN