Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Man Paralyzed in Crash Awarded $16 Million - Thursday, July 5, 2007

A Boston man, who lost the use of his arms and legs after being hit by a car while he was crossing a street two years ago, has been awarded over $16 million. The verdict was one of the largest awards by a jury for a personal injury case in Massachusetts this year and was more than double the largest amount awarded by a jury last year for a personal injury case. The victim of the car accident, William Dodge, 42, was a former executive chef and manager for a Boston law firm.

During the 8-day trial, lawyers for Dodge argued that Arda Tezel was speeding when he hit Dodge, who was crossing a crosswalk in April 2005. Dodge's injuries included a fractured spine, which left him a quadriplegic; following the crash, Dodge spent three weeks at Brigham and Women's Hospital and was in rehabilitation all of the following year.

Police officials have filed a criminal complaint against Tezel for speeding and driving to endanger, and a warrant for his arrest has been issued because he has not appeared in court.

According to his lawyers, Dodge now requires assistance to do just about everything in his life, and his medical expenses, so far, are more than three-quarters of a million dollars.

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