What would you do if you were told you could never work in your chosen field again? All those years spent learning your craft would be of no use if you had to start over. That’s exactly what happened to Linda Gervin, a licensed practical nurse in Newport News, Virginia.
One evening, when Linda was on the road, she came to a red light. As she was slowing her sedan down, a large, Ford F250 truck collided with her. The driver was Cary James Donatto. He was part of a team from Houston working in the area for Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc., an energy and industrial services company based in Massachusetts.
Donatto was staying at Candlewood Suites, an extended stay hotel in Virginia provided by Clean Harbors while he and other team members worked in the area cleaning out tanks at a major facility in York County. Clean Harbors provided two vehicles for the team to share, a rented Chevy Tahoe that the crew’s supervisor was responsible for, and the Ford F250. Donatto and other crew members were allowed to use the Ford truck to drive to local restaurants and stores after work.
On the Night of the Accident…
Prior to crashing into Linda Gervin, Donatto drank a bottle of cognac in his hotel room before asking for the keys to the company vehicle. A drunken Donatto was given the keys to the vehicle by the hotel clerk and headed out.
With a blood-alcohol level of .15, Donatto crashed the large pickup truck into Linda Gervin’s Lexus ES-350 as she slowed down at a light. The impact caused her vehicle to crash into another vehicle and Linda suffered multiple injuries including a permanent brain injury that would prohibit her from working as a nurse again.
The Lawsuit Against Clean Harbors
With the help of her attorney, Linda filed a civil lawsuit against Clean Harbors. But it wasn’t settled until after the case went to trial at the U.S. District Court in Newport News. On the fifth day of the trial and shortly before the jury was set to deliberate, Clean Harbors reached an agreement with Linda Gervin and her attorney for $8 million. At the time that the case was settled, it was the 4th largest settlement in the state’s history.
Linda may never be able to work as a nurse again, but with her settlement, she now has the money she needs to help cover her medical and living expenses. But reaching a settlement didn’t come easily. Although Clean Harbors did admit liability to negligence, they still resisted paying Linda the full and fair compensation that she was due until after the case went to trial and the evidence was presented.
This is common amongst large companies with deep pockets. And it’s one of the reasons why it is so critical to work with a personal injury attorney who has experience fighting for the rights of accident victims.
Have You Been Involved in an Accident with a Company Truck?
If you’ve been in an accident with a company vehicle, it’s possible that you deserve a large settlement too. But you won’t get the money you’re due if you work directly with the company responsible, or their insurance company.
They don’t have your best interests in mind, even if they act like they are concerned. Their main objective is to pay as little as possible to you. And if do they offer you a dollar amount to settle, there is a very good chance that your case is worth much more.
Don’t risk losing out on the money you deserve for your accident. You need a tough attorney on your side. One who knows how to negotiate but isn’t’ afraid of taking the case to trial if it’s necessary.
Contact injury attorney Jason DeSouza. He will fight for every dollar you deserve, and you pay him nothing unless he wins your case. To schedule your free consultation, call him today at 833-JASON-WINS.