Motor Vehicle Crash – orthopedic injuries and permanent leg scarring.
While visiting Richmond from NYC, T.K. (age 60) and her boyfriend went to a restaurant at Short Pump Town Center on January 16, 2024. While walking together to her parked vehicle, they were struck from behind by Defendant’s Ford F-150 who failed to see them. (T.K.’s boyfriend’s case was settled in October 2024.) T.K. was taken by ambulance to HDH and remained there for 8 days before being transported to a hospital in NY closer to home. Her injuries included: right sacral ala fracture, right superior rami fracture, right inferior pubic rami fracture, degloving left knee injury, left proximal fibula fracture, left posterior malleolus (tibia) fracture, left distal fibula fracture, along with many cuts and bruises. Subsequent to the original injuries, T.K.’s left knee wound became infected requiring two irrigation and debridement surgeries, infectious disease and plastic surgery follow up, as well as a third surgery for a pedicled flap and skin graft. T.K. remained hospitalized for an additional 66 days until she was able to return home with home health care. Physical therapy continued through late July as T.K. had to progress from a wheelchair to a rolling walker, to a cane, before returning to independent ambulation and full weight-bearing. In mid-August, T.K. underwent a 4th leg surgery to further correct the soft tissue abnormality at the flap and donor sites. Despite corrective measures, a highly visible knee to ankle scar remains and is permanent. T.K. was finally able to return to her job as the Director of Respiratory Therapy for a hospital in NY but was unable to return to her “on call” employment and her second job as a part-time staff respiratory therapist. T.K. suffers from lingering pain and fatigue at the end of each day. Plaintiff’s retained experts opined that T.K. had reached MMI but will suffer from early-onset arthritis due to her injuries.
– Plaintiff’s experts included: PM&R, orthopedics, plastic surgery, and her work supervisor.
– Plaintiff’s settlement package included a damages video created by DJB Settlement Storytellers as well as medical illustrations and an animation created by Amicus Visual Solutions.