Trucker gets $800K in container-accident settlement, left fully disabled

Trucker gets $800K in container-accident settlement
A tractor-trailer driver who was injured when a nearly 24-ton container dropped from a crane and crashed down onto his truck is receiving $800,000 in a settlement with a Jersey City container port.

Wesley Gadsden Jr., 69, of Jersey City, was left fully disabled and unable to work as a result of the May 7, 2013, accident at Global Terminal, according to Gadsden's attorney, Damon A. Vespi of the Vespi Law Firm in Totowa.

On the day of the accident, Gadsden was parked at a loading dock at 302 Port Jersey Blvd. receiving a full, 47,840-pound container being lowered onto his chassis by a crane, Vespi said in a press release.

The container clipped another grounded, stacked container, became unhooked from the crane and fell onto the chassis and cab of Gadsden's truck from at least two stories above.

The impact's force felt and sounded like an explosion, and briefly, Gadsden thought he was not going to survive, Vespi said. The attorney added that his client was thrown violently, and his head slammed into the cab's roof.

Gadsden suffered severe neck and back injuries and required lower back surgery.

He needed a second back surgery, but surgeons refused to perform it due to Gadsden's high blood pressure, diabetes and other complications. He also suffered a minor traumatic brain injury, Vespi said.

Gadsden's injuries "have had a severe impact on his life in that he has been limited in all aspects of physical activities," Vespi said. "Mr. Gadsden rarely missed work and had an excellent attendance record. Since the day of the accident, he never again returned to work."

The settlement was reached after nearly three years of litigation, Vespi said.

Global Terminal officials did not respond to a request for comment yesterday.