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.
Trucker gets $800K in container-accident settlement, left fully disabled
Discussion in 'Truckers News' started by c64basic, Mar 16, 2016.
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I hope to hell that his medical expenses were covered as well, and NOT included in that settlement. 800k, not enough IMO.
passingthru69, Dominick253, dog-c and 1 other person Thank this. -
I hope that 800k is after his attorneys cut also
Dominick253 Thanks this. -
I wonder if that was his cut or does he have to split that with the lawyers
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10 years worth of salary, what's after that, social security for $800 per month?
Dominick253 Thanks this. -
He's 69 he can tap into disability and ssi but it's just never enough especially in tax infested swampland jersey
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Wow and I am in Global at the moment waiting on a container smh this place is a **** hole been here 4 hours already hope all his bills is definitely taken care of before that number.
Dominick253 Thanks this. -
And that lady got 2 million from mcdonalds for spilling hot coffee on herself.
passingthru69, HalpinUout and Dominick253 Thank this. -
peterbilt_2005, Prom Night Dumpster Baby, passingthru69 and 2 others Thank this.
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That happened the McDonalds about 3 blocks from my house when I was in middle school (junior high) in 1992. It's the location on the corner of Juan Tabo & Lomas in Albuquerque....that McDonalds is still there. Anyway, she sued because the coffee was too hot - almost 200°F, which was well over the temperature it was supposed to be held at. Up to that point, McDonalds had over 700 previous reports of injuries due to their "too hot" coffee and had already paid out settlements in some of those cases. Stella Liebeck, the woman we all remember when we think of the McDonalds Coffee lawsuit, was just the most publicized case, but she was definitely not the only one.rachi Thanks this.
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