48-year-old Homeless Male Struck and Killed by Construction Vehicle While Standing Outside His Vehicle

Type of Injury: Death

Type of Case: Motor Vehicle Accident

Settlement Amount: $1,100,000

On February 13, 2007, shortly after a significant snowfall, on the westbound, Ontario Street feeder ramp, in Chicago, M-48 was struck and killed by Sean Chapman, who was driving a 1999 Ford F-450 Super Duty owned by his employer, LS Contracting Group. At the time of the accident, Plaintiff was standing behind his, apparently, disabled vehicle with its rear deck-lid propped open with a golf club. No information regarding whether hazard lights were illuminated.

While proceeding westbound in the right lane of the feeder ramp, Sean saw Plaintiff standing behind his vehicle, tried to change to the left lane, lost control of his vehicle, steered back into the right lane of traffic, and struck Plaintiff. An independent witness characterized Sean’s driving as overreacting and/or overcorrecting.

Injuries: According to the Report of Postmortem Examination, Plaintiff suffered extensive external and internal injuries including massive head trauma and skull fractures, abdominal evisceration, as well as rib and pelvic fractures.

At the time of the accident, and for an extended period before then, Plaintiff was alone and homeless. He was survived by a wife, a daughter, and a son.

The above summary is specific to a particular case and is not intended as a projected outcome on any other matter.