A highway worker who lost his leg in a work-related accident recently settled his New Jersey personal injury lawsuit for $2.65 million. At the time of the accident, plaintiff was working on a job replacing pavement markers on Route 27 in Edison, NJ. While performing his job duties, plaintiff was hit by a pickup truck that had been left in neutral by its driver, a fellow coworker. As a result of the impact, plaintiff’s left leg was amputated and his right foot was crushed. Plaintiff now has a prosthetic leg and has been unable to return to work.
Because plaintiff received workers’ compensation benefits, he was barred from suing his employer in the personal injury action. Instead, plaintiff sued the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the entity that was responsible for the roadway project. It was alleged that the NJDOT failed to properly supervise the worksite and take adequate precautions to protect workers.
