(Please note: the names and locations of all parties have been changed to protect the confidentiality of the participants in this brain injury/car accident case and its proceedings.)
Choo froze, bringing his vehicle to a stop as it straddled the #2 lane (slow lane) on the Highway 160 westbound, directly in the path of travel of Officer Black. Black then slammed on the brakes and tried to steer away from the vehicle in his path by turning his wheel to the right, skidding. He left two skid marks which are parallel, consistent with a braking skid, and inconsistent with a simple steer (yaw) as the City’s expert contends occurred.
In any event, Black swerved and braked to avoid Choo’ s Malibu and he slammed directly into the side of Ms. Lee’s 1992 Toyota Camry. The impact was so severe, it crushed the vehicle to the midline of the occupant compartment when she was hit at 30-40 m.p.h. at impact. Only five inches of metal on the side of her vehicle stood between her and the oncoming battering ram of the front end of the police vehicle.
As a result of the impact severity, Ms. Lee was knocked to the other side of the vehicle, despite her use of the passive restraint system within the vehicle. She was rendered unconscious and was in a coma for many days following the crash. She suffered a severe brain injury, cracked hip bones, a cracked skull and subdural hematoma, large lacerations on her head, a ruptured spleen, and many other related serious and life threatening injuries.
She spent roughly the next two months in hospitals and in rehabilitation. Eventually she endured gaping wounds in her buttocks leaving her disfigured, had MRSA, a deadly infectious disease, for some time, had sepsis, poisoning of the blood, from the infectious processes, and was rendered permanently brain damaged to the point where she is non-functioning.
Prior to this catastrophic car crash, Ella Lee, a mother and grandmother, had a functional life filled with the typical array of ups and downs Americans are blessed with in their daily lives. She took care of her parents, enjoyed friends, and had relatively good health. She did have anxiety problems and according to the experts, had mental illness in the form of schizophrenia. But she was functional and lived independently. Now, she needs help 24 hours a day and is a danger to herself and others, easily confused, easily tired, and in chronic pain. She requires assistance from skilled nurses. (See Part 3 of 8.)
For more information you are welcome to contact Sacramento personal injury lawyer, Moseley Collins.