Chicago Car Accident Lawsuit Results in $25M Jury Verdict for Paraplegic

A jury has awarded $25 million to a man who was permanently disabled in a car accident at a red light, where each driver claimed they had a green light.

The Illinois personal injury verdict is reportedly the highest amount awarded ever awarded in a paraplegic lawsuit in Cook County, according to a statement released by the plaintiff’s car accident attorney.

The plaintiff, Andrzej Chraca, suffered permanent and serious injuries that left him a partial paraplegic who has to use leg braces and a cane to walk, but most often relies on a wheelchair.

The accident occurred in Schaumburg, Illinois on April 19, 2004 when Steve Miles, an employee with the Illinois Department of Transportation, struck Chraca’s car as the men’s two vehicles were crossing an intersection. Both men claimed to have the right-of-way and investigators were unable to determine which vehicle ran the red light.

Despite conflicting testimony from eye witnesses produced at trial, the jury found for Chraca in the Chicago car accident lawsuit, and awarded more than $25 million in damages. The award was reduced to a $23,838,668 million verdict, after accounting for Chraca’s comparative negligence, which the jury found was 5% responsible for the accident for driving too fast.

Miles suffered permanent injuries in the accident as well, and has partial paralysis to the right side of his body. He also received a mild traumatic brain injury from the car accident.

According to the Daily Herald in Chicago, Chraca is unlikely to recover the full amount of the verdict. The Illinois Department of Transportation will be responsible for $2 million of the award through an insurance policy that covered Miles.