California woman sues after being injured in car crash

On July 10 around 7:50 a.m., a 37-year-old woman driving to a nursing class on Highway 17 in Santa Cruz was injured in a crash caused by a truck driver who failed to brake in time and jackknifed on the busy road. On July 17, she filed a lawsuit in Santa Clara County Superior Court against the truck driver and the company for which he works. Her attorneys say that the lawsuit is seeking all current and future costs related to the injuries that she suffered in the accident.

The suit alleges that the woman’s lacerated liver and spinal injuries suffered in the accident were due to the driver’s negligence. Both the driver and his employer are facing claims of being negligent in the driving, hiring, training and supervision of the tractor-trailer.

The woman’s father says that after the accident, she called her mother to say goodbye since she did not think that she would live; she was trapped in her car and had trouble breathing. Firefighters had to use the Jaws of Life to get her out of the vehicle before she was transported by ambulance to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Although she was initially listed in critical condition at the time of the accident, she was released three days later.

A person who suffers injuries in a motor vehicle accident can face a long period of recovery both in and out of a hospital. If the accident occurred because of someone else’s negligence, the injured individual could take steps to hold the negligent party accountable. A legal action may allow the injured person to recoup the cost of medical bills as well as long-term care costs.