Pickup truck backs up, hits worker walking along road

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The plaintiff was at work, walking along a dirt road picking up sharp objects that were strewn about. Another employee was backing up a pickup truck on the same road and struck him.

After hitting the plaintiff, the driver of the pickup truck did not immediately know he had hit the plaintiff and continued to back up with the plaintiff underneath the truck.

The plaintiff suffered broken ribs, a broken leg, a broken ankle and scalp lacerations. Two years post-accident, the plaintiff had fully recovered except for limitations due to an ankle fusion.

The defendant’s position was that the plaintiff’s future lost wages were minimal since he was a college graduate who could walk several miles without stopping and therefore could work full time at a series of jobs outlined in the report of their vocational rehabilitation expert.

Prior to mediation, counsel hired a jury consultant who conducted an online mock trial with 269 participants and provided a 91-page report, which included jury feedback and the range of expected jury verdicts.

The plaintiff settled his claim at mediation for $4.5 million.

Action: Motor vehicle negligence
Injuries alleged: Broken ribs, leg, ankle and scalp lacerations
Case name: Withheld
Court/case no.: Withheld
Jury and/or judge: N/A (settled)
Amount: $4.5 million
Date: August 2025
Attorneys: Thomas Lesser and Michael Aleo, of Lesser, Newman, Aleo & Nasser, Northampton (for the plaintiff)