Four-vehicle pileup leaves driver with spinal cord injury

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The case arose from a multiple-vehicle collision on a highway near Boston. The plaintiff was driving home from an evening appointment and was entering a highway construction zone, which was funneling traffic into a single lane. The defendant driver failed to observe the slow-moving traffic and collided with the plaintiff at approximately 55 mph, causing a four-car pile-up.

The plaintiff instantly recognized he suffered a serious spine injury. He was taken by ambulance to Boston Medical Center, where he was diagnosed with a thoracic spine fracture with spinal cord injury, which has proven to cause significant long-term issues with the function of his lower extremities.

On the day after the collision, the plaintiff underwent a multi-level spinal fusion. He was transferred to a rehabilitation hospital for five weeks of intensive rehabilitation.

In the two years since the collision, the plaintiff has continued intensive physical therapy and outpatient exercise. He is left with a significant loss of function.

The plaintiff’s wife had a significant claim for loss of consortium. In addition to the impact to the quality of their marriage, the wife has had to assume caretaking responsibilities and household duties.

The plaintiffs were exceptional in many ways. The husband never lost his motivation to recover as best he could and missed only two months of work. The wife never wavered in her support for her husband. Both were remarkable witnesses at their depositions.

The plaintiffs’ experts included the treating physiatrist from the rehabilitation hospital, a spinal cord injury specialist, and an accident reconstruction expert.

The demand incorporated animation of the spine surgery, graphics of the injuries, and a comprehensive analysis of potential jury verdicts.

The vehicle had combined insurance limits of $11 million. The policy limits, minus previous small pay-outs for other claims, were offered five weeks after the policy-limits demand was presented to defense counsel.

Action: Motor vehicle negligence
Injuries alleged: Spinal cord injury with permanent partial disability, loss of spousal consortium
Case name: Withheld
Court/case no.: Withheld
Jury and/or judge: N/A (settled)
Amount: $10.9 million
Date: April 2026
Attorneys: David W. White of Breakstone, White & Gluck, Boston; J. Tucker Merrigan of Merrigan Sweeney, Boston (for the plaintiffs)