$850,000 recovered for construction superintendent injured in company truck collision in Mandeville

Case Overview

Eddie worked as a superintendent for a construction company on the Northshore. He was known
as a hardworking provider, devoted husband, and active father who spent much of his free time
coaching and practicing sports with his children.

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One afternoon while driving his pickup truck on Highway 59 in Mandeville, Eddie was stopped
in a turning lane waiting for traffic to clear before making a left turn. At the same time, the driver
of a company-owned truck attempted to quickly cross the intersection from a side street in an
effort to beat traffic.

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The company truck slammed directly into the driver’s side of Eddie’s pickup with such force that
the other vehicle’s emblem became visibly imprinted into Eddie’s door.

Immediately following the crash, Eddie began suffering severe neck pain radiating into his
shoulder, arm, and fingers, along with numbness, tingling, headaches, sleep disturbances,
balance problems, and difficulty with fine motor activities. As his condition worsened, imaging
studies revealed multiple cervical disc herniations and spinal injuries.

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Despite months of conservative treatment, injections, therapy, and pain management, Eddie’s
symptoms continued progressing. Eventually, he underwent major cervical spine surgery
involving a two-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Even after surgery, Eddie
continued experiencing neurological symptoms, ongoing pain, and functional limitations,
ultimately requiring a second cervical surgery involving a disc replacement procedure.

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Even years after the wreck, Eddie continued to suffer chronic neck pain, stiffness, numbness, and
limitations affecting his everyday life. He remained under treatment for pain management and
faced the possibility of future radiofrequency ablation procedures and additional cervical
degeneration.

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Before the accident, Eddie spent nearly every day coaching and practicing baseball and softball
with his children. Following the crash and surgeries, many of those activities became impossible.

The emotional impact on Eddie and his family was substantial. He could no longer throw
baseballs with his son, practice softball with his daughter, or physically participate in family
activities the way he once had. His wife was forced to take over many household responsibilities
while helping care for both Eddie and their children throughout his recovery.

Flattmann Law pursued claims against both the company driver and the business that owned the
truck. Through substantial discovery, depositions, medical evidence, and investigation, evidence
showed that the company driver had previously caused a remarkably similar collision at the exact
same intersection after attempting to pull into traffic.

The defense attempted to minimize responsibility by suggesting roadway construction may have
contributed to visibility issues. However, discovery revealed the driver admitted he simply never
saw Eddie’s vehicle before impact, despite the fact that Eddie was directly in front of him with
his headlights on.

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Importantly, even the defense medical examiner ultimately agreed that Eddie’s surgeries and
treatment were related to the collision and medically necessary.

After extensive litigation and negotiation, the case ultimately resolved for $850,000.