- Location: Cuyahoga County
- Type of Case: Motor Vehicle Accident
- Verdict Amount: $2,368,000
Case Overview & Firm Perspective
Skolnick Weiser Law Firm secured a landmark jury verdict on behalf of a professional truck driver whose life was profoundly altered by a traumatic motor-vehicle collision in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Although the driver escaped the crash without permanent physical injuries, the psychological harm proved devastating. This case exemplifies the firm’s ability to uncover and successfully present the often-overlooked value of psychological and emotional injuries, particularly in commercial trucking cases.
Geography & Venue Considerations
The incident occurred in Cuyahoga County, a venue where motor-vehicle cases—especially those lacking surgical intervention or permanent physical impairment—often resolve for relatively modest amounts. Many comparable Ohio cases involving non-surgical injuries settle in the low six-figure range or less. Against that backdrop, the $2,368,000 jury verdict represents a result well above county and statewide averages, reflecting the jury’s recognition of the seriousness of the harm suffered and the strength of the evidence presented.
Cause of Injury & Fault
The collision was caused when another motorist abruptly intruded into the truck driver’s lane of travel. Faced with an unavoidable collision, the driver took evasive action, swerving left to avoid impact. That maneuver caused the tractor-trailer to lose control, topple, and slide into a concrete wall. The evidence demonstrated that the crash was entirely preventable and directly attributable to the negligent actions of the other motorist, who was found to be at fault.
Injuries Sustained
Although the driver avoided catastrophic physical injury, the crash left him trapped inside the cab for approximately 90 minutes. During that time, he smelled diesel fuel and feared an imminent fire or explosion. The prolonged entrapment and perceived threat to his life resulted in severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Following the crash, the driver became virtually housebound, unable to return to work or resume normal daily activities—an outcome that permanently altered his independence and livelihood.
Treatment & Related Expenses
The plaintiff required ongoing psychiatric care, counseling, and mental-health treatment to address the PTSD and its disabling effects. While these expenses may appear modest when compared to surgical or long-term physical rehabilitation costs, Skolnick Weiser Law Firm emphasized that the true damages extended far beyond medical bills. The firm demonstrated how PTSD affected the driver’s ability to work, function socially, and live without constant fear—damages that are frequently minimized or ignored by insurers.
Legal Process & Timeline
After initial resolution efforts failed to fairly account for the severity of the driver’s psychological injuries, a lawsuit was filed. Through discovery and expert testimony, the firm carefully connected the traumatic crash and prolonged entrapment to the plaintiff’s ongoing mental-health condition. Rather than accepting an undervalued settlement, Skolnick Weiser Law Firm proceeded to trial, where the evidence was presented clearly and persuasively to the jury.
Verdict Amount & Comparative Value
The jury returned a verdict of $2,368,000, a result that substantially exceeds typical Ohio and Cuyahoga County outcomes for truck-accident cases involving no surgery or permanent physical injury. The hidden value in this case was the firm’s ability to establish that serious injury is not limited to visible wounds. By successfully proving the real-world impact of PTSD, Skolnick Weiser Law Firm achieved a result that reflects the full scope of harm suffered—and reaffirmed its reputation for pursuing maximum justice in complex injury cases.