Drunk Driving Accident in Chippewa County

Posted by rozeklawoffice on September 15, 2009 under Drunk Driving | Be the First to Comment

On December 11, 2005 in Chippewa County, Debra Mayer was struck by a drunk driver.  The crash resulted in Mayer having a punctured lung, fractured rib, two broken teeth, broken left arm, broken left leg and broken left foot.  Mayer decided to file a lawsuit against bowe in 2007, and was awarded $750,000 for future medical expenses; $250,000 for past and future loss of earnings; $1.75 million for past and future pain, suffering, disability and disfigurement; $375,000 in punitive damages; and $17,588 for out-of-pocket expenses. The total was $3.14 million.  The driver who hit Mayer ended up in jail for 18 months for his second drunken driving offense.

Mayer has several chronic health problems. She walks with a cane, needs a deep tissue massage every other week and has been in physical therapy intermittently since the crash.  She has equipment such as a shower chair and a high-rise toilet that allows her to live at home.  It is said that one reason the jury awarded such a large settlement is because it saw Mayer is a good person who helped others, and because she had numerous friends and family in court all three days who testified on her behalf. Another reason for the high settlement figure is the jury wanted to send a message to the community that drinking and driving will not be tolerated, and it has significant consequences.  In the end we should all learn from this and realize that if you have been drinking, do not try to get in a car and drive anywhere.

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