On June 4, 2008, 70-year-old Edward Wasik, a retired school teacher, was a customer at Ridgeway Chevrolet, an automobile dealer located in Lansing, Ill. Wasik was walking behind the service bays in the service department when he was struck by a car backing out of the service bay.
The car that hit Wasik was driven by the defendant, Barry Boer, a mechanic at the dealership. Boer was operating another customer’s car, but apparently was looking forward while moving in reverse. Boer struck Wasik with that customer’s car, injuring him.
Wasik sustained injuries to his lower back, ribs and left knee, which resulted in arthroscopic surgery, physical therapy and continuing injections to the left knee as well as physical therapy to his back.
The defendants admitted negligence, but disputed the causation and extent of some of Wasik’s injuries due to his pre-existing knee and back conditions. The defendants’ insurance carrier filed a declaratory action lawsuit against the insurance company for the customer’s vehicle, State Farm.
The jury entered a verdict of $118,750 as to both of the defendants. There was no demand noted, but the attorney for Wasik asked the jury to return a verdict of $180,000. The attorney representing Wasik was Loren Siegel.
Edward Wasik v. Barry Boer, Ridgeway Chevrolet, Inc., No. 10 L 6326 (Cook County, Ill.).
Kreisman Law Offices has been handling car accident cases, bicycle accident cases, truck accident cases and motorcycle accident cases for individuals and families who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of another for more than 38 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including North Riverside, Northbrook, Northfield, Northlake, Mount Prospect, Westchester, South Holland, South Chicago Heights, Schiller Park, Willow Springs, Wilmette, Worth, Sauk Village, Rolling Meadows, Roselle and Palos Heights, Ill.
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