Pascagoula Man Awarded $2.3M Settlement

About This Case

Pascagoula, Mississippi — A 52-year-old Pascagoula man who was in a collision with a Laurel trucker in Gautier in 2004 was awarded $2.3 million as a settlement from G.B. “Boots” Smith Corp.

Personal InjuryAuto And Motorcycle Collisions

Time Frame6 Years

LawyerRichard Taylor

Challenge

According to court records, on March 3, 2004, at 1 p.m. Robert Reynolds was driving a fully loaded dump truck north on Gautier-Vancleave Road, just before the Interstate 10 overpass. Reynolds worked for Mallette Brother’s Construction in Vancleave at the time. A 74-foot long, 22-wheel truck and trailer pulled across both northbound lanes and caused a collision, court records reflect.

Mr. Reynolds was rescued by Gautier Fire Department paramedics using the Jaws of Life,” Taylor said. “In and out of consciousness, he was transported to Ocean Springs Hospital for initial treatment of many serious and painful injuries.

Process

Taylor said before the crash Reynold’s wife was attending to nursing school.

“They have three children at home,” Taylor said. “He was the primary bread earner. She had to quit nursing school to take care of him and had to work cleaning houses. To make it worse, the family lost their home in Hurricane Katrina and had to relocate to Mobile. Finally, after six years long years “G.B. “Boots” Smith Corp.” must pay as there is no right of appeal.”

Result

Taylor said, “Six years and multiple operations later, Mr. Reynolds’ case against the J.B. ‘Boots’ Smith Corp. of Laurel was settled in June through a Gulfport arbitration for $2.3 million dollars. He’s already received the money.”

Reynolds was awarded lost wages, medical expenses and funds for permanent disability, according to court records. “His injuries were painful to the point he’s had 22 spinal taps to block the pain,” Taylor said. “All examining physicians agreed that he could no longer be employed as a truck driver and could only work in jobs considered sedentary. This disability was considered to be permanent. In addition, Mr. Reynolds will require at least one knee replacement surgery in the future. Mr. Reynolds’ life had been altered negatively and permanently.”

Mr. Reynolds was awarded:

Lost Wages
Medical Expenses
Permanent Disability

About This Case

Challenge

Process

Result

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