Case details

Pedestrian struck in crosswalk, claimed head, back and leg injuries

SUMMARY

$250000

Amount

Settlement

Result type

Not present

Ruling
KEYWORDS
back, brain, brain damage, fracture, herniated disc, knee, leg, lumbar, lumbar head, meniscus, neck, tear, traumatic brain injury
FACTS
On Nov. 9, 2016, plaintiff Seo Lee, 90, a retiree, was walking east along James M. Wood Boulevard, in Los Angeles. As he was crossing Vermont Avenue inside a crosswalk, he was struck by a vehicle operated by Song Pok Kwak, who was attempting a left turn from Vermont Avenue onto westbound James M. Wood Boulevard. Lee sustained to his head, back, and left knee and leg. Lee sued Kwak, alleging that Kwak was negligent in the operation of his vehicle. Kwak did not dispute liability., Lee was knocked to the ground, where he struck his head. Two days later, he presented to St. Vincent Medical Center, in Los Angeles, where he was hospitalized for four days. He was then transferred to Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, in Los Angeles, where he was hospitalized for another 10 days. Lee claimed he sustained blunt force trauma to his head, resulting in a mild traumatic brain injury. He also claimed he sustained a tibia fracture to his left leg, a torn meniscus in his left knee and a herniated lumbar disc. Lee received six facet joint injections beginning on July 24, 2017. Lee claimed that he continues to suffer from lower back pain and that he may require future facet injections. He also claimed that he was unable to walk because of the severity of the pain to his knee and leg. Plaintiff’s counsel contended that since the collision, Lee has been confused and disoriented, even more than he was previously, as Lee had a pre-existing condition of Alzheimer’s disease. Counsel also contended that despite Lee’s pre-existing condition, Lee was able to care for himself, but that after the accident, he was no longer able to do so. Counsel contended that as a result, Lee had to move into Grand Park Convalescent Hospital, a skilled nursing facility in Los Angeles, for almost three months — from Nov. 25, 2016 until Feb. 16, 2017 — after he was discharged from Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center.
COURT
Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, CA

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