Car Accident Jury Awards $6.8 Million to Victim

Baton Rouge car accident attorneys will tell you that you can never be sure what a jury will do, even with a horrendous car accident that involves permanent injuries to the victim and blatant negligence by the defendant(s). But in a recent case in Philadelphia, a jury awarded $6.8 million to the victim in just such a car accident case. The jury there found a restaurant liable for continuing to serve alcohol to an intoxicated man who later caused a car accident that severely injured an innocent woman.

The victim, Ryan Fell of West Brandywine, PA, remains hobbled after the crash.

The collision took place on March 15, 2007, as Fell drove home after visiting a friend.

Omar Villalava-Martinez of had stopped at the Famous Mexican Restaurant & Bar in Coatesville, PA, after work. In just two hours, he consumed 12 beers and then a shot of liquor.

Even though he was clearly drunk, the restaurant continued to serve him. Next he...

left the bar about 9:30 p.m. and got into his Ford Explorer. As he drove a few miles down the road, the Explorer crossed the center line and collided with Fell's white Nissan.

The crash crumpled the Nissan and seriously injured Fell, who was 22 on the night of the accident.

Fells legs were broken in many places. Doctors used 50 screws and several metal plates to put Fell back together. Her ankle bone was actually ejected from her body, but doctors were able to save her foot. More than three years after the accident, walking is still painful for her and she cannot run. She lost her job as an administrative assistant for a trucking company and is still unable to work.

Villalava-Martinez, an illegal immigrant, has been deported to Mexico, and the restaurant has closed.

Source: Philadelphia Enquirer "Jury awards $6.8 million to woman injured by patron of Coatesville restaurant in DUI crash" 8/20/2010