Injured Bricklayer Receives Verdict of $793,000

Settlement/Verdict: $793,000.00

Attorney: Jeffrey S. Sieben
Practice Area: Car Accident
Client Injury: Smashed Knee, Femur, and Hip Bone

An injured bricklayer who sued his insurance company for underinsured motorist benefits won his case in Dakota County District Court and walked away with a much larger verdict than he asked for. A Dakota County jury last month awarded the Park Rapids man a $793,000 verdict against American Family Insurance Co. after he smashed his knee, femur and hipbone in a car accident.

The verdict included $793,000 for pain and suffering, double the amount his attorney, Jeff Sieben of Hastings, had requested.

The plaintiff, Danny Nelson, 47, was seriously injured in a February 2003 car accident near his home when he swerved his Pontiac Grand Prix to avoid another driver pulling out of a driveway. Nelson crashed into a large pine tree.

"When he hit, it jammed his knee so hard it smashed his femur thorough his hip," Sieben said.

Because the other driver was underinsured, Nelson sued his own insurance company for lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. The trial took four days, and the jury deliberated for about four hours before deciding that the sum he had asked for was too low.

Sieben said the jury favored Nelson because, despite his injuries, he returned to work after his accident, although he had to give up his title as brick-laying forman.

"I think that's why people wanted to help him, because he said, 'I'm not going to hang it up.' He puts up with a lot of pain," Sieben said.

A spokesman with American Family Insurance said the company was sill evaluating whether there is basis to appeal the verdict.

Contact the law offices of Sieben, Grose, Von Holtum & Carey for a free consultation. We encourage you to make this first step toward resolving your legal matters so that you can get back to your life.