$1,400,000
Elevator Accident — New York City
What Happened
Our client was working as a mover, carrying a delivery through a building in New York City. As he was boarding an elevator with equipment, the doors closed on his foot – trapping it, in his words, like it had been caught in a vice. The pressure was immediate and severe. By the time the doors released, he had sustained serious injuries to his foot, ankle, knee, and lower back.
The Injuries
The damage done in that moment was not minor. Our client underwent two surgeries. His recovery was long and difficult, and the injuries affected his ability to work and carry out the physical demands of daily life. The pain extended well beyond his foot – the mechanical force of the door transmitted up through his leg and into his spine.
What Another Attorney Had Told Him
Before coming to Linden Law, our client had spoken with another attorney about his case. That attorney told him to expect around $100,000 – that the case was worth somewhere in that range, and that he should not expect much more.
Jason disagreed. After reviewing the medical records and understanding the full scope of our client’s injuries, Jason believed the case was worth significantly more. He took it on.
How the Case Resolved
The case went to mediation during the COVID-19 pandemic – one of the thousands of cases that had to proceed via video conference as courthouses and in-person proceedings were suspended. Jason prepared the case thoroughly, presented the medical evidence and the impact on our client’s life, and pushed for a number that reflected what the case was actually worth.
The case settled for $1,400,000.
That is fourteen times what the prior attorney said to expect.
What This Case Demonstrates
A second opinion matters. The value of a personal injury case is not a fixed number that falls out of a formula – it depends on who is investigating it, who is preparing it, and who is presenting it. Our client came to Linden Law because he was not satisfied with the first assessment he received. He was right not to be.