For any pizza delivery person, their personal vehicle is closely tied to their income. Because of this, an on or off-the-clock car crash can not only lead to lifelong adverse health effects but can leave them unable to pay their bills. For Killeen Domino’s Pizza delivery man, James Cloud, the negligence of an unlicensed driver led to a workplace car crash that completely changed the course of his life.
On a November night in 2016, 21-year-old Cloud was traveling eastbound on a Killeen road to make a pizza delivery. At the same time, driver Arturo Elizondo-Pacheco was traveling on the same road heading west. Suddenly, and without warning, Elizondo-Pacheco failed to yield the right-of-way and turned in front of Cloud. Elizondo-Pacheco’s Ford Explorer collided with our client’s Nissan Sentra. Although the speed limit on the road is only 30, the sheer size of Elizondo-Pacheco’s Explorer led to a significant crash that took its toll on our client’s much smaller vehicle. Officers on the scene assigned Cloud’s vehicle a four on the damage rating scale. This rating essentially deemed our client’s vehicle a total loss.
Police immediately identified Elizondo-Pacheco as the at-fault driver. His actions behind the wheel violated the Texas Transportation Code; which prohibits vehicles from turning or moving into a private drive or road unless the move can be safely completed.
The force of the collision took its toll on Cloud’s body as well. Immediately following the crash, Cloud was transported to a local hospital. His initial evaluation on Nov. 6, 2016, showed Cloud to have a cervical sprain, chest wall contusion (from the seat-belt restraining him) as well as a hand and hip sprain. Doctors prescribed him Naprosyn, Zanaflex, and Tylenol and advised him to follow up with additional treatment. Moreover, the accident made it difficult for Cloud to complete normal daily activities we all-too-often take for granted, like walking and standing.
About ten days after the accident, Cloud followed up with his doctor and went to a referral appointment. The examining doctor diagnosed Cloud with brachial neuritis, right-hand pain, lumbago, and cervicalgia. Over the next several months, our client visited several doctors complaining of persistent pain. After several tests, doctors finally found the source of Cloud’s pain. An MRI revealed a disc bulge in Cloud’s spine. This finding means that Cloud will require pain management for the rest of his life.
“Our client incurred tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills; lost income as a result of his injuries; and experienced pain and suffering as a result of his injuries,” attorney Jody Leake said. “It wouldn’t have been just if our client was responsible for paying those bills when he did nothing to contribute to this collision. We were able to help a young man through a tough situation. We were able to compensate him for the medical bills he incurred to manage the pain and rehabilitate from his injuries, as well as the lost wages and physical pain and suffering that he experienced as a direct result of the crash.”
Leake’s compassionate counsel and negotiation skills recovered an undisclosed settlement amount for our client. Although he is still living with the pain caused by the negligence of another driver, Cloud is now able to put the pieces of his life back together and continue working toward his ultimate career goals.
How The Carlson Law Firm Can Help With Your Workplace Car Crash
Injuries from a workplace car crash can be life-changing. We have decades of experience helping personal injury victims through the recovery and healing process after a crash. Workplace injury cases are unique and require a qualified personal injury attorney to know exactly who is at fault for your injuries. We can determine who to hold accountable for your injuries. A Carlson Law Firm attorney is backed by private investigators, nurses and a legal team built for building strong cases.
We are available to speak 24/7 to discuss your legal options.
