A Wayne County jury awarded $5.2 million to a Michigan teacher who suffered traumatic injuries after his car was rear-ended by a Detroit Water and Sewerage Department van.
The case stems from an Oct. 18, 2023, crash which happened after a gym teacher on his lunch break had stopped his car at a red light at the corner of Fenelon and East Outer Drive. A Detroit Water and Sewerage Department van hit the back of the car without braking. Witnesses testified that the city driver appeared to be distracted by a digital device in his hand.
The force of the crash sent the car about 100 feet into the intersection, crushing the back of the car and sending the back seat into the back of the driver’s seat. The 38-year-old teacher was found dazed immediately after the crash and was carried away from his vehicle. His Michigan Legal Center attorneys said he was later diagnosed with a mild traumatic brain injury, herniated discs in his neck and in his lower back…