Clifford Law Obtains $2.8 Million Settlement on Behalf of 16-Year-Old Who is Severely Injured in Bus Accident

    Clifford Law Offices today (Wednesday, June 18, 2008) obtained an order settling a personal injury case on behalf of a 16-year-old teenager from Naperville who suffered a traumatic brain injury when a car in which he was a passenger was hit by a bus.

    Robert P. Walsh, Jr., partner, and Craig J. Squillace, associate, at Clifford Law Offices obtained the settlement on the eve of trial with the involvement of mediator, the Honorable Donald P. O’Connell.

    Tristan Wells was riding in the backseat of his friend’s four-door Saturn at 55th Street and Route 83 when a Laidlaw bus collided with their vehicle.  The back seat of the car was crushed and Wells suffered permanent cognitive and physical disabilities.  Plaintiff’s experts would have testified that Wells would never have been able to hold competitive employment due to the severity of his injuries.

    “This accident was a terrible tragedy because it was so avoidable,” said Walsh.  “This young man’s promising life was basically taken from him, and he and his family will have to live for the rest of their lives with the consequences of a careless driver.”

    Judge William Maddux entered the order today with $2.75 million coming from the bus company and the bus driver.  The driver of the Saturn, Albani Coleman, contributed $50,000 to the settlement.