Drop-Off Accident on Highway

Our client suffered permanent paraplegia after he drove off an unmarked roadway edge drop-off in a highway construction area. Before the accident, subcontractor personnel had removed the shoulder, leaving an 18 inch drop off. In the process, they also removed a substantial portion of the yellow edge line, leaving no means to identify the roadway edge. In early morning darkness, our client lost control after his left front tire went over the edge, causing the car to eventually turn over several times. There were numerous issues concerning who had control of the worksite and the safety responsibilities that went with that control. We settled with the general contractor prior to trial and were awarded a verdict against the subcontractor after a two-week trial in Indianapolis in September 2000.

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