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Get Hit By a Dump Truck, City Will Dump $15.7 Million On You
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62-year-old retired LAPD officer Barry Bowman is now a very wealthy man - all because a dump truck hit him while he was riding his motorcycle in Northridge. The LA Times reports that a jury has awarded Bowman $15.7 million in his case against the city and city-contracted Tommie Wyatt Trucking for a collision that has left Bowman with brain injuries that require 24-hour care.
The accident occurred at the end of the truck driver's working day and city attorneys struggled to pin the blame on the driver alone, claiming he was "off site" when his truck hit Bowman. The jury also considered arguments about the speed of the vehicle at the time of the collision - Bowman's attorneys claimed the dump truck was going 14 mph while the city claimed it was closer to 2 mph.
What can't be argued: Bowman's injuries as a result of the accident. He has suffered short-term memory loss and now requires daily medical care for the rest of his life.
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Bowman spent the past two years trying to reach a settlement with the trucking company and city attorneys (he originally asked for a cool $18 million according to a spokesman for City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo), but no agreement could be reached so he finally took it to court. Tommie Wyatt's insurance carrier originally offered $1 million. The city originally offered a paltry $50,000 to settle out of court.
Photo by tsuacctnt via Flickr
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