Issue: What are recent jury verdicts or settlements in cases involving catastrophic burn injuries due to electrocution in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York?
| Area of Law: | Personal Injury & Negligence |
| Keywords: | Catastrophic burn injuries; Electrocution; Jury verdicts and settlements |
| Jurisdiction: | Federal, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania |
| Cited Cases: | None |
| Cited Statutes: | None |
| Date: | 01/01/2001 |
Information in the Personal Injury Valuation Handbooks (2000) based on national studies of recent similar cases indicates that the basic injury value for a catastrophic burn injury, i.e., a burn covering at least 60% of the plaintiff’s body, ranges from $397,680 to $5,940,720, depending on the amount of medical expenses. Those figures are based on a verdict median[1] of $4,500,000 in such cases. The verdict probability range[2] for catastrophic burns ranged from $2,500,000 to $6,750,000, the actual verdict range[3] was from $960,000 to $15,600,000 and the verdict mean[4] was $5,493,170. Ninety-six percent of all cases involving catastrophic burn injuries resulted in awards of $1 million or more.[5]
Verdicts and Settlements
A carpenter of an unstated age was electrocuted while working with a router when it malfunctioned. The plaintiff also suffered ulnar nerve damage, resulting in a permanent impairment to his left arm and hand, requiring surgery. He was unable to return to work. The defendant disputed whether the injuries were permanent. The jury returned a verdict of $150,000. Cox v. Window Wizards, Inc., No. 9508515, 1999 WL 3102537 (Pa. Bucks County Sept. 1999) (Source: LRP Jury)
A 23-year-old volunteer fireman suffered burns to his left hand when he was electrocuted. The report gives no detail, except that the jury awarded $627,000. Hanlon v. Patton & Duquesne Light Co., No. 88-19132, 1991 WL 718476 (Pa. Ct. Com. Pl. Allegheny County March 1991) (Source: ATLA)
A $1,000,000 settlement was reached in a case in which a […]