Man Awarded $6 Million When Tree Limb Falls, Causes Broken Neck
What is reported to be one of the largest verdicts in Hunterdon County has been awarded to a Delaware Township man for injuries suffered when a large tree limb fell on his car in 2006.
Kenneth Matlock and his wife suffered broken necks when a limb from an oak tree fell onto their car from a height of about 20 feet, according to news reports. Mr. Matlock is permanently disabled from the incident.
The DOT was found to be responsible since the tree was in the state’s right-of-way. The tree was thought to have been weakened from recent flooding and rot. The lawsuit claimed the defendants failed to maintain the property next to the road and failed to warn drivers of the tree hazards which they knew of and failed to fix.
There had been 55 reports of tree-related incidents in the area in the 2 years prior to Matlock’s accident. The jury was unanimous in agreeing the DOT was negligent for not removing the tree.
The Munley, Munley, & Cartwright law firm has years of experience in personal injury claims. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of an accident caused by the carelessness or negligence of another, call our office today for a free assessment of your case or contact us online.
Marion Munley
Marion Munley has been practicing personal injury law for nearly 40 years. She is triple board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy for Truck Accident Law, Civil Trial Law, and Civil Practice Advocacy. She currently serves as Vice President of the American Association for Justice, an organization dedicated to safeguarding victims’ rights. Marion has won many multimillion-dollar recoveries for her clients, including one of the largest trucking accident settlements in history. She has been named a Top 10 Super Lawyer in Pennsylvania since 2023, a Best Lawyer in America, and was recently inducted to the Lawdragon Hall of Fame.
Call us at (844) 686-5397 Posted in Personal Injury.
Tagged Negligence
