Motor vehicle accidents do not always result in serious injuries. When they do however, injured individuals should be aware that they have legal options. In some cases the best course of action is to file a personal injury lawsuit against those whose negligence is responsible for the injury occurring.

A Pennsylvania man who lost a leg in a car accident did just that. The then 24-year-old, suffered the serious injury as he helped the driver of a disabled vehicle in which he had been a passenger, push it to the side of the road. As they moved the car, the other one involved in the rear-end accident followed behind with its lights flashing. Despite this attempt to alert others on the road to their presence, that vehicle was struck again, by a third car. The force of that impact caused the car to strike the man pushing the other car, severely injuring him.

As a result of the injury, the man filed a lawsuit against both the man driving the car in which he had been a passenger, as well as the driver of the third car. In it he apparently alleged negligence. The case went to trial last month and a jury found that it was negligence on their part that led to the man's injuries. It awarded the man $19.1 million.

The loss of a leg likely changed the life of the injured man drastically. While there is sadly nothing that can be done to undo those changes, a financial award will likely make the necessary adaptations a bit easier.

Source: The Pennsylvania Record, "Phila. jury awards $19.1 million to man who lost leg after being struck by vehicle," Jon Campisi, May 28, 2013