A Mercer County man has been awarded nearly $10.6 million as a part of a settlement against Dura-Bond Coating Inc. after portions of both of his legs had to be amputated following an industrial accident at a Duquesne pipe yard on Christmas Eve 2013.

Robert (Rick) R. Ryder, an experienced truck driver employed by Yourga Trucking Inc., suffered severe and permanent injuries to both legs after becoming trapped under a 5,000-pound pipe as it was being unloaded from a truck.

According to Ryders’ attorneys, Patrick L. Sullivan & Dallas M. Hartman of Dallas W. Hartman, P.C., Dura-Bond had failed to properly inspect the load of 42-foot-long pipes, hadn’t secured the load upon receiving it, and had failed to clear the area and stop unloading once a hazardous condition was discovered.

Because of the incident, Ryder had to have both legs amputated, one above the knee and one below the knee. The settlement, reached through mediation, will include covering Ryder’s seven-figure medical bills that resulted from having the 5,000-pound pipe crush his legs.

According to Attorney Dallas M. Hartman: “Robert Ryder is as good of a person as you can find. His life was drastically changed on Christmas Eve 2013 due to the negligence of others. This settlement shows that workplace safety violations are intolerable. But, more importantly, it will allow a great person to return to living his life with his family and friends.”

The large settlement was mediated by Dave White of Burns White LLC. According to Attorney Patrick L. Sullivan: “the settlement was reached one week after a day of mediation and Dave White was instrumental in the quick resolution of this serious case.”

The case, number GD-15-014688, was filed in the Allegheny Court of Common Pleas.

The experienced team of Pittsburgh truck accident lawyers at our law firm have the skills and resources to secure compensation for your truck accident injury claim.