Manhattan Firm Secures $2,145,000 Settlement After Bucket Truck Reverses Into Stopped Car Twice

A Manhattan personal injury law firm has secured a $2,145,000 settlement for three occupants of a vehicle that was struck twice by a reversing commercial bucket truck at a New York City intersection. The case against the driver and his employer, E-J Electric Installation Company, resolved just one day before scheduled jury selection, with the lead plaintiff receiving $2,020,000 after suffering multiple surgeries and losing his job.

Case at a Glance

• Settlement: $2,145,000 (total)
• Case Type: Commercial Truck Accident
• Location: West 165th Street & Fort Washington Avenue, Manhattan, NY
• Incident Date: March 2018
• Plaintiffs: Ollies Mercedes, Ramon Abreu, Raul Balbuena
• Defendant: Antonio Abreu; E-J Electric Installation Company
• Plaintiff Attorney: Michael Gunzburg, Michael Gunzburg, P.C.

What Happened at the Intersection?

In March 2018, Ollies Mercedes, Ramon Abreu, and Raul Balbuena were stopped at a red light at West 165th Street and Fort Washington Avenue in Manhattan. Antonio Abreu, a driver for E-J Electric Installation Company, was operating a commercial bucket truck nearby.

According to the press release, Abreu reversed the truck at high speed into the stopped vehicle, then pulled forward and reversed a second time, striking the car again in the same incident. All three occupants were transported to the emergency room by ambulance.

How Did Liability Get Resolved?

The court granted the plaintiffs' motion for partial summary judgment on liability. That ruling meant the legal question of fault was settled before trial, the case moved forward solely on the issue of damages.

Partial summary judgment on liability is a significant development in any personal injury case. It removes the risk of a jury finding for the defense on fault and allows the plaintiff's legal team to focus entirely on presenting the full scope of injuries and financial losses.

Raul Balbuena settled early in the proceedings. Ollies Mercedes and Ramon Abreu held out, ultimately reaching their settlements the day before jury selection was set to begin.

What Were the Injuries?

The three plaintiffs sustained varying degrees of injury, with Mercedes bearing the most serious consequences.

Ollies Mercedes, who was 24 years old at the time of the crash, suffered:

• Herniated discs in his neck and lower back
• A torn shoulder labrum requiring surgery with four permanent anchors
• A torn ligament in his right foot requiring open surgical repair
• Chondromalacia and synovitis

Mercedes was unable to work for nine months following the crash. He eventually left his position at FedEx entirely due to his injuries. His settlement totaled $2,020,000.

Ramon Abreu was unable to work for approximately two years. His settlement was $175,000.

Raul Balbuena, who settled early, received $50,000.

Why Did This Case Settle Just Before Trial?

Commercial vehicle cases often resolve on the eve of trial once defendants weigh the cost of an adverse jury verdict. With liability already decided by the court, the only remaining question for a jury would have been how much to award.

For E-J Electric Installation Company, the calculus at that point was straightforward: proceed to trial with a plaintiff who had documented multiple surgeries, permanent hardware in his shoulder, and a lost career, or negotiate. Mercedes and Abreu settled the day before jury selection.

Attorney Michael Gunzburg commented on the outcome: "Ollies had multiple surgeries, lost his job, and had his life turned upside down, all because a commercial driver acted recklessly and a company failed to prevent it. Getting a result like this for him and his co-plaintiffs is exactly why we do this work."

Cases involving commercial vehicle negligence in New York can produce significant results when liability is clear and injuries are well-documented. For a look at what plaintiff attorneys across the country are winning at trial and in settlement, visit the latest personal injury verdict news at Major Verdict.

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a truck or commercial vehicle accident, results like this one show what can be achieved when the evidence is strong and the attorney is prepared. Find a plaintiff lawyer on Major Verdict who has the trial record to back it up.

Case FAQ

Q: How are damages divided when multiple plaintiffs are part of the same settlement? A: Each plaintiff's share is determined by the severity of their injuries, the economic losses they suffered, and sometimes the strength of their individual claims within the case. In this case, Ollies Mercedes received $2,020,000 of the $2,145,000 total, reflecting the extent of his surgeries, lost income, and long-term impact. Plaintiffs with less severe injuries, like Balbuena, may settle separately and earlier in the litigation.

Q: What does partial summary judgment on liability mean in a personal injury case? A: A partial summary judgment on liability means the court ruled before trial that the defendant was legally responsible for the incident. The case then proceeds only on the question of damages: how much money the injured parties should receive. This ruling significantly strengthens the plaintiff's position heading into trial or settlement negotiations.