Results
Al Goodman’s positive and impressive track record of verdicts and settlements are the proof that he fights and works hard to obtain justice for innocent victims and their families.
Gagnon v. Shoblom and BFI Paralysis
$3,500,000
Donald Gagnon was a tractor trailer truck driver heading back to Springfield on the Mass Turnpike. He pulled over to help another trucker fix her mudflaps. While in the breakdown lane, a garbage truck driver fell asleep at 1:30 p.m. in the afternoon, slammed into the trailer in the breakdown lane. As a result, Gagnon was paralyzed from the waist down and the other driver was buried alive under a pile of burning telephone books and died. The defendant claimed he had undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea and could not be held liable as he was not conscious and therefore could not be held to be negligent since he was not in control of his actions. Goodman retained several experts in obstructive sleep apnea who battled the defense experts, eventually bringing them to the table to discuss settlement. The Gagnon claim was settled for 3 million dollars, part of which was put in a special annuity called a structured settlement.
$3,500,000
Donald Gagnon was a tractor trailer truck driver heading back to Springfield on the Mass Turnpike. He pulled over to help another trucker fix her mudflaps. While in the breakdown lane, a garbage truck driver fell asleep at 1:30 p.m. in the afternoon, slammed into the trailer in the breakdown lane. As a result, Gagnon was paralyzed from the waist down and the other driver was buried alive under a pile of burning telephone books and died. The defendant claimed he had undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea and could not be held liable as he was not conscious and therefore could not be held to be negligent since he was not in control of his actions. Goodman retained several experts in obstructive sleep apnea who battled the defense experts, eventually bringing them to the table to discuss settlement. The Gagnon claim was settled for 3 million dollars, part of which was put in a special annuity called a structured settlement.
Pedestrian Injuries
$1,200,000
A young man walking across a street late at night in a western Massachusetts town was hit by a car that left the scene. Other motorists identified the plate on the car which police traced to a car dealership. The driver was a salesperson who at first denied responsibility for leaving the scene after hitting and causing personal injuries to the pedestrian. The driver was apparently drunk and did not want to remain there for police to arrest him. He also had a prior criminal record.
The insurance carrier wanted no part of this mess and paid a seven figure settlement to cover the man’s permanent mild traumatic brain injury damages.
$1,200,000
A young man walking across a street late at night in a western Massachusetts town was hit by a car that left the scene. Other motorists identified the plate on the car which police traced to a car dealership. The driver was a salesperson who at first denied responsibility for leaving the scene after hitting and causing personal injuries to the pedestrian. The driver was apparently drunk and did not want to remain there for police to arrest him. He also had a prior criminal record.
The insurance carrier wanted no part of this mess and paid a seven figure settlement to cover the man’s permanent mild traumatic brain injury damages.
Motorcycle Crashes
$100,000 – $1,000,000
The common factual scenario in many motorcycle crashes Attorney Goodman has handled is that the operator of a motor vehicle attempts to take a left hand turn in front of an oncoming motorcycle. Many times they do not see the single motorcycle light at night, or in the daytime they misjudge the speed of the motorcycle and try to beat them in the intersection. These crashes result in significant injuries to the motorcyclists, many times involving head injuries, fractured bones, and internal injuries. Attorney Goodman does not accept anything less than all of the available insurance money if there is to be a settlement. Otherwise, he advises his clients to take it to trial. In the past few years, more than a half-dozen cases were resolved after contentious depositions, pre-trial discovery and battles with the insurance carriers — all to the satisfaction of Attorney Goodman’s clients. The family who lost a loved one has still been grieving. A few women who sustained fractured pelvises were rendered unable to become pregnant or carry babies.
$100,000 – $1,000,000
The common factual scenario in many motorcycle crashes Attorney Goodman has handled is that the operator of a motor vehicle attempts to take a left hand turn in front of an oncoming motorcycle. Many times they do not see the single motorcycle light at night, or in the daytime they misjudge the speed of the motorcycle and try to beat them in the intersection. These crashes result in significant injuries to the motorcyclists, many times involving head injuries, fractured bones, and internal injuries. Attorney Goodman does not accept anything less than all of the available insurance money if there is to be a settlement. Otherwise, he advises his clients to take it to trial. In the past few years, more than a half-dozen cases were resolved after contentious depositions, pre-trial discovery and battles with the insurance carriers — all to the satisfaction of Attorney Goodman’s clients. The family who lost a loved one has still been grieving. A few women who sustained fractured pelvises were rendered unable to become pregnant or carry babies.
Rear-end crash caused by a drunk school bus driver results in permanent injuries to a young worker
$500,000 Jury Verdict – Northampton Superior Court
A young woman who worked for a liquid lawn fertilizer company was on the job working driving the company vehicle and stopped at a red light when a school bus crashed into her vehicle. It turned out that the bus operator, at 1:30 p.m., was on his way to an elementary school to pick up children and was drunk.
The woman received treatment for a back injury which turned out to be a herniated disk. Her doctor operated and removed the disk but she still has pain from the scar tissue. A second operation was recommended but she refused to go through the terrible pain and uncertain recovery again. The jury returned a verdict of $ 500,000 in her favor.
$500,000 Jury Verdict – Northampton Superior Court
A young woman who worked for a liquid lawn fertilizer company was on the job working driving the company vehicle and stopped at a red light when a school bus crashed into her vehicle. It turned out that the bus operator, at 1:30 p.m., was on his way to an elementary school to pick up children and was drunk.
The woman received treatment for a back injury which turned out to be a herniated disk. Her doctor operated and removed the disk but she still has pain from the scar tissue. A second operation was recommended but she refused to go through the terrible pain and uncertain recovery again. The jury returned a verdict of $ 500,000 in her favor.
Bus accident results in fractured jaw and loss of teeth
$450,000
A young woman passenger on a public bus sustained serious permanent injuries when the bus driver lost control when he was adjusting his mirrors and smashed into a light pole. The crash propelled the passenger into a railing and pole inside the bus. She sustained a fractured mandible (jaw) which required it to be wired and closed for several weeks. She also lost several teeth and sustained a permanent disfiguring scar on her face. After extensive depositions once the suit was filed, the deposition of the bus driver did not go well for him. The case was settled confidentially for a large six figure amount.
$450,000
A young woman passenger on a public bus sustained serious permanent injuries when the bus driver lost control when he was adjusting his mirrors and smashed into a light pole. The crash propelled the passenger into a railing and pole inside the bus. She sustained a fractured mandible (jaw) which required it to be wired and closed for several weeks. She also lost several teeth and sustained a permanent disfiguring scar on her face. After extensive depositions once the suit was filed, the deposition of the bus driver did not go well for him. The case was settled confidentially for a large six figure amount.
Elderly working man hit by pickup in his apartment complex parking lot
$450,000
A man in his late seventies who worked part-time and was otherwise in good health was hit by a pick-up truck driven by another resident in the same parking complex. The man sustained a fractured leg and a knee injury. While home off his feet, he developed a blood clot in his lungs that almost killed him. He then developed a heart condition known as atrial fibrillation. Attorney Goodman filed suit against the driver and the owner of the truck who was a big construction company and employer of the driver. Goodman knocked on the door of a person who lived right where the collision took place. She turned out to be a pivotal witness in support of the man’s case. A medical school cardiologist and professor was retained to determine whether or not the pulmonary embolism (DVT) and heart condition were caused by the collision. His report found they arose from his injuries caused by the pickup truck hit and knocking him down. The insurance company at that point decided it was best to sit down at the negotiating table and the case was settled with a very advantageous and guaranteed structured settlement established for the elderly man to live out his years in assisted living with extra spending money and other benefits.
$450,000
A man in his late seventies who worked part-time and was otherwise in good health was hit by a pick-up truck driven by another resident in the same parking complex. The man sustained a fractured leg and a knee injury. While home off his feet, he developed a blood clot in his lungs that almost killed him. He then developed a heart condition known as atrial fibrillation. Attorney Goodman filed suit against the driver and the owner of the truck who was a big construction company and employer of the driver. Goodman knocked on the door of a person who lived right where the collision took place. She turned out to be a pivotal witness in support of the man’s case. A medical school cardiologist and professor was retained to determine whether or not the pulmonary embolism (DVT) and heart condition were caused by the collision. His report found they arose from his injuries caused by the pickup truck hit and knocking him down. The insurance company at that point decided it was best to sit down at the negotiating table and the case was settled with a very advantageous and guaranteed structured settlement established for the elderly man to live out his years in assisted living with extra spending money and other benefits.
Child born with webbed feet and hands due to auto accident
$300,000
A pregnant mom pulled out onto a state road and was t-boned. The mom was ok and the doctors said the baby in utero would be ok, but instead she was born with a traumatic defect caused by the crash, according to expert doctors retained by Attorney Goodman. A claim was brought on behalf of the child against the mother by the child’s father against the auto insurance carrier, which ended up paying the full policy limits.
$300,000
A pregnant mom pulled out onto a state road and was t-boned. The mom was ok and the doctors said the baby in utero would be ok, but instead she was born with a traumatic defect caused by the crash, according to expert doctors retained by Attorney Goodman. A claim was brought on behalf of the child against the mother by the child’s father against the auto insurance carrier, which ended up paying the full policy limits.
Wrongful death of child out of state
$250,000
A family car was t-boned out of state where mandatory auto insurance was not required. The parents asked Attorney Goodman to make a claim. He pursued their own Underinsured Motorist Coverage with their own carrier. A successful claim was made without having to file for mandatory arbitration and the policy limits were paid on account of the loss of their young son.
$250,000
A family car was t-boned out of state where mandatory auto insurance was not required. The parents asked Attorney Goodman to make a claim. He pursued their own Underinsured Motorist Coverage with their own carrier. A successful claim was made without having to file for mandatory arbitration and the policy limits were paid on account of the loss of their young son.
Rear-end collision
$160,000
A 58 year old utility worker was rear-ended by a dump truck. A diagnosis of cervical facet joint syndrome was made after facet joint injections provided temporary relief. The case was in suit and discovery completed. It was settled after a full-day mediation session in Boston.
$160,000
A 58 year old utility worker was rear-ended by a dump truck. A diagnosis of cervical facet joint syndrome was made after facet joint injections provided temporary relief. The case was in suit and discovery completed. It was settled after a full-day mediation session in Boston.
Women suffers catastrophic injury after being rear ended by utility company truck
$125,000
A woman sustained a concussion even though she did not hit her head on anything when her car was rear-ended by a phone company truck. Later, she realized she was unable to crunch numbers like she used to be able to as a real estate broker. A neuropsychologist did extensive testing and found she had a permanent brain injury due to the crash. The insurance company denied her claims. The case went to trial in Northampton Superior Court and both the treating medical doctor and the neuropsychologist were put on the stand by Attorney Goodman who skillfully questioned the doctors and let them explain to the curious jurors that this serious permanent injury could happen if she never hit her head. After hearing all of the evidence and closing arguments, the jurors returned a six figure verdict in favor of the plaintiff and validated her injuries and claim. The doctors were well prepared by Attorney Goodman who used focus groups to test out the theories and testimony in advance and develop a strategy for explaining the complicated science of how the whiplash motion resulted in a shearing of neurons in the woman’s brain and caused the permanent cognitive deficits despite the low property damage sustained by her car.
$125,000
A woman sustained a concussion even though she did not hit her head on anything when her car was rear-ended by a phone company truck. Later, she realized she was unable to crunch numbers like she used to be able to as a real estate broker. A neuropsychologist did extensive testing and found she had a permanent brain injury due to the crash. The insurance company denied her claims. The case went to trial in Northampton Superior Court and both the treating medical doctor and the neuropsychologist were put on the stand by Attorney Goodman who skillfully questioned the doctors and let them explain to the curious jurors that this serious permanent injury could happen if she never hit her head. After hearing all of the evidence and closing arguments, the jurors returned a six figure verdict in favor of the plaintiff and validated her injuries and claim. The doctors were well prepared by Attorney Goodman who used focus groups to test out the theories and testimony in advance and develop a strategy for explaining the complicated science of how the whiplash motion resulted in a shearing of neurons in the woman’s brain and caused the permanent cognitive deficits despite the low property damage sustained by her car.