A man who suffered 含羞草研究社渃atastrophic含羞草研究社� injuries in a 2016 workplace accident in Chilliwack was awarded almost $15.5 million in damages in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver on Friday, Sept. 16.
Gerson Alvarado, 26, was rendered paraplegic in the sudden accident in Chilliwack that killed his co-worker, Sebastian Obando, on March 11, 2016, according to the decision on damages by Justice Michael Tammen.
It was a concrete placing boom extending from the pumper truck that fell and crushed the two workers, after a stabilizing leg on the equipment failed without warning.
Alvarado, the crew foreman, suffered spinal injuries, as well as broken vertebrae, ribs, sternum, and right femur, damaged lung, and lacerations to his liver, spleen and kidney.
But it was the spinal cord injury that was described as 含羞草研究社渢he most severe含羞草研究社� of all of his injuries, with the damage to the thoracic spine described as 含羞草研究社渃omplete含羞草研究社� resulting in 含羞草研究社渃omplete loss of motor and sensory function below the level of the sternum.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淓very aspect of Mr. Alvarado含羞草研究社檚 daily life has been adversely impacted by his injuries,含羞草研究社� the justice含羞草研究社檚 decision underlined. 含羞草研究社淗e now endures almost constant chronic pain, as well as episodic acute pain.含羞草研究社�
Of the $15.5 million in damages, $3.1 million was for future wages, while another $9.7 million was for the cost of his future care.
Routine tasks such as 含羞草研究社渂athing, getting dressed, and bowel movements have become time-consuming daily chores.含羞草研究社�
His future isn含羞草研究社檛 what it used to be.
含羞草研究社淧rior to the accident,含羞草研究社� the decision said, 含羞草研究社淢r. Alvarado was physically active, and regularly playing soccer in a men含羞草研究社檚 league. He and his spouse enjoyed various physical activities together.
含羞草研究社淭hey were planning to have a family. They have, through in-vitro methods, been able to have one child since the accident, but it is unlikely they will have another,含羞草研究社� the decision reads.
The subsequent toll taken on 含羞草研究社渉is psyche and general mental state含羞草研究社� impacted Alvarado含羞草研究社檚 marriage, and relationships with other family members. He suffers from depression and anxiety since the accident.
The judge noted the plaintiff had been 含羞草研究社渏ust embarking on what looked to be an upward career trajectory in his chosen field,含羞草研究社� having been promoted to a supervisory position with his employer, PSI Concrete Pumping.
The manufacturer of the equipment, KCP Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. was listed as the the sole defendant, and did not file a response to the claim.
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