New York City, New York (NewYorkInjuryNews.com – News Report) – On October 15, 2003, the Andrew J. Barberi ferryboat crashed into a concrete pier at the St. George Ferry terminal. Eleven people were killed and 71 were injured, some of them with severed limbs. This was the worst accident in the ferry’s 98-year history.
A passenger aboard the boat, Mr. McMillan, was left a quadriplegic and jurors decided that he would need “$10.3 million in medical care for the nearly 25 years he is expected to live. The panel also said he should get $7.36 million for his future pain and suffering from the accident. Jurors also said McMillan’s past pain and suffering was worth $4.6 million and that he was due $685,000 in past medical expenses.” His case is to be heard by Judge Jack B. Weinstein, who will take the advisory verdict and decide how much money Mr. McMillan is to be compensated. As of now, Mr. McMillan’s is the only ferry case to go to trial for damages, but there are many more expected to arise. In total damages, the city of New York has paid out $51.8 million on 129 claims with 42 remaining. And because of this, many city attorneys think the jurors were too generous and have stated that the verdict was excessive and urge Judge Weinstein to reduce it.
Cases such as these are hard to mange, since there are so many lives taken and injured and the city must deal with the damages. Families must be compensated for losses and it is only right that the city covers hospital bills and various kinds of therapy for the victims involved.