One of the largest monetary settlements in New Jersey’s history, $18.85 million, was recently secured for a client who died due to an accident at a construction site. This story appeared in Digital Journal, in a piece from the Press Advantage.

Under the New Jersey law, individuals who can prove the negligence of another party in causing their injuries can recover damages for pain and suffering, lost wages and medical expenses.

The law firm of Gill & Chamas LLC brought the lawsuit in the New Jersey court to recover compensation for a construction worker who had been fatally injured after a construction site accident. The plaintiff was standing next to a forklift when a nearby backhoe reversed and struck it, which then hit the plaintiff and pinned him between two machines.

The victim suffered spinal and internal injuries and later died from a heart attack. The jury found that the general contractor on the site and the manufacturer of the backhoe were both liable for the victim’s death. In addition, the estate sued the project’s architects for failing to ensure that the contractors had the proper insurance in place.