Brain Injured Passenger Awarded 4.2 Million Dollars

A Canadian man, who suffered severe brain damage when the vehicle in which he was a passenger was involved in a collision with another car, has been awarded 4.2 million dollars in one of Ontario´s biggest road traffic accident lawsuits.

Larry Greenlaw (52) of Angus, Ontario, was a passenger in his friend´s Toyota Echo when, in February 2007, it was involved in a road traffic accident with the Subaru Impreza driven by Luc Saulnier. Larry´s friend, Benjamin Dunnett, Saulnier and two passengers in Saulnier´s car were transported to Royal Victoria Hospital by ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries, but Larry had to be airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital and then transferred to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, where he spent one month in and out of consciousness with bleeding in the brain.

As a result of the accident Larry sustained a catastrophic brain injury, resulting in severe cognitive impairments, and requires 24-hour care along with on-going treatment.

At the court hearing in Barrie, the jury heard that Larry does not understand that he is no longer the same as he once was and wonders why he needs a “babysitter”. His condition was likened to Alzheimers and the jury heard that, because of this, Larry cannot be left along for longer than five minutes.

The action had been filed against both Dunnett and Saulnier – with both denying liability for Larry´s injuries – however, after a five day trial, the jury found Dunnet (the driver of the car in which Larry was travelling) 80% responsible for his injuries and Saulnier 20% liable.

Larry and his wife were awarded 4.2 million (Canadian) dollars to cover the costs of his ongoing care which was understood to be the largest amount ever awarded in a juried personal injury trial in Barrie.