A jury awarded a Perth Amboy man $3 million for the back injuries he received in an auto accident in the city in 2011.
A jury in New Brunswick awarded a Perth Amboy man $3 million for back injuries in suffered in a 2011 auto accident. NEW BRUNSWICK -- A jury awarded a Perth Amboy man $3 million for the back injuries he received in an auto accident in the city in 2011.
The jury sided with Cristian Angeles, 38, whose attorney, Steven Haddad of Edison, presented medical evidence that Angeles suffered three herniated discs in his lower back and damage to his neck that made it impossible for him to work as a long-haul truck driver any longer.
The trial before Superior Court Judge Phillip Paley lasted four days and the jury deliberated for an hour and 10 minutes Wednesday before reaching its verdict, according to Haddad.
Haddad said the accident occurred when his client was driving on Donald Avenue toward the intersection with Harington Street and was broadsided by a car driven by Carmen Nieves, who was on Harington Street.
"She had the Stop sign but told the police her view was blocked by a school bus and didn't see my client's car," Haddad said.
He said the collision drove Angeles' Honda Civic into a fence.
Nieves' attorney, Owen McCarthy, of Roseland, would not comment on the verdict.
Angeles received epidural injections, but a physician testified during the trial that Angeles will suffer back pain for the rest of his life, Haddad said.
Haddad said his client has four children and his injuries have "significantly reduced" his income potential.
He said Angeles has been able to find some work driving trucks on shorter routes but they are not as profitable as the longer haul routes he used to drive before the accident.
"I'm happy for the Angeles family that they will now have a more secure future," Haddad said.
Sue Epstein may be reached at sepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @susan_epstein. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
