Personal injury attorney Christopher Sica, a Partner with Rome, Clifford Katz & Koerner, LLP, recently won a motor vehicle case and damages for a client who had been blamed by Waterbury Police for a crash involving a cruiser.
The case went to trial in Waterbury Superior Court, where a jury found Attorney Sica’s argument persuasive and assigned 74 percent of the negligence for the crash to the Waterbury police officer.
That verdict resulted in $46,335 in economic and non-economic damages being awarded by the jury.
Here’s what happened and how Attorney Sica prevailed in the case:
On Dec. 19, 2019, a Wolcott man and a Waterbury police officer driving a cruiser were both heading north on Elm Street in downtown Waterbury shortly before 5 p.m., near the intersection of Kingsbury Street.
There are travel and turning lanes in that area. The Wolcott man was traveling behind the officer. As the officer approached the Torrco parking lot, the Wolcott man began to pull around the officer to the right.
As the Wolcott driver proceeded around the the police officer, the officer “without warning, commenced a right-hand turn, directly into the plaintiff’s vehicle,” according to the lawsuit, filed June 17, 2020.
“The collision and the attendant injuries were a direct and proximate result of the negligence and carelessness of the defendant driver,” the lawsuit argued.
That’s not what the Waterbury Police report on the collision had concluded. It said the Wolcott man was responsible for the crash, for trying to pass the officer on the right on a one lane road.
The officer, Attorney Sica argued in the lawsuit, “violated the motor vehicle laws of the State of Connecticut in turning a vehicle when it was not in a proper position on the highway, and or otherwise turned his vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a highway when it was not reasonably safe to do so, in violation of § 14-241 of the Connecticut General Statutes.”
Attorney Christopher Sica
In court, Attorney Sica effectively countered the contention by the City of Waterbury that negligence should be assigned to the Wolcott driver because the officer had the right-of-way to take whatever action necessary in the course of duty and civilian drivers must yield. Attorney Sica’s successful cross-examination of the Waterbury Police Officer and the Waterbury City Engineer was instrumental in bringing to light fault against the City.
“I was able to show the jury that the officer veered left before turning right, and that his sudden action could not be anticipated by my client, who was driving safely and lawfully,” Attorney Sica said. “And the evidence showed the officer was not paying attention and tried to make a dangerous, sudden right-hand turn.”
As a result of the collision, Attorney Sica’s client suffered a neck injury, which limited some of his activities of daily living. The crash left him with bills for chiropractic care and treatment, including creating financial loss.
About Attorney Sica
Partner Christopher Sica focuses his practice on protecting the rights of those who are injured. This includes Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Workers’ Compensation and Malpractice cases. He has tried numerous cases to verdict, securing victories for his clients.
Attorney Sica was named to the 2022 Super Lawyers list in the Rising Stars category, marking the fifth consecutive year he has been honored in the Personal Injury General: Plaintiff category. He also has been selected to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100.
See his profile page to learn more.
About RCKK Law
Rome, Clifford Katz & Koerner is a Hartford-based law firm whose attorneys collectively have more than 100 years of experience in a wide variety of legal areas. Whether you are dealing with a motor vehicle accident, a Workers’ Compensation injury, a Family Law matter, or a business concern, our skilled lawyers will aggressively advocate on your behalf. We represent individuals and businesses in Connecticut and throughout the New England states.