The Ginarte Law Firm is proud to announce that one of our attorneys has obtained a $6,500,00.00 settlement on behalf of Elba Galeno in Galeno v. NJ Tranist on Monday, September 29, 2014. The case was docketed in Essex County.

Miss Galeno was struck by a New Jersey Transit bus while she was crossing the street at the intersection of Market and Main Streets in Paterson, NJ. As a result of the horrific accident, she sustained severely comminuted open fractures and crushing injuries to both legs. Ms. Galeno ultimately underwent an amputation of her right leg below the knee.

Ms. Galeno was admitted to St. Joseph’s Hospital after the accident. Throughout her extended admission, she underwent thirteen surgeries.

New Jersey Transit argued that Ms. Galeno was partly responsible for the accident, alleging that it was unclear as to whether or not Ms. Galeno was in the crosswalk at the time of the accident and that she crossed the street for seven seconds after the “Don’t Walk” signal began flashing. Our attorney’s central arguments on behalf of Ms. Galeno were that the evidence demonstrated that Ms. Galeno was in the crosswalk at the time of the accident and that the New Jersey Transit bus had an absolute obligation to remain stopped at the intersection until Ms. Galeno and other pedestrians completed crossing. Instrumental in establishing liability was computer animation prepared on behalf of Ms. Galeno which permitted jurors to view the accident as if seated in the seat of the bus driver.

The case was assigned out to trial to Judge Michelle Hollar-Gregory in Essex County, but ultimately settled for $6,500,000.00.