A man who suffered sa国际传媒渃atastrophicsa国际传媒� injuries in a 2016 workplace accident in Chilliwack was awarded almost $15.5 million in damages in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver on Friday, Sept. 16.
Gerson Alvarado, 26, was rendered paraplegic in the sudden accident in Chilliwack that killed his co-worker, Sebastian Obando, on March 11, 2016, according to the decision on damages by Justice Michael Tammen.
It was a concrete placing boom extending from the pumper truck that fell and crushed the two workers, after a stabilizing leg on the equipment failed without warning.
Alvarado, the crew foreman, suffered spinal injuries, as well as broken vertebrae, ribs, sternum, and right femur, damaged lung, and lacerations to his liver, spleen and kidney.
But it was the spinal cord injury that was described as sa国际传媒渢he most severesa国际传媒� of all of his injuries, with the damage to the thoracic spine described as sa国际传媒渃ompletesa国际传媒� resulting in sa国际传媒渃omplete loss of motor and sensory function below the level of the sternum.sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淓very aspect of Mr. Alvaradosa国际传媒檚 daily life has been adversely impacted by his injuries,sa国际传媒� the justicesa国际传媒檚 decision underlined. sa国际传媒淗e now endures almost constant chronic pain, as well as episodic acute pain.sa国际传媒�
Of the $15.5 million in damages, $3.1 million was for future wages, while another $9.7 million was for the cost of his future care.
Routine tasks such as sa国际传媒渂athing, getting dressed, and bowel movements have become time-consuming daily chores.sa国际传媒�
His future isnsa国际传媒檛 what it used to be.
sa国际传媒淧rior to the accident,sa国际传媒� the decision said, sa国际传媒淢r. Alvarado was physically active, and regularly playing soccer in a mensa国际传媒檚 league. He and his spouse enjoyed various physical activities together.
sa国际传媒淭hey were planning to have a family. They have, through in-vitro methods, been able to have one child since the accident, but it is unlikely they will have another,sa国际传媒� the decision reads.
The subsequent toll taken on sa国际传媒渉is psyche and general mental statesa国际传媒� impacted Alvaradosa国际传媒檚 marriage, and relationships with other family members. He suffers from depression and anxiety since the accident.
The judge noted the plaintiff had been sa国际传媒渏ust embarking on what looked to be an upward career trajectory in his chosen field,sa国际传媒� having been promoted to a supervisory position with his employer, PSI Concrete Pumping.
The manufacturer of the equipment, KCP Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. was listed as the the sole defendant, and did not file a response to the claim.
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