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The accident happened May 2, 1997, when a train operated by Norfolk Southern derailed in Gainesville, Va., near Manassas, according to the lawsuit filed in Circuit Court for Prince William County.
Donald French, 37, was working in the office building at the Race-Trac service station, when the 38-car train, No. 214, derailed and sent all three locomotives and seven cars off the track, according to a Department of Transportation memorandum summarizing the case.
French was trapped between two jack-knifed cars and crushed, said his attorney, Stephen M. Smith of the Brain Injury Law Center.
French suffered a traumatic brain injury and severe injuries to his legs, Smith said.
The accident prompted officials to close U.S. Route 29 while emergency and hazardous materials crews cleaned up the site.
The verdict of $60 million is the largest personal injury verdict in Virginia history and the largest mild traumatic brain injury verdict in world history.
If you or a loved one has been injured and suffered traumatic brain injury as a result please contact Stephen Smith at the Brain Injury Law Center to protect your rights. Contact us at (757) 244-7000 or via online contact form.
