NJ Transit Slated to Approve $1 Million Settlement for Injured Corrections Officers
The board of NJ Transit is now considering a settlement of $1 million to conclude a lawsuit filed by victims of a March 2013 crash with a transit bus. Gary Good and Julio Camacho, the individuals who filed the lawsuit, were Hudson County corrections officers at the time of the accident. According to court records, the accident occurred on March 19, 2013, on Pavonia Avenue in Jersey City. The NJ Transit bus, driven by Miguel A. Castro, was heading westbound, while a corrections van driven by Good and Camacho was headed eastbound on Pavonia. A double parked car in the lane of the bus obstructed its path, and caused the bus to veer into opposing traffic in order to circumvent the parked car. Castro was unable to get the bus entirely back in its own lane before the corrections van struck the rear of the bus. Castro then drove the bus away and was cited for leaving the scene of an accident and for failing to stay in his lane of traffic. Payroll records confirm that Castro continues to work for NJ Transit, as he has done since 1996.
The $1 million is a piece of a larger $2.25 million settlement that the parties reached via private mediation prior to taking the case to trial. If approved by NJ Transit, the $1 million settlement would be divided between the men, with Good and Camacho each standing to recover $500,000. While the bus driver was physically able to drive away from the crash, the accident was a serious one for the two men. Neither has been able to return to work since the crash occurred, and both remain on disability with serious neck injuries. Good has had discs removed in both his neck and lower back, and has had surgery on his elbow. He has been rendered unable to operate a firearm by the accident. Camacho had a disc replaced in his neck and also had his shoulder replaced.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident, ensure that you are fully compensated for all your injuries. Contact a skilled attorney who will advocate zealously on your behalf. Call the skilled Wayne personal injury and bus accident attorneys at Massood Law Group for a free evaluation of your claim, at 1-844-MB-HURT.
