Palmdale, CA: In the days and hours leading up to February 6, 2011, the Cardona family of Palmdale could have no idea that their lives were about to change dramatically, and not for the better. That often happens when a DUI (driving under the influence) incident finds you. As it turns out, almost $21 million dollars has also found the Cardona family, but for reasons that have more to do with justice than good fortune. According to court records, plaintiff Jose Cardona and his wife, Irene, were out driving on the 6th of February 2011. Their adult son Eduardo was riding in the back. The trio was driving southbound along 47th Street E. in Palmdale, at a speed somewhere between 15 and 20 miles per hour (MPH) when their car was violently struck in front by an SUV coming the other way. The driver of the northbound vehicle, Galdino Cortes, was alleged to have been driving under the influence. The Cortes vehicle crossed the center line of the roadway and collided head-on with the Cardona vehicle, coming the other way. Cortes, according to the police investigation and a biomechanics expert called to testify at the resulting trial, was traveling at about 50 MPH when the collision occurred. All three occupants in the Cardona vehicle
suffered serious injuries. The elder Cardona, 59 at the time of the DUI
collision, suffered serious injuries to his legs and knees and has been
prevented from walking on his own since the accident. Cardona is capable of
managing short distances on his own with the aid of a walker, but has to rely
on a wheelchair for longer excursions. Doctors also identified late-onset
cerebellar damage that was not obvious at the time of the accident, but has
nonetheless left Cardona with symptoms including, but not limited to,
headaches, tremors, slurred speech, dizziness, anxiety, depression,
unpredictable mood, loss of concentration and memory problems. Cardona’s
ongoing issues also include worsening dysarthria, which causes him facial
numbness, tingling and difficulty swallowing. His weekends are now spent at
his boyhood home, caring for his parents. Source: Lawyers and Settlements |
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