The parents of a 17-year-old boy, who was injured in a truck accident when he was 14, have been awarded a total settlement of $15.07 million by the Southern California Gas Company (Sempra). The accident involved a Sempra truck and the car in which the boy, Kyle Tilton, was riding.

The accident took place on November 2nd 2005 in Yucca Valley, California. Kyle was in a car being driven by his mother, Charlotte Tilton. His mother made a left turn at Twenty Nine Palms Highway in Joshua Tree. A Sempra truck, driven by Darryl Whitley, ran a red light and slammed into the vehicle.

The side of the car that Kyle was sitting took the full force of the accident. He suffered various injuries – including head injuries, fractured ribs, collapsed spleen and liver, and multiple pelvic factures, beside other injuries. He was unresponsive at the scene, and spent the next few days at the hospital. He was in intensive care for 8 days. His mother, Charlotte, suffered only minor injures. Kyle hasn’t completely recovered from his injuries. He continues to undergo brain rehabilitation therapy, and although his quality of life has improved, there is a long way to go before the now 17-year-old boy can hope to have a full life again.

The family bought a lawsuit against Sempras. The company fought its liability until the very first day of trial, and refused to offer a sum that could be acceptable by the family in order to settle. The matter then went to jury, and now the verdict has come back in favor of the plaintiffs. $3.57 million was awarded to Kyle for his medical expenses in the future, which are expected to be huge. A sum of $1.07 million has been paid for his future loss of earning, and $10 million has been awarded for his pain and suffering. The jury also awarded Kyle $1.34 million for his past medical expenses and $21,960 in past family services. His mother, Charlotte, who cited emotional distress at witnessing the near death for her son, also has a claim in the lawsuit. She has been given $270,000 for her pain.

Sempra insists that the only reason they allowed the case to go to trial is because they had conflict with the cost of caring for Kyle. The jury had obviously no such conflict. They have awarded the boy more than $3 million for his future medical expenses. Kyle’s parents are satisfied with the verdict, and hope to use the money to further his rehabilitation therapy so he can gain back control of his life.

If you have been injured in a car accident, you need the help of an experienced California personal injury attorney. Contact a lawyer at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.