September
22, 2000
RECORD
$9.1 MILLION SETTLEMENT IN RAILROAD CRASH
News Article
Available
Jury
selection was set to begin Thursday in the lawsuit filed
by a woman severely injured when the car in which she was
riding collided with a freight train in March 1998 at a
Bloomingdale rail crossing.
Instead,
attorneys for Illinois Central Railroad Co., Chicago Central
and Pacific Railroad Co. and the driver of the car agreed
to pay $9.1 million to settle the suit filed by the family
of Hanifa Ajmeri, 44, of Carol Stream.
"We're
pleased that the railroad finally acknowledged that its
negligent conduct caused these injuries," said Timothy
J. Cavanagh, attorney for Ajmeri. "This settlement
will ensure that Hanifa receives the appropriate medical
care for the remainder of her life."
Through
an interpreter, Hanifa Ajmeri said she "was pleased
that the matter is resolved."
Attorneys
for the railroads and the driver did not return phone calls
Thursday.
Hanifa
Ajmeri was riding in a 1985 Chevrolet Nova driven by Subhra
Gangopadhyay, of Glendale Heights on March 9, 1998, shortly
after a harsh winter snowstorm. Though the snow had stopped
falling, strong winds were blowing it sideways, according
to Cavanagh.
The
warning gate arm was missing from the crossing on Schmale
Road, south of Army Trail Road. In addition, snow and ice
obscured the warning lights, Cavanagh said. As Gangopadhyay
entered the crossing, her car collided with the side of
the train, which was traveling about 40 miles per hour,
Cavanagh said. Both women were thrown from the car.
Ajmeri's
pelvis was crushed and she suffered a brain injury, ruptured
bladder and broken ribs, among other injuries. Doctors placed
her in a pharmacological coma for more than two weeks. She
underwent eight surgeries, spent months in a wheelchair
and now walks with a cane.
Her
medical costs totaled $460,000, Cavanagh said, and she will
require around-the-clock care.
The
railroads paid $9 million of the settlement. Gangopadhyay,
who reached her own out-of-court settlement with the railroad
companies, paid the remaining amount.
The
critical aspect of the settlement was the revelation in
March that a Bloomingdale police officer notified the railroad
about one hour before the collision that the warning gate
was missing. Railroad officials had suggested that the gate
was broken during the wreck.
