Motorcyclist Awarded $10 Million in Truck Accident Lawsuit
By Daniel Hawn
Published on October 29, 2007
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Philip Cote Jr., who was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident on July 7, 2005. According to the suit, Cote was riding his motorcycle east on Sherman Avenue when a UPS truck heading in the opposite direction turned left in front of him. Cote collided with the rear passenger side of the vehicle; the impact tore Cote's right arm off approximately six inches from the shoulder.
Jurors found that the truck's driver, Terri Mae Murphy, was responsible for the accident.
The multimillion dollar verdict -- the largest in Warren County history -- includes $2.7 million for Cote's future lost earnings.
The jury awarded Cote's wife, Roxanne, $10,000 for the loss of her husband's services.
Since the accident, Cote has undergone four surgeries to help him gain mobility in his right shoulder. According to one of his attorneys, he is at risk for depression due to his injuries.
Cote was originally ticketed by Glens Falls police for traveling at an imprudent speed and failing to pay attention to the road prior to the accident. The tickets, however, were dropped when the court determined there was no evidence to support them, Cote's attorney said.
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