MediVisuals + High Impact Acquire Jury Impressions – Learn more
Kurt Zaner – Zaner Harden
$30M Verdict: Water Tank Explosion
-
Illustration
-
Injury Summary
-
Medical Illustration
-
Legal
-
Personal Injury
-
Case Study
- +4
The plaintiff had been standing atop a water tank located at a fracking site when the tank suddenly exploded, forcefully ejecting him 27 feet away. As a result of the incident, he suffered a number of injuries, which included an open book pelvic fracture, an ankle and foot injury that eventually required a below knee amputation, as well as a mild brain injury.
Challenge
The defendant had one job: to provide water and oil tanks at the job site. These tanks were supposed to be vapor tight, but the defendant failed to properly inspect the tanks and delivered them with pin holes, corroding liners, broken nipples, and an even an open pipe on top of an oil tank. The holes allowed air into the system, creating a flammable mixture that ignited and traveled downstream to the water tank that the plaintiff was standing on, which then exploded. The defendant denied liability entirely, instead casting blame on several non-parties.
Summary of injuries presentation, showing the numerous, significant injuries sustained.
Approach
The injuries were catastrophic and complex in and of themselves, even more so when evaluating the whole person impact of the injuries combined with each other. It was not only the catastrophic injuries that needed illustration to fully convey their nature and complexity, but it was the manner in which they were stabilized and corrected that also needed to be visualized by the jury. Focusing their efforts on the damages side of the case, Kurt Zaner utilized a series of digital exhibits to demonstrate the following:
-
01
A "summary of injuries" presentation, showing the numerous, significant injuries sustained, including, but not limited to, an open book pelvic fracture, right fibular head fracture, right tibial plateau fracture, right pilon fracture, 14 fractured ribs, lumbar transverse process fractures, pulmonary contusions, spleen laceration, and mild traumatic brain injury.
-
02
An animated surgical procedure showing the open reduction and internal fixation of the pelvis.
-
03
An animated surgical procedure showing the open reduction and internal fixation of the right ankle.
-
04
An animated surgical procedure showing a right sided below-the-knee-amputation.
Animated surgery showing open reduction internal fixation of the pelvis.
Animated surgery showing open reduction and internal fixation of right ankle fractures.
Animation showing right-sided below the knee amputation.
Result
The summary of injuries presentation as well as the animated surgical procedures helped Kurt Zaner obtain a $30M verdict for his client.
Kurt and his team suggested that the jury award $8 million in economic damages, based on the plaintiff's medical expenses, life care plan, and loss of future earning capacity. The defendant challenged these damages on several fronts, arguing that they were mostly speculative and unsupported by the medical records. The defendant suggested around $2 million in economic damages. The jury ultimately awarded $10M in economic damages, about $2M more than initially suggested.
“MediVisuals + High Impact made a HUGE impact on the jury and their $30 million verdict for our client. The visuals were not only captivating, but were critical in conveying the complex injuries and how they were stabilized. We won't use anyone other than MediVisuals + High Impact on our future cases.”
Work with us
Interested in working with us? To get started choose one of the options below.