Insurance Company Pays Injured Pedestrian $900,000

Eugene Castle, a seasonal resident of Okeechobee, treasured coming from Elizabethtown, Indiana, to Florida every winter for the last 17 years.  His passion for fishing and boating allowed him to retire and do what he most loved as a professional sport fisherman.

In March 2008, Castle was taking his morning walk along State Road 441 in an area commonly traveled by pedestrians.  He was waiting on a grassy median strip, which was not marked as a crosswalk, for traffic to pass. A van pulled out of the neighboring gas station and accelerated into the inside lane, violently striking Castle and knocking him to the ground, unconscious 

Trauma Hawk quickly arrived at the scene and transported him to St. Mary’s Hospital.  He had suffered a severe closed head injury – now referred to as a Traumatic Brain Injury – and remained in a coma for 17 days. 

He came out of the coma, but fishing or even sitting on the lake in his boat is no longer an option, just a dream of the past.  He cannot drive, mow the grass, or simply be alone.  Castle, now needs around the clock care, and his loving wife of 50 years has taken on that full-time responsibility, ending her retirement as well.  Sadly for both him and his wife, he is not expected to improve.

Stuart attorney Philip DeBerard negotiated a settlement with the driver’s Canadian insurance company for more than $900,000 which at least will help with Mr. Castle’s care in his last years.