Segway Brain Injury Leads to $10 Million Verdict

John Ezzo, a 23-year-old from Norwalk, Connecticut, was awarded a $10 million verdict after a Segway accident left him with significant brain injuries. According to NBC Connecticut, he was injured while riding a Segway during a demonstration at Southern Connecticut State University in 2009. The brain injury allegedly forced him to drop out of the university and find work as a handyman. A Bridgeport Superior Court jury awarded Ezzo the substantial verdict after determining that Segway, Inc. and two company employees wereliable for his injuries.

The accident occurred during an event labeled the “Segway Challenge,” an event organized to raise money for the Special Olympics. Allegedly, as part of the demonstration, he rode the two-wheeled vehicle through an obstacle course while blindfolded and without a helmet. Two Segway employees set up the course. While completing the challenge, Ezzo fell from the vehicle and injured his head). In 2010, British millionaire Segway, Inc. owner Jimi Heselden died after falling off a cliff while riding his Segway scooter.

Segway, Inc is based in New Hampshire and was found liable for the student’s injuries along with its two employees present at the time of the accident. The company recommends that Segway users wear helmets when they ride the vehicle, as the vehicle is able to reach speeds of about 12.5mph. Despite this, helmets were not provided during the demonstration. The jury forewoman, Lorrie Hathway, commented, “The company instructed their employees to wear helmets, but did nothing to protect the students.”

Scientific advances have aided in the diagnosis and treatment of brain injuries, but they can still be catastrophic, physically and financially, for an individual. If you or a loved one sustains a brain injury in an accident, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. Traumatic brain injuries are often the results of negligent actions of another, medical malpractice, sports accidents, automobile accidents, or criminal actions.