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Settlements & Verdicts

$350,000 Award for a Horseback Riding Accident Involving a Minor

Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Denville, NJ

Christopher L. Musmanno, Esq., Chair of the Personal Injury Department and Certified Civil Trial Attorney with the law firm of Einhorn, Barbarito, Frost & Botwinick, PC in Denville, NJ, announces a $350,000 settlement for a horseback riding accident involving a minor.

Plaintiff, a minor, suffers from a condition known as Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EOE), which is a chronic digestive disorder that required the surgical implantation of a tube through her nose into her esophagus. Plaintiff is a very small and petite child, only weighing 45 pounds at the time of this accident. In April 2014 Plaintiff presented was participating in a monitored riding lesson. During

Plaintiff’s lesson on that particular day, Plaintiff was practicing loping, which is the faster pace after trot with her instructor. For the first 10 to 15 minutes of the lesson, the instructor was using a lunge line; for the remaining 10 to 15 minutes of the lesson, Plaintiff loped with without her instructor holding the lunge line. The purpose of a lunge line is to assist the instructor in case a rider cannot handle the horse. Toward the end of the lesson, Plaintiff’s half of the ring became very crowded which caused her horse to spook and become nervous and jittery. Her instructor was approximately 10 feet away and not holding the lunge line. At that point, Plaintiff’s horse took off and ran around the ring for approximately 20 seconds before Plaintiff was thrown off. She was thrown into a concrete wall, cracking her riding helmet and causing her to sustained serious injuries.
Plaintiff, was transported via personal transportation to the hospital where she came under the care of an orthopedic surgeon and underwent underwent surgery to repair a fracture of her femur. She was thereafter recommended to commence physical therapy.

Plaintiff returned to her treating doctor and complained of neurological discomfort in the form of color change and coldness of skin in or around her left hip. She also complained of pain with no external rotation of the left hip and only 50% abduction. In response, Plaintiff underwent a second surgery which consisted of screw removal; manipulation under anesthesia; and confirming the absence of avascular necrosis.

The case settled for $350,000.00, prior to the scheduling of a trial.

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