Bulldozer operator settles after losing leg in job site incident

Action: Motor vehicle negligence

Injuries alleged: Injury resulting in right above-knee amputation, traumatic hemorrhagic shock, femur fracture, artery laceration, lower limb ischemia

Case name: Withheld

Amount: $7 million

Date: May 20, 2026

Attorneys: Mark Jetton Jr. of Jetton & Meredith Law in Charlotte (for the plaintiff)

In 2022, the plaintiff was working at a Cabarrus County landfill, performing maintenance on his bulldozer, when the bulldozer was struck by a commercial dump truck, pinning and crushing him between two pieces of heavy machinery.

The plaintiff sustained catastrophic and life-threatening injuries requiring immediate medical attention, including airlift transportation. Despite extensive medical treatment, including multiple emergency surgeries, skin-grafting procedures, irrigation and debridement processes, and wound VAC applications, the plaintiff’s right leg could not be saved.

Plaintiffs’ counsel immediately secured an accident reconstruction specialist to analyze the incident and assist with establishing the liability claims against the defendants. An economic expert quantified the loss of earnings and household services. A life care expert was retained to accurately map out future healthcare needs by calculating and projecting lifetime medical costs associated with the plaintiff’s injuries and his ongoing maintenance and prosthetic leg upkeep.

Defendants refused to accept responsibility for the incident, arguing that the plaintiff, by failing to keep a proper lookout, contributed to his injuries and was not entitled to collect compensation from the defendants. Following four years of advocacy to address economic and non-economic damages, plaintiff’s counsel finalized a settlement one week prior to trial.