USD3 million paid in pre-trail settlement. PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

A man who suffered complete fractures of the two long bones in his leg and sustained nerve damage in a collision between two forklifts has agreed to settle his claims against the warehouse owner where the accident occurred for USD3 million.

According to an analysis of the case by Law Weekly, Gaulberto Rivas-Reyes was injured in a collision between two forklifts.

His lawyers alleged Crescent Park Corp. failed to properly train its employee about how to properly use a forklift.

The case had been set to come before a jury in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, but was settled in the lead-up to trial. No judge had yet been selected to handle the trial.

Rivas-Reyes' lawyers believe the defendants settled the case because the plaintiffs had established through discovery that the defendant allegedly violated both internal safety policies and US Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards.

Rivas-Reyes was moving cargo with a forklift when Nesim Tawadrous, a Crescent Park employee, ran the forklift he was driving into Rivas-Reyes. One of the forks on Tawadrous' lift struck Rivas-Reyes about six to eight inches above his knee.

The forks on Tawadrous' forklift had been elevated about 18 in. (45 cm) above floor level.

Rivas-Reyes claimed an economic loss between USD2.7 million and USD3.1 million.