Suffered Brain Injury After Tripping on Sidewalk Block... Receives $10.6 Million Settlement

City of Whittier, California Agrees to Large Settlement
Injuries Including Brain Damage After Tripping Over Protruding Sidewalk Block

A woman who was injured after tripping over a sidewalk block in the United States has drawn attention after receiving a substantial compensation from the local government.

Recently, local media outlets in California, including NBC Los Angeles, reported that Justine Gurrola, who worked as a special education teacher, received compensation from city authorities for a sidewalk accident.

According to reports, on February 25, 2018, Gurrola was walking with her nephew in Whittier, California, when she tripped over a protruding block and fell forward. As a result of the accident, she suffered fractures to her wrist, elbow, knee, and nasal bone, and her lip was lacerated. To make matters worse, after being transported to the hospital and undergoing a CT scan, she was diagnosed with a scalp hematoma and traumatic brain injury.

An American woman who tripped on a sidewalk block while walking and suffered a serious injury. Screenshot from NBC broadcast.

Following the accident, Gurrola had to undergo treatment for brain injury for nearly seven years. It has been reported that she experienced several difficulties, including reduced capacity in her frontal and temporal lobes, impaired executive function, emotional regulation issues, and memory loss.

Gurrola's attorney explained that at the time of the accident, the sidewalk block was protruding two inches (about five centimeters) above the ground due to unmanaged tree roots. The attorney added that although the victim tried to break her fall with her arms, she ended up hitting her face on the cement pavement.

The attorney also claimed that Whittier city authorities had received ongoing complaints from citizens about the sidewalk, but had neglected its maintenance. Ultimately, the city of Whittier agreed to pay Gurrola 7.5 million dollars (approximately 10.6 billion won) in settlement.

Gurrola told the media, "Whittier is famous for its trees, and there are indeed many beautiful trees. Unfortunately, sometimes (because of the trees) it may not be safe."

She emphasized that she did not file the lawsuit for money, stating, "I am truly saddened that I can no longer do the things I loved, but it is more important that others do not suffer from the same kind of accident as I did."