Indian couple gets $36m in damages

WASHINGTON: An Indian couple, who sustained serious injuries in an accident in the US in 2010, has been awarded a $36.48 million as compensation by a California court.
A Riverside County Superior Court jury awarded $36.48 million to Prakash Sheth, 64, and his wife, Jashiree Sheth, 58, from Mumbai, whose car was struck by a big-rig on Interstate 10 in Beaumont two years ago.
At the time of the accident , the Sheths were visiting the US from India and were on their way to an airport in Orange County for a family vacation in Hawaii.
According to the plaintiffs' attorneys, the Sheths were being driven by an American relative to John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana when their vehicle was hit by a 18-wheeler truck that went around the victims' car but failed to completely clear the sedan while changing lanes, Valley news reported.
"The impact of the truck caused the Sheths' vehicle to spin out of control across the freeway, where it hit the median barrier and was struck by another vehicle," according to a statement released by the law firm representing the couple.
All of the occupants were hurt, but Jashiree received the worst injuries, including a spinal fracture that left her paralyzed.