A man from the Annadale section of Staten Island has settled a personal-injury lawsuit against an Island tow truck company for $200,000.

Lloyd Rosenbaum dislocated his right kneecap and suffered ligament damage during an accident at the Diesel Truck Nationals at Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J. on Sept. 20, 2003.

At the show, tricked-out trucks were judged based on appearance and a tow truck owned by the Apple Towing Co. Inc. was named Best in Show, Rosenbaum's attorney, William J. Barillari said.

After winning, the driver, Salvatore Mazzio, a former co-worker of Rosenbaum's, invited friends and family onto the track to hop on the rig for a victory lap.

Rosenbaum claims that Mazzio put the truck in gear before he was completely on the truck, causing it to lurch, resulting in Rosenbaum falling off of the truck.

Mazzio claimed that Rosenbaum fell while chasing after the truck, but never reaching.

However a track security guard corroborated Rosenbaum's account and the defendant's insurance carrier then settled the case before it went to a verdict.

--Contributed by Frank Donnelly
Posted by Staten Island Advance July 19, 2007 1:54PM

http://blog.silive.com/advanceupdate/2007/07/victory_lap_gone_wrong_costs_t.html