Case Background

On the morning of August 24, 2022, Jessenia Marie Santiago was driving eastbound on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (also known as South Frontage Road) in New Haven, Connecticut. As she approached the intersection with Orange Street, her vehicle collided with a municipal vehicle driven by William E. Johnston III, an employee of the City of New Haven, who had also been travelling eastbound but in a different lane. According to Santiago, Johnston suddenly veered into her lane without warning, causing the crash.

She filed a civil lawsuit against both Johnston and the City of New Haven, alleging negligence and seeking compensation for injuries, lost income, and medical expenses.

Cause of Action

Santiago’s complaint asserted two counts of negligence. First, she accused Johnston personally of driving carelessly, citing various missteps, including failing to stay in his lane, speeding, and failing to brake or steer to avoid the crash. In the second count, she claimed the City of New Haven bore legal responsibility for Johnston’s actions, since he had been operating the city-owned vehicle within the scope of his employment at the time.

Injuries suffered

Santiago reported several physical and emotional injuries from the crash. These included persistent headaches, neck and back pain, disc herniation at the C5-C6 level, left arm pain, and sprains across her lower back and hips. She also experienced anxiety as a result of the crash. Her injuries reportedly limited her mobility and disrupted her normal routine and activitie