Metzger & Kleiner represented a truck driver whose life was changed forever after slipping on ice at a warehouse. This wasn’t just a fall—it led to serious injuries to his brain and back. Those injuries left him unable to work, unable to live normally, and in need of constant care.

The cause of the slip and fall injury? Two companies failed to keep the area safe.

What Happened

Our client was picking up a load of light fixtures at a large warehouse in Pennsylvania. The loading area was covered in ice. It hadn’t been salted or cleared. He saw the danger right away and told his boss. He even called the receiving office at the warehouse to report it.

Still, he had a job to do. He backed his truck into the loading dock, even though his tires kept slipping. He couldn’t safely chock the wheels because of the ice. That step is important—it keeps the truck from moving while it’s being loaded.

After the truck was loaded, he walked back to the cab. As he reached for the door, his feet slipped out from under him. He crashed hard onto the icy concrete. His head and back slammed against the ground. He lost consciousness.

When paramedics arrived, they found him lying on the ice. He was awake but confused. He kept asking the same questions over and over. He was taken to the hospital and admitted right away.

The Injuries: Head Injury and Brain Problems

Doctors said he had a concussion. Over time, his symptoms got worse, not better. He developed post-concussion syndrome, a long-lasting condition that affects the brain.

• Symptoms included:
• Memory loss
• Headaches
• Sensitivity to light
• Trouble focusing
• Confusion

He went to a concussion clinic for help. He received:

• Occupational therapy to help with thinking and memory
• Speech therapy to help with communication
• Vision therapy to help with blurry sight and eye tracking

Tests showed problems with his vision and coordination. His eyes didn’t move smoothly. His memory stayed weak. He couldn’t drive anymore. He gave up his commercial driver’s license—a major loss, since that was his job.

To this day, he still uses a daily journal to remember basic things. He goes back to the clinic every six to eight months.

Back Injury and Nerve Pain

The fall also hurt his lower back. Years earlier, he’d had back surgery for a work injury, but he’d been fine for over a decade. That changed after the fall.

This time, the pain was worse and ran down his legs. Doctors said it was radiculopathy—nerve pain caused by pressure on the spine.

MRI scans showed:

• Spinal canal pressure at two spots
• Leftover hardware from past surgery
• Signs of inflammation and damage

Epidural injections didn’t help. So, doctors tried something else.

They implanted a spinal cord stimulator to block the pain signals. But the device caused awful pain. He said it felt like being shocked all the time. He was stuck in bed and couldn’t move.

Doctors had to take the device out. But by then, his health had taken another turn for the worse.

Blood Clot and Lung Emergency

Being stuck in bed led to a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). That’s when blood clots form in the legs. One of those clots moved to his lungs. He had a pulmonary embolism, a dangerous and sometimes deadly condition.

He was rushed to the hospital, gasping for air. His oxygen levels were dangerously low. He spent seven days in the hospital and now takes blood thinners for the rest of his life.

Doctors said the clot happened because of the stimulator—and the stimulator only happened because of the fall.

Other Ongoing Health Issues

The fall didn’t just hurt his brain and back. It made other conditions worse, including:

• Anxiety and depression
• Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Diabetes, which is now under better control with care

He’s had panic attacks and chest pain. He’s even gone to the emergency room, thinking he was having a heart attack. Tests showed it was stress.

How It Changed His Life

Before the fall, he was doing well. He had built a good life from hard beginnings. He had once been homeless. He had raised three kids on his own. He had started his own trucking business and was driving routes across the U.S. and Canada.

But the fall ended all of that.

Now:

• He can’t drive—not even to the store.
• He can’t walk or stand for long.
• He can’t focus or remember simple things.
• He suffers from daily pain and headaches.
• Bright lights make things worse.
• Family events are too much for him.

He has no income. His family has been evicted. They’ve had to stay with relatives. He’s missed birthdays, school events, and time with his children. His wife now does everything—managing the home, working, caring for their son with autism. She says it feels like living with a ghost.

Financial Damage

This accident didn’t just take away his health. It took away his ability to earn a living. Because he was an independent contractor, he didn’t qualify for workers’ comp.

What our client has lost so far:

• Medical lien: $107,283.22
• Unpaid medical bills: $10,600+
• Disability insurance lien: $52,323.57
• Future income loss: $350,170.00

Total financial loss: $520,376.79

He can’t afford many of the treatments he needs. His coverage doesn’t cover everything, and he’s been forced to stop therapy because of the costs.

Who’s Responsible

Two companies failed him. For confidentiality reasons, we will refer to them as Company  and Company B.

Company A owns the warehouse.  Company B was hired to handle snow and ice removal.

Both companies failed to do their jobs.

Here’s what we knew:

Company B salted the area two days before the fall.

• They didn’t salt the concrete apron, where drivers park and walk.
• Their driver just scattered salt while driving—not by hand in the danger zones.
• Their contract didn’t require them to salt under or between trailers—right where the fall happened.
• Company A knew water would pool and freeze there.
• Their own VP said the post-accident photos were “not acceptable.”

Our client wasn’t wandering around. He was doing his job—checking and securing the load. He had no choice but to walk in that area.

Both companies failed to protect people working on their site.

The Bigger Picture

This isn’t just about numbers or legal terms. It’s about a man who did everything right—and had everything taken from him.

He was a worker, a father, a husband. He provided. He paid his bills. He lived a full life.

Now he’s stuck in a dark room, unable to go outside with his kids. He’s filled with guilt. His wife carries the weight of it all—emotionally, financially, and physically.

She told us it feels like he’s “gone.” Their son keeps asking when they’ll get their old house back. The family has been broken—not by accident, but by negligence.

Why We Fight

At Metzger & Kleiner, we take on the cases where everything is on the line. When a company cuts corners and someone gets hurt, we step in. When a family loses their provider, we fight to get them justice.

This was not “just a fall.” It was a preventable failure that ruined a man’s future.

And we will hold those responsible to account—not just for the fall, but for every moment of pain and loss that followed.

If your life has been turned upside down by a serious injury, contact us for a free consultation. We’re here to help you rebuild.