At Metzger & Kleiner, we handle serious injury cases where real people lose more than just their health. They lose careers, routines, income, independence, and in many cases—hope. That’s exactly what happened to our client, a decorated law enforcement officer whose life and livelihood were derailed by a preventable crash.

This is a story about a car crash that might seem minor from the outside—but on the inside, caused damage that has left one man permanently impaired and forced into early retirement from a job he lived for.

If you’re wondering what kind of cases Metzger & Kleiner takes on, this is the kind we fight for: real people, real losses, and real accountability.

A Life of Service: From Ground Zero to the Local Beat

Our client—a 52-year-old man—has dedicated nearly his entire adult life to public safety. He started his career as a corrections officer at Rikers Island, one of the toughest assignments in the country. He later became a New York City Police Officer and eventually earned promotion to Detective.

On September 11, 2001, he was among the first responders at the World Trade Center. He arrived on-site around 9:30 AM and remained for two straight days, assisting in rescue, recovery, and security efforts. In the months that followed, he continued his work at Ground Zero, processing one of the deadliest and most traumatic scenes in U.S. history.

After decades of service with the NYPD, he retired and moved to Pennsylvania, where he continued doing what he knew best—protecting others. He earned local certifications and began working as a part-time police officer with the Airport Authority Police Department and a borough police department. Even after leaving the airport role, he continued serving his community through the borough PD and intended to work until age 57.

That plan came to an end because of one moment of negligence.

The Collision: A Routine Drive Turns Into a Career-Ending Event

After finishing his shift at the borough police department, our client was heading home in his personal vehicle. He was stopped in traffic—just another quiet evening—when a driver suddenly rear-ended him without warning.

He was jolted forward, slamming his right hand into the dashboard and snapping his neck and upper body forward and back against the seat and headrest. He couldn’t tell if his chest hit the steering wheel or if it was just the force of the seatbelt locking, but the motion was violent.

He exited the vehicle to call 911—but his vision blurred instantly. For a few seconds, he couldn’t see his phone. Once on the sidewalk, his vision cleared enough to place the call. Police and EMS arrived and transported him to the hospital.

What seemed like a relatively “minor” crash on the surface triggered a two-year spiral of worsening symptoms, complex surgeries, and permanent impairment.

Injuries: From Neck Trauma to Neurological Impairment

The crash injured multiple parts of his body, but the most damaging was to his neck, upper spine, and right arm/hand—his dominant hand and the one he used for critical police work.

Over the next two years, he received continuous care for:

• Cervical spine injuries
• Cervical radiculopathy (nerve damage)
• Hand/wrist weakness
• Intermittent grip loss
• Blurry vision and disorientation
• Post-traumatic pain and nerve compression

The most serious and lasting symptom was the sudden and unpredictable loss of grip strength in his right hand. It started small—dropping a fork at dinner, fumbling with tools, pens, or his glasses. Over time, it became a career-ending disability.

As he explained under oath during deposition:

“It just happens spontaneously. Holding a pen, I’ve dropped them numerous times. Eating dinner, the fork falls out of my hand. Even holding a screwdriver—it’ll just slip. No matter how hard I try, my grip gives out. Now imagine trying to handle a gun.”

And that’s the heart of it: the implications for a police officer carrying a loaded firearm are life-or-death. He could no longer safely draw, present, or re-holster his weapon.

“It’s not about shooting—it’s about handling. If I’m handing it to the gunsmith, or to the quartermaster, or even drawing it for inspection… if I drop it, that’s a problem. That’s a risk I can’t take.”

He had never experienced these symptoms prior to the accident. The loss of control and precision in his right hand made it impossible to continue working in law enforcement.

Extensive Medical Care and Surgery

This was not a simple whiplash case. Over two years, our client underwent a range of medical interventions from multiple providers, including:

• Primary care physician (ongoing monitoring and medication)
• Physical therapy (to regain strength and flexibility)
• Pain management specialists
• Chiropractic care
• Electromyograms (EMG) and nerve conduction studies
• Radiology imaging (MRI and X-rays)
• Cervical medial branch blocks (pain-relieving injections)

When conservative treatments failed, he was referred to the Chair of Neurosurgery at Pennsylvania Hospital, who also serves as a Professor and Clinical Vice Chair of Neurosurgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

The surgeon diagnosed cervical nerve compression and recommended surgery.

Spinal Surgery Performed: Posterior Right C6-C7 Cervical Laminectomy & Foraminotomy

The procedure aimed to relieve pressure on the spinal nerves causing radiating pain and grip weakness.

While the surgery did improve some symptoms, the results were incomplete. His surgeon stated that he still experiences residual radiculopathy and noted that he may require additional surgery in the future. At a minimum, ongoing physical therapy and pain management are essential to manage the damage.

Career Loss and Economic Damages

At the time of the crash, our client was working as a part-time officer earning $18.79 per hour. He planned to continue working until age 57. That opportunity was taken from him.

Today, the same position pays around $22.00 per hour, but for the purposes of calculation, we based his lost wage estimate on a conservative average of $20/hour.

Lost Income Breakdown:

Expected years of service lost: 5

Total wage loss projection: $176,000

There are no health insurance liens, meaning all damages go directly to the plaintiff. The projected damages include only lost wages—not accounting for lost health benefits, retirement contributions, or the emotional cost of leaving a lifelong profession.

Total Settlement Demand: $476,000

This demand reflects the physical injury, career-ending impact, economic loss, ongoing medical needs, and emotional toll of the crash.

More Than a Job—A Life Interrupted

This isn’t just a case about dollars. This is about a man who lived to serve, who responded to one of the darkest days in American history, who wore a badge for nearly 30 years—and who now sits at home unable to hold a pen or a fork without worrying it will fall.

His life has been fundamentally changed. His ability to support himself and his partner has been cut off. His independence has been eroded. And all of it—every dropped object, every canceled shift, every lost paycheck—traces back to a single, avoidable rear-end crash.

Why This Case Matters

At Metzger & Kleiner, we take on the tough cases—cases where someone’s life has been permanently changed by another’s carelessness. This isn’t about property damage or fender benders. This is about the kind of injury that changes what someone can do, who they are, and how they live.

When a car or truck crash ends a career, that matters. When nerve damage steals your grip strength, that matters. When someone who spent their entire adult life protecting others is forced out of the job they love because someone else wasn’t paying attention—that matters.

And that’s what we fight for.

If you’ve suffered a serious injury that ended your ability to work or function normally, you deserve a law firm that understands what’s really at stake.

Contact Metzger & Kleiner for a free consultation today.   Let’s talk about what happened—and how we can help you move forward.