Construction firm, woman settle claim from auto accident

By Deangelo McDaniel
DAILY Staff Writer
dmcdaniel@decaturdaily.com · 340-2469

The insurance company for B&H Construction in Morgan County has settled a claim with a Somerville woman for $700,000.

Darlene Tokarz, a phlebotomist at Decatur General Hospital for more than 20 years, suffered permanent nerve damage in her right arm when a driver for the construction company hit Tokarz's car from behind, according to her attorney.

"She's not able to go back to work and do what she was doing," said her attorney, Brent H. Jordan of Huntsville.

According to the accident report, Frances Bittler was
driving the truck that hit Tokarz's car on Alabama 67 at about 6 p.m. on April 18.

Medical officials airlifted Tokarz from the scene to Huntsville Hospital.

"Her lungs had collapsed, and she had a very bad fracture in her upper arm that pinched the radial nerve," Jordan said.

Tokarz, who was about four years from retirement, has radial nerve palsy, which causes her hand to collapse.

"She's basically had to resign (from Decatur General) because she functionally can't do the job she was doing," Jordan said.

Tokarz, who was on her way home from work when the wreck happened, also fractured her lower right leg.

"While her lower left injuries have healed, her right arm injury is considered permanent due to the nerve injury," Jordan said.

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