East Haddam Man Wins Multi-Million Dollar Verdict After Crash

EAST HADDAM, CT — A jury has awarded an East Haddam resident $2.7 million for injuries he sustained in a 2019 motor vehicle accident in Coventry.

The Feb. 5 verdict awarded Dennis Brayman of East Haddam $1.1 million in economic damages and $1.6 million in non-economic damages, for a total of $2.7 million, documents show.

The accident happened on July 15, 2019, and Brayman filed a lawsuit in 2021.

According to the lawsuit, Brayman came to a stop due to traffic ahead, and then another vehicle hit him from behind, causing a chain-reaction collision.

Brayman suffered extensive injuries, such as a scalp laceration, concussion, headaches, amnesia, confusion, forgetfulness, memory loss, dizziness, neck and back pain, and hearing loss, according to the lawsuit.

The verdict was against defendant Main Street America Assurance Company. The case was heard in Superior Court, Tolland Judicial District.

Brayman had insurance through Main Street America, with underinsured motorist coverage of $1 million, court documents show. Brayman’s attorney asserted his client was entitled to compensation above the liability insurance coverage of the other driver and the owner of the other vehicle.

“Insurance coverage is supposed to protect people when something happens through no fault of their own,” said Attorney Christopher P. Anderson of Anderson Trial Lawyers in Norwich, who represented Brayman. “This verdict recognizes the very real value of what was lost as a result of this crash — Mr. Brayman’s pain and the ongoing burdens that follow.”

Attorney Frederick Trotta Sr. of the law firm Halloran & Sage, who represented the insurance company, could not be reached for comment.