Havertown, PA personal injury attorney Daniel J. Siegel shares the story of a memorable catastrophic injury case you handled. He recalls a particularly tragic case that stayed with him for years, involving a young girl in Philadelphia. One summer, she was playing outside with friends, trying to place a sprinkler cap onto a fire hydrant—a common activity in Philadelphia and some other cities. During the attempt, the cap flew off, and the water pressure propelled her into the street, where she was struck by a car.

The injuries were catastrophic. She survived for roughly a year to a year and a half before ultimately succumbing to her injuries. The case was complex, extending beyond the driver who struck her to involve the City of Philadelphia, the sprinkler manufacturer, and multiple other factors. He gained unexpected knowledge about water systems and fire hydrants during the investigation.

What stayed with him most was the image of the girl, named Crystal, in her hospital bed—surrounded by the heroic efforts of everyone who cared for her. Despite those efforts, they weren’t enough to save her. Legally, the case concluded with a record recovery for his former firm, the largest they had ever achieved at the time, reflecting both the severity and the complexity of the tragedy.