Left gravely injured – and cyberbullied over disfigurement
TORONTO, ON – Aug. 31, 2015 – Mallorie Wild, 20, was struck by a drunk driver, then cyberbullied by others over her injuries for having a leg that looks like a “lamb chop.” Wild has filed an $11.2-million lawsuit claiming damages against the drunk driver and the bar that allegedly over-served him.
Wild, a Barrie resident, represented by Toronto critical injury lawyer John McLeish, a partner with McLeish Orlando LLP, was left with severe injuries that almost resulted in the amputation of her right leg.
Wild has undergone extended hospitalization, 17 surgeries, and intensive rehabilitation.
In the months following the hit-and-run, Wild was targeted on social media for her anti-drunk driving posts. In one instance, a Twitter user mocked the appearance of Wild’s disfigured leg and called her “irrelevant.”
“As a society, we routinely see examples of outrageous behaviour on social media – yet making light of the horrific results of impaired driving like this still shocks us. It should,” says McLeish. “Imagine the impact of such behaviour on someone already suffering terribly. Mallorie Wild has shown real courage in standing up to those individuals who continue to make our roads unsafe by drinking and driving.”
On Aug. 11, 2014, Wild was walking on Penetang Street around 2:30 a.m. when the driver, Eric Bravener, struck her from behind. She was dragged for some distance and then catapulted under a parked car. The statement of claim alleges Bravener fled the scene while Wild lay gravely injured on the road.
Bravener was later criminally charged and convicted. He is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 15.
Since retaining McLeish Orlando LLP, Wild has made great strides in her rehabilitation. She has enrolled at Georgian College, she continues to work on her physical recovery, and she has become an important voice in the fight against drunk driving.
Wild and McLeish will provide details of the lawsuit and discuss concerns over cyberbullying and impaired driving at a press conference on Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 10 a.m. at the firm office at 1 Queen St. E., Suite 1620.
