Woman Suffers Severe Neck and Back Injuries, Paralysis in Auto Accident | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

Norwalk, Connecticut (CT), resident Diana Silonova suffered cardiac arrest, paralysis, neck, head and back injuries, a fractured jaw and contusions and lacerations in an auto accident. Silonova’s paralysis and loss of sensation is expected to be permanent, according to a recently filed lawsuit against the city. The crash occurred in 2009. She is also seeking damages from Toyota, claiming the car company sold her a vehicle it knew was defective.

In the separate claim against Toyota in state superior court in Stamford, Silonova’s lawyer, Brendon Leydon, alleges that the car’s side window system was defective and that the vehicle had a dangerous traction-control system that “improperly cuts off power to the drive system upon sensing slippage, causing a loss of control.”


Silonova, a Slovakia native who came to the U.S. on a soccer scholarship, was driving on King Street near the intersection of Lincoln Avenue at about 7:15 pm, January 14, 2009, when she lost control of her car and left the road. Her car spun around and rolled over multiple times, causing her to be thrown from the driver’s-side window and pinned under her car. She worked full time for IBM in Armonk, New York (NY), and used to coach a girls youth soccer team in Ridgefield.

It is very tragic that this former athlete and coach is now paralyzed for life. I’m not sure if Toyota’s history of problems involving loss of control and rollovers is at fault for this accident but if it is, coming clean and being as transparent as possible is probably the best course of action for Toyota at this point. Their reputation has already been tarnished. 

CA