ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — A woman injured in a crash involving a St. Johns County deputy in 2019 spoke to First Coast News Wednesday for the first time since St. Johns County Commissioners approved a $6.3 million dollar settlement in November.
To this day, Jenny Perez says it's a miracle she survived the collision and her injuries, but says she lives in pain everyday.
"It is every single day I have to go through this," Jenny Perez said.
The last four years have been a long road to recovery for Jenny Perez. In 2019, Perez and her boyfriend were ejected from their motorcycles after being hit by St. Johns County deputy Brandon Hetzler. It happened on State Road 16 as the deputy responded to a call. FHP says the deputy was responsible for the accident.
Perez was critically injured and spent months in the hospital recovering.
"My arms, my pelvis, and my whole leg is full of metal," Perez said.
Perez says she suffers from mobility and memory issues.
"I'm always late because I cannot calculate time. It's very difficult for me to calculate time and manage time," Perez said.
Since the crash, Perez's attorney Joel Harris says her injuries took away her ability to earn an income and says she has racked millions of dollars in medical care.
"She's never going to be even remotely close to the way she was the day before and really all she can kind of do is hope for the best in terms of what her long-term recovery picture may be," Harris said.
In November, the St. Johns County Commission approved a $6.3 million dollar settlement in this case.
During the county commission meeting Nov. 21, Attorney Matthew Cline says $200,000 will be paid through insurance.
The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office says it cannot comment because of pending litigation. Harris says there is no amount of money that will make Perez's life feel normal but supports the agreement and says it will help her address the need for future medical care.
"I don't think there was ever a time where we, as Miss Perez and the attorneys felt that St. Johns County was not treating this case, seriously. I really think it was them doing their jobs and trying to find a resolution that was palpable to the county, but also took care of Miss Perez. I think that ultimately, that's what we achieved here," Attorney Joel Harris said.
But Harris says getting the money into Perez's pocket will take time.
"There's $200,000, that's somewhat available to her now and then the rest of that the $6.3 million has to go through the process of going through the Florida Legislature in the claims bill process," Harris said.
Harris says there will be a hearing in Tallahassee on Jan. 12 to discuss the initial part of her claim. It still has to be approved by the Florida Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis.