ST. PETERSBURG - a Clearwater man injured when a garbage truck slid into his car on a rainy street received a $1.3-million out-of-court settlement.

The award, agreed upon Tuesday, will amount to $3.25-million over Thomas Gahafer's lifetime, said his attorney, Wil Florin. Gahafer was critically injured Feb. 8, 1989, when a driver for Waste Management lost control of his truck in Pinellas Park and crashed into Gahafer's van.

Gahafer, who was 30 at the time, was hospitalized for three weeks. He lost the use of his shoulder and hip and now walks with a cane, Florin said. Gahafer "will probably be able to work in the future, but it will be in a sedentary type of job," Florin said.

Under terms of the settlement, Gahafer will receive $750,000 immediately, minus attorney's fees. The remainder of his share of the settlement will be used to purchase annuities, which will accumulate interest.