CA Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Win $16.1 Million Award for Motorcyclist Thrown over Car
Recently, our CA motorcycle accident attorneys at Russell & Lazarus APC won a jury verdict in the amount of $16,162,429 on behalf of our client, a man who was struck while riding on his Harley Davidson Road King motorcycle. His case demonstrates why you may want the help of CA motorcycle accident attorneys in the event you are similarly injured while riding on your motorcycle.
The Case
When our client was injured, he was traveling at a speed of 35 mph along a major boulevard in Palmdale, CA. At the same time, a woman pulled out from a driveway leading to her employer’s business. As she did so, our client’s oncoming motorcycle struck the side of her car. The impact caused our client to be thrown over the vehicle, and he landed on his face on the ground. As a result, he suffered serious facial injuries, including fractures to a majority of his facial bones, orthopedic injuries, and a traumatic injury to his brain. Following the accident, he was placed in a medically induced coma for three weeks and was in the hospital for five.
Issues in the Case
At the time of his accident, our client had been wearing a helmet that did not comply with the Department of Transportation requirements. One of the issues in the case was whether the helmet contributed to the severity of his injuries, and if so, how much it did. Another issue was determining how seriously he was injured. Finally, there was a question regarding whether the woman who caused the accident was doing so while conducting activities in the scope of her employment, as she had a personal insurance policy with a $100,000 limit while her employer had a company policy with a $11 million limit.
Verdict and Settlement
Prior to trial, the insurance companies offered a settlement of $400,000, an amount our client turned down. Our firm spent $550,000 on exhibits and experts during the course of the six week trial before the jury returned a verdict in favor of our client in the amount of $16.1 million. The jury found that our client’s helmet only had a 2 percent contribution to his injuries, reducing the award to a little more than $15.7 million. A settlement was negotiated in which our client received an award amount capped at the policy maximums of $11.1 million so that he could have immediate access to much-needed funds due to his loss of his own job and health insurance as a result of the accident.
Contact CA Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
When you have been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, your case may be complex and necessitate the help of an attorney. Contact the CA motorcycle accident attorneys at Russell & Lazarus APC by calling (949) 851-0222.
DISCLAIMER: Please note that every case is different and these verdicts and settlements, while accurate, do not represent what we may obtain for you in your case.
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