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Motorcyclist's lawyers win her case against Whatcom County for negligent road design, winning a total of $800,000

Accident Type: 
Motorcycle Accident
Incident Date: 
Tuesday, May 1, 1984
Result Date: 
Thursday, January 1, 1987
Monetary Result: 
$800,000
Hopson Anderson's left leg was riding her motorcycle in Whatcom County, Washington when she began negotiating a tight curve. Her motorcycle crossed the center line of the road and she struck another vehicle. As she clipped the oncoming vehicle, she severely injured her left leg. Her injuries resulted in an amputation of her left leg below the knee. A male passenger on her motorcycle additionally suffered a fractured left leg. She and her attorneys asserted that the accident was the result of the county's improper maintenance and design of the roadway. They further claimed that Whatcom County was responsible for the failure of posting a warning sign about the curve. In the end, Anderson and her attorneys won the case, earning an $800,000 reward.

Motorcyclist's lawyers win his case after accident, despite allegedly having alcohol in his system and not wearing a helmet

Accident Type: 
Motorcycle Accident
Incident Date: 
Sunday, January 22, 1984
Result Date: 
Friday, February 27, 1987
Monetary Result: 
$1,823,000

 

At around 12: 40 a.m., the Plaintiff, Parmley, 19 years of age, was coming back from a party on his motorcycle. He lost control of his motorcycle while negotiating a sharp curve. He ran into the center divider and was ejected 130 feet from the site of the crash. This resulted in massive internal injureis, including brain damage and a skull fracture. The curve was posted for a maximum speed of 40 mph. However, Cal­Trans had calculated the maximum speed for the curve was 20 mph. Parmley claimed the City failed to post the correct safe-speed warning sign, allowing this dangerous condition to exist.

The Defendent, the City of Whittier, California, contended that Parmley had been drinking and driving and was not wearing a helmet, and that he had made a remarkable recovery. However, the city argued, his head injuries could have been prevented altogether had he used a helmet. In addition, the fact that Parmley had alcohol in his system resulted in his inability to safely drive through the curve.

The jury ultimately sided with the Parmley and awarded $1,823,000. However, he was found to be 40% negligent, due to not wearing a helmet and his alcohol use. His net result was $1,093,800.