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King County, WA jury awards $874,400 to motorcyclist after finding UPS to be at fault in a motorcycle collision with a delivery van

Accident Type: 
Motorcycle Accident
Incident Date: 
Monday, October 15, 2007
Result Date: 
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Monetary Result: 
$1,093,000
Motorcyclist Kevin Hartley was travelling on 15th Avenue West in Seattle when a UPS courier failed to yield the right-of-way to opposing traffic. Hartley's motorcycle subsequently collided with the delivery van. He sustained multiple fractures, including to his ankle, leg, tibula, hand and wrist. The motorcyclist suffered permanent disfigurement; he now walks with a limp and experiences chronic pain. The defendent, UPS, contended that Hartley was driving behind the van and struck the back bumper, placing the proximate cause of the accident on him. The jury found that the courier and the UPS company to be 80% at fault, while Hartley was 20% at fault due to his own contributory negligence. Therefore the award of $1,093,000 was reduced to $874,400.