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Motorcyclist sues Carolina Cargo Company after being involved in an accident at an intersection in Salinas, California, winning $536,000

Accident Type: 
Motorcycle Accident
Incident Date: 
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Result Date: 
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Monetary Result: 
$536,000
  On July 13, 2006, Michael Hull, a 56-year-old general contractor, was stopped on his motorcycle at an intersection in Salinas, California, when he was involved in a collision with an SUV driven by Maria Ramirez and a tractor-trailer owned by Carolina Cargo, Inc. of Rock Hill, South Carolina. Hull suffered torn rotator cuffs in both of his shoulders, requiring two surgeries to repar. He claimed that his injuries left him permanently unable to raise his dominant right arm above his shoulder, and that because of this, he will be unable to return to his job as a contractor. Hull decided to sue Carolina Cargo, its owner Regina Wood, and Maria Ramirez. He and his lawyers claimed that the truck cut the corner while making a turn, striking a van stopped in front of his motorcycle and dragging Ramirez's SUV backwards, knocking him off of his motorcycle. Ramirez was dismissed from the trial by Hull and his lawyers before the trial. Carolina Cargo and Wood, however, argued that the truck never left its lane of travel. They also argued that Hull would be able to recover from his injury and that he would be able to return to his work in the future. In the end, the jury sided with Hull and his lawyers. He was awarded $536,000 for his medical expenses and lost wages.

Motorcyclist's lawyers win his case after he was involved in accident with a commercial truck, sustaining torn ligaments

Accident Type: 
Motorcycle Accident
Incident Date: 
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Result Date: 
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Monetary Result: 
$705,297
  On January 24, 2006, 46-year-old ironworker James Jaworowski was riding his motorcycle on Bosworth Street in San Francisco, California when he was struck by a Mitchell Engineering truck driven by Finbar James Brody. As Jaworowski was riding his motorcycle in the right lane, Brody changed intersections, resulting in the collision between the vehicles. In the accident, Jawarowski suffered several ligament tears, requiring him to undergo physical therapy resulting in one year of missed work. He claimed to have ongoing pain following the accident. Jawarowski decided to sue Brody and his employer. He and his lawyers argued that Brody failed to yield the right of way to Jawarowski. To these ends, Brody testified that he did not look in two of his three mirrors while changing lanes. Brody and his attorneys contended, however, that Jawarowski was speeding the time of the accident. In the end, the jury ruled in favor of Jawarowski, awarding him $705,297.32. He was found 15% liable, however. After reducing the award due to his liability and adjusting for the amount actually paid to his health care provider, he was awarded $530,874.57.

Motorcyclist and his lawyers win his case after he suffers massive injuries resulting from a crash with a backhoe

Accident Type: 
Motorcycle Accident
Incident Date: 
Thursday, August 30, 2001
Result Date: 
Monday, October 16, 2006
  Perry Wise, A 48-year-old hospital laboratory technician, was driving his BMW motorcycle east on State Route 6 just east of Menlo, Washington when he stoped a backhoe travelling on shoulder of his lane ahead of him. As Wise attempted to pass the backhoe, its driver, Ron Epperson, suddenly drove into his lane. Wise hit his brakes and laid his motorcycle down on the highway and subsequently slammed into the back of the backhoe.  As a result of the accident Wise suffered extensive injuries. He sustained multiple face fractures and injuries requiring reconstructive surgery. He suffered fractured ribs and a catastrophic chest injury. His hips were fractured, and he sustained a laceration of his liver. Wise underwent many surgeries and emergencye procedures. He has permanent loss of sensation in areas of his face, and has a permanent hip disfunction that affects his mobility. He spent 31 days total in the hospital. Wise sued Epperson and his employer, Pilchuck Contractors for negligent operation of the vehicle resulting in the crash and his injuries.  The defense attorneys argued that Wise was inattentive and that his poor motorcycle riding skills resulted in the accident. They brought an accident reconstruction expert who testified that Wise did not pay attention to the backhoe and that he should have avoided collision by simply steering around the backhhoe instead of laying down the motorcycle. They also brought a psychiatrist who argued that Wise's untreated Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) contributed to his inattentiveness. Ultimately, Wise and his attorneys won his case, awarding him $722,794.

Seattle motorcyclist's lawyers win their case against a truck driver who pulled out in front of him at an intersection, resulting in a crash that caused him serious injuries

Accident Type: 
Motorcycle Accident
Incident Date: 
Sunday, July 1, 1990
Result Date: 
Saturday, February 1, 1992
Monetary Result: 
$726,000
  Mr. Cantu was riding his motorcycle in July of 1990 in Seattle, Washington when he struck a truck, operated by Mr. Dick, broadsiding the vehicle. Cantu suffered serious injuries in the accident, including a fracture of the right radius, a fracture to the left arm, a concussion, lacerations to his chest and stomach, and bruises to his spleen and liver. Mr. Cantu decided to sue Mr. Dick for personal injury. He and his lawyers argued that Mr. Dick negligently pulled out in front of him at an intersection. In the end, the jury sided with Mr. Cantu, awarding him $726,000. He was found 7.5% negligent, however, and this total amount was reduced.

Los Angeles jury awards motorcyclist after he suffers injuries in an accident with a dump truck

Accident Type: 
Motorcycle Accident
Incident Date: 
Tuesday, May 1, 1990
Result Date: 
Monday, May 18, 1992
Monetary Result: 
$658,784
  Hugh Juarez, a 30-year-old machine operator was riding his motorcycle in the right lane in Los Angeles, California in May, 1990 when he was struck by a dump truck making a right turn from the left lane next to Juarez. He sustained injuries in the accident, including a fractured tibia, fibula, and a spinal injury. At the time, Inocencio Heredia, the dump truck driver, was on the job for Jimmy King Trucking, a contractor at a nearby construction site. Juarez decided to hire an attorney and sue the dump truck driver and his employer. After the accident, however, Heredia disappeared. Jimmy King Trucking therefore represented the sole defendant at the stand during the trial. They alleged that Heredia was not on the job at the time, and that he was buying auto parts for his personal vehicle. In the end, the jury sided with Juarez and his lawyers, awarding him $658,784.17.

Deceased motorcyclist's parents and their lawyers win their case against a laundry company after one of their drivers struck and killed their son

Accident Type: 
Motorcycle Accident
Incident Date: 
Monday, February 1, 1988
Result Date: 
Saturday, December 1, 1990
Monetary Result: 
$850,000

Mr. Martin, a 23-year-old airline baggage clerk was riding his motorcycle in February, 1988 when it collided with a laundry delivery truck owned by Peerless Laundry making a left turn into Martin's path. Mr. Martin died as a result of the accident.

Martin's parents decided to sue the laundry company for the wrongful death of their son. During the trial, it was revealed that the driver at the time was actually an accounts-payable clerk who happened to be filling in as a driver that day. Martin's parents and their lawyers argued that the laundry company was negligent in using an untrained employee as a driver, and that the driver was searching for an address at the time of the accident. They produced witnesses that stated that their son was driving within the speed limit with his headlight on at the time of the crash.

The dendant laundry company contended that the driver was not negligent. They argued that Martin was driving over 100 MPH at the time of the crash without his headlight on.

In the end, the jury sided with Martin's parents and their lawyers, awarding them $850,000.