Our law firm provides examples of verdicts and settlements for both to pedestrian crash victims and fellow lawyers an opportunity to get a feel for the value of these cases. But keep in mind that every case is different, and one does not predict the outcome of another.
You can get verdicts and settlements from our law firm, Miller & Zois, here.
Sample verdicts and settlements
- July 2020, Texas: $100,000 Settlement: A vehicle struck and killed a 12-year-old boy on the sidewalk. At the time of the incident, the boy had been walking with his mother and cousin. His mother alleged that the tortfeasor’s negligence caused the collision and her son’s death. She argued that the driver failed to pay attention to the road, negligently drove onto the sidewalk, and excessively sped. The case settled for $100,000. Why $100,000? The issue in these cases is so often the amount of available insurance coverage.
- May 2020, New York: $43,080,000 Verdict: This is a case where insurance coverage was not an issue. A minor girl crossed the street at an intersection and was struck by a bus. She suffered a traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, a skull fracture, femur fractures, a collapsed lung, multiple rib fractures, pelvic fractures, a ruptured bladder, a mandible fracture, vertebra fractures, and a sacrum fracture. The girl underwent multiple surgeries. She lost significant function of her body’s organs, functions, and systems. Her parents alleged that the bus driver failed to control the vehicle, failed to pay attention to the road, failed to prevent impact, and failed to exercise due caution. The bus’s owner denied liability, arguing that the collision was unavoidable. A jury awarded the girl and her parents a $43,080,000 verdict. This comprised $580,000 in past medical expenses, $5,000,000 in future medical expenses, $10,000,000 in pain and suffering, and $27,000,000 in future pain and suffering. (There are no caps on jury awards in New York.)
- November 2019, Oregon: $533,500 Settlement: A motorist struck and ran over a 68-year-old woman as she was putting groceries in her vehicle. The woman died at the hospital. The had not eaten anything that day. Normally not a big deal for most of us. But this caused him to experience nausea and light-headedness. The woman’s surviving relatives alleged that the man acted negligently by continuing to operate his vehicle, despite feeling ill. This case settled for $553,500.
September 2019, Massachusetts: $240,000 Settlement: A garbage truck backed up and struck a 75-year-old woman as she walked through a parking lot to return to her apartment. At the hospital, she was diagnosed with the aggravation of her spinal stenosis, a scalp hematoma, and a concussion. She claims she never fully recovered and now needs in-home care. The case settled for $240,000. Obviously, the defendants had some viable arguments. The lifetime cost of in-home care usually runs in the millions. - September 2018, California: $1,000,000 Settlement: A U-Haul-owned truck struck two pedestrians as they were walking on the sidewalk near an intersection. They suffered severe injuries as a result of the collision. They alleged that the truck’s driver’s negligent operation of his vehicle caused the collision and their injuries. This case settled for $1,000,000.
- June 2017, New Jersey: $290,000 Settlement: A pickup truck struck a 68-year-old woman and ran over her leg. The woman suffered a fractured leg. She also suffered confusion, which prevented her from being able to effectively communicate with the investigating officer at the scene. The woman underwent open reduction and internal fixation surgery to her fracture, which greatly increases the settlement value of a broken leg. She also underwent skin graft surgery to repair her wound. The woman now suffered permanent scarring as a result of the collision. She alleged that the driver negligently operated his vehicle by failing to notice that he ran her over. This case settled before trial for $290,000.
- November 2016, Florida: $297,000 Verdict: A man suffered a herniated disc and an ulnar nerve injury that resulted in numbness after a vehicle struck him as he walked on the street. He underwent trigger point injections and acupuncture sessions to treat his disc herniation. The man claimed permanency to his ulnar nerve injury. He alleged that the driver failed to yield the right-of-way and failed to maintain a proper lookout. The jury awarded a $297,000 verdict.
- July 2015, Florida: $375,000 Verdict: A 39-year-old man died after a vehicle struck him after he suddenly walked in front of it. His surviving family alleged that the driver texted while driving, excessively sped, and failed to pay attention to the road before hitting the deceased. The defense admitted liability but argued that the man was wearing dark clothing at dusk and suddenly walked in front of the vehicle. A jury found the deceased 70 percent liable and the driver 30 percent liable. They awarded $375,000. The net award was $112,500 based on comparative negligence.
Relevant Links
- Learn About the Value of Traffic Collision Cases in Baltimore
- Proceeding on a Green Light Jury Instruction (what is the jury told?)
- Pedestrian Parking Lot Accident Cases
- There a Secret Settlement Formula in These Cases?