About 1.19 million people across the globe lose their lives every year in a traffic accident. A further 20 to 50 million suffer injuries, resulting in a disability.
The cost of treatment, taking time off work and the emotional trauma sustained can have financial implications for families. Those who can afford to take legal recourse often enlist the help of a personal injury lawyer.
Skilled in tort law, these legal experts handle personal injury cases, including car accidents. In this article, we will highlight a few recent car accident settlements. Before that, let’s explain the value of legal aid.
The Importance of Legal Help for Car Accident Victims
It can be a confusing time following a car accident. Navigating the legal system coupled with mounting medical bills is an administrative nightmare.
Arming yourself with the proper help can alleviate the anxiety of filing a personal injury claim.
A car accident attorney deals with the requisites of filing a personal injury case against a negligent driver.
Their job entails gathering evidence for a positive outcome. If your case is settled, they will do their utmost to ensure you get reasonable compensation.
Finding the correct attorney could mean settling your claim for a deserving amount. Below, we’ll discuss the most shocking car accident settlements in recent history.
$1.2 Million Settlement for Rogers Construction Worker’s Wrongful Death
Vernon Hedquist, a Rogers, Minnesota, construction worker was killed in a horrific accident.
The driver of a semi-truck plowed into the back of a pickup truck and an attached trailer on a construction site. The trailer separated and crashed into Hedquist, killing him on the scene.
Tate Doom was allegedly watching porn on his phone moments before the fatal accident happened, ABC News reported.
Thanks to the swift work of an excellent Rogers car accident lawyer, Hedquist’s family was awarded a $1.2 million settlement in their wrongful death lawsuit.
L.A. County Ordered to Pay $17.2 Million to Injured Toddler’s Family
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has seen more than its fair share of payouts in the past three years due to car crashes involving deputies.
The most recent was a $17.2 million settlement to a family injured in a 2020 crash. A sheriff’s deputy hit their vehicle in a wrong-way accident while driving twice the speed limit.
Keith Law Group warns that car accident injuries can be serious or even fatal, making it crucial to seek legal help as soon as possible.
Their attorney told the L.A. Times that the family welcomed the payout as their toddler, who sustained the most injuries, had to undergo multiple surgeries.
Tesla Settles Autopilot Lawsuit
In April this year, Tesla settled a lawsuit with the family of Apple engineer Walter Huang.
The 38-year-old was killed in a 2018 accident after his Model X swerved off the highway while on autopilot.
Huang’s family claimed Autopilot steered his Tesla into a barrier, leading to his death. Elon Musk’s company contested that Huang mishandled the Autopilot system because he played a video game right before the accident.
However, the company settled the lawsuit before going to trial for an undisclosed amount, reported Reuters.
$175 Million Awarded to Bismark Crash Victims
It took more than a decade for Abby Renschler, Taylor Goven and Shayna Monson to get justice for a 2015 crash that left one of them with a brain injury.
For Renschler and Goven’s families, the ruling was bittersweet as they lost their lives in the car accident.
Jordan Morsette was speeding on the Bismarck Expressway in Mandan in the wrong direction. He crashed into their car. At the time of the accident, he had a blood alcohol content more than three times the legal limit.
The civil trial attracted widespread media attention with a jury initially awarding $1 billion to the victims’ families.
A new trial was ordered by the North Dakota Supreme Court. The jury ruled $50 million for Renschler and Goven’s families and $75 million for Monson.
There are no guarantees that a court might rule in your favor. But with the odds stacked against the defendant, your personal injury lawyer will do everything in their power to ensure justice prevails.
When taking the legal route, research and choose a reputable law firm with years of experience in car accident claims. They should always have your best interests at heart and be honest about a less-than-hopeful outcome.
You don’t need to suffer the emotional and financial burden on your own. A personal injury attorney will be there every step of the way.
