Personal injury verdicts can range from small to very large. The amount of the verdict is usually related to the severity of the damages that the victim has suffered. People who are severely impacted by accidents are sometimes awarded very large amounts of money. Verdict can also be driven by the enormity of the wrong committed by the defendant. Just how big can verdicts get? We’ve compiled some of the largest verdicts of all time.
The Largest Verdict of All Time
To date, the largest personal injury verdict was awarded to the family of Robert Middleton. At the age of eight, Robert Middleton was assaulted in a vicious attack that included being lit on fire by a child of thirteen, Don Collins.
The assault occurred in 1998 and led to catastrophic injuries. When Middleton died of skin cancer in 2010, his family blamed Collins, and the jury agreed, awarding the family a verdict in the amount of $150 billion.
The Anderson Family Versus General Motors
The Anderson family was hit by a drunk driver while driving their Chevy Malibu. The impact of the collision caused the gas tank to explode, severely burning all six family members, four of whom were children. The family sued General Motors and were originally awarded over $4 billion. After General Motors appealed, the verdict was reduced to just over $1 billion.
Derailed Train Runs into a Gas Station
Donald French was the manager of a gas station who was severely injured when a train derailed and ran into the gas station where he was working. French suffered an extensive brain injury and was awarded $60 million.
Seat Belt Failure
It’s not unreasonable to expect that putting on a safety belt should reduce the chances of being severely injured in an accident. When Mark Force was in a head-on collision with another vehicle in 1992, his seatbelt malfunctioned. He was thrown from the vehicle and suffered severe brain injuries. A suit was filed against Mazda Motor Company and Ford Motor Company for this seatbelt malfunction, and the jury awarded Force just over $32 million.
Hit by a Bus
Imagine being just a couple of blocks from home when a bus turns a corner and runs over your leg. That’s exactly what happened to Gloria Aguilar in 2005. As a result of this accident, Gloria lost her leg. After a long drawn out trial, Gloria was awarded $27.5 million.
New York’s Largest Personal Injury Verdict
Another example of how dramatically life can change in a split second involved the case of Shirley Miller. In 2008, she was hit by a pharmacy truck while crossing the road. She suffered severe brain damage and other bodily injuries and was ultimately awarded $22 million.
Determining a Settlement Amount
If you have suffered personal injury in an accident or a deliberate assault, you deserve to be compensated for what you have been through. The settlement or verdict you receive may include:
- Reimbursement for medical bills
- Damages to your vehicle
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
Many factors are considered when determining the size of a verdict or settlement. While many personal injury cases are settled out of court, some do go to trial. It’s impossible to predict the size of a verdict – each jury is different. Settlements before trial are usually not predictable until all the negotiating has been completed.
Getting Legal Advice After an Accident
If you have suffered a personal injury because of someone else’s negligence, whether it was caused by a vehicle accident, a work-related accident, a pedestrian accident or any other kind of life-changing event, it’s a good idea to obtain expert legal advice. Contact Taos Injury Lawyers by filling out the form on this page. One of the members of our legal team will get back to you very soon to find out what happened and how we can help you.