On Tuesday, November 2, a California jury in Kings County returned a verdict of $6.45 million against Land O’Lakes, Inc. According to commercial news outlet Business Wire, the jury award represents the largest personal injury verdict in Kings County history. The plaintiff in the case, Mr. Robert Crenshaw, was represented by attorneys from Panish Shea & Boyle LLP.
The verdict stems from a California motorcycle accident lawsuit involving Land O’Lakes and Mr. Crenshaw (Case No. 09C 0254). In July of 2009, the plaintiff was riding a motorcycle when a driver employed by Land O’Lakes crashed into him. The collision occurred when the driver made an illegal, left-hand turn directly in front of Mr. Crenshaw. As the result of the California motorcycle accident, Mr. Crenshaw sustained serious, life-altering injuries including a shattered jaw, a shattered left hand, and a shattered leg.
Before the California motorcycle crash, Mr. Crenshaw worked at the Corcoran State Prison as a prison guard, having been employed there for over 16 years. Since the accident, he has undergone several operations, but still only has partial range of motion in his left arm and hand. Furthermore, Mr. Crenshaw now walks with a significant limp, and is no longer able to effectively hold a job as a prison guard due to the catastrophic injuries he sustained in the California motorcycle accident.
Brian Panish, who represented Mr. Crenshaw, stated, “This verdict will allow Mr. Crenshaw to live out the rest of his life with dignity.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 5,290 fatalities in motorcycle accidents across the country in 2008. This figure marked a two percent increase from 2007, when 5,174 motorcyclists were killed in crashes. In addition, an estimated 96,000 motorcyclists were injured in accidents in 2008. In California, 537 motorcyclists involved in accidents were killed in 2008, representing the highest number of deaths per state in the country. Per mile driven, motorcyclists are about 37 times more likely to die in a traffic accident than occupants in passenger vehicles are, and are also nine times more likely to be injured during a crash.
If a California motorcycle accident is caused by the negligence of another driver, victims may be able to receive damages to compensate them for medical expenses, future treatment, loss of income and pain and suffering. If their injuries are catastrophic, damages can be significant. A catastrophic injury is defined as an injury that has a life-long impact on a person’s daily routine, with many such injuries requiring victims to undergo years of treatment and make substantial life adjustments.
If you have been injured in a California motorcycle accident and suffered catastrophic injuries as the result of the negligence of another, a skilled personal injury lawyer can help. The catastrophic injury attorneys at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP can help you hold negligent parties accountable for their actions in a court of law., and can help you obtain the compensation you deserve. Please call our offices today at 1-877-800-1700 for a free and confidential consultation on your California motorcycle crash case.
