Personal Injury Cases that Made the Headlines
Most people probably don’t realize that the majority of personal injury cases are settled between parties long before they ever make it to a courtroom, although a fair share of cases are decided by a jury. Either way, when the situation is particularly unusual, involves famous people, or occurs in a place that is well-known, these cases make it into national, and even international news. Some of the biggest cases in recent years caught the interest of the public for a variety of reasons.
Charla Nash V. Sandra Herold: Although the names may not ring a bell, you’ve probably heard about the case involving a pet chimpanzee that attacked a friend of its owner. Nash suffered disfiguring injuries to her face, including the loss of her nose and eyes, and the parties settled for $4 million to address medical bills and the need for care. The case brought to light how dangerous it is to keep wild animals as pets, and the negligence involved in giving an exotic species the freedom to roam the property.
Tracy Morgan V. Walmart: When a Walmart delivery truck collided with a limo carrying comedians Tracy Morgan, Jimmy Mack, and others, Mack was killed, Morgan suffered injuries that included a broken femur, nose, and ribs, and was hospitalized for months, some of which were spent in a coma. Two others in the limo were also hospitalized with severe injuries. Ultimately, it was discovered that the truck driver had been awake for over 24 hours—a violation of federal regulations. The case never made it to court, but rumor has it the settlement was around $90 million.
The Harvey Weinstein case: After Weinstein was found guilty of sexual misconduct, he was ordered by the bankruptcy court to fork over $17 million to be divided among roughly 50 accusers. Many people didn’t realize that in addition to the criminal consequence of prison time, Weinstein had a financial liability toward victims.
Eric Garner V NYC: The family of Eric Garner settled a death claim with NYC, receiving $5.9 million after police officers put Garner in a chokehold for selling cigarettes on a public sidewalk. After repeating the phrase, “I can’t breathe,” eleven times, the 43-year old died there on the street.
What Do These Cases Have in Common?
These cases, like all successful personal injury cases, demonstrated a duty of care by defendants was not met, and through negligence or even outright recklessness, their actions were the proximate cause for victims’ injuries. You don’t have to be famous or be involved in a bizarre incident to deserve compensation. The dedicated Kissimmee and Orlando personal injury attorneys at Salazar & Kelly Law Group fight for the best possible outcomes in all kinds of personal injury situations. To discuss, schedule a confidential consultation in our office today.
Source:
ctpost.com/news/article/4-million-settlement-in-chimp-attack-lawsuit-4077398.php
