Famous personal injury cases
The goal of personal injury lawsuits is to provide victims with a way to get compensation for any injuries and/or property damage that were sustained as result of negligence or wrongdoing on that part of another party or parties.
Every day personal injury cases are resolved through negotiated settlements, jury verdicts, or awards. However, there have been some famous personal injury cases that have attracted a lot of media attention, and some have even set some significant legal precedents.
Bret Michaels, the lead singer of Poison, sued CBS when he suffered an injury at the 2009 Tony Awards broadcast. After being struck in the head with a set piece, Michaels suffered from a broken nose, but also developed a near-fatal brain hemorrhage a few months later. His case revolved around his claim that he did not receive proper instructions on how to exit the set. In the end, the courts ruled in his favor for an undisclosed amount.
In the case of Gloria Estefan, the singer suffered from a broken back as the result of an accident that occurred in 1990. At the time, Estefan was touring with her band when her tour bus was rear-ended by a tractor trailer that had jack-knifed. Ms. Estefan had a prolonged recovery and had to miss an entire year of touring and concerts. She and her husband filed a personal injury lawsuit seeking damages for medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. In the end, she was awarded 8.95 million dollars in damages.
Yes, the coffee lawsuit. . .
Perhaps one of most famous court cases of all time was the “hot coffee” case. The Liebeck vs. McDonalds case arose from an accident that occurred in 1994 to Stella Lieback. After purchasing a cup of coffee at a McDonalds drive-thru, the coffee spilled, and Lieback suffered burns to her upper legs and groin.
Initially, Lieback sued McDonald’s for $20,000, claiming that the restaurant’s coffee was slightly hotter than average. McDonalds refused to settle, opting to take the case to court. The judge ruled in Lieback’s favor, awarding her $200,000. However, she was only entitled to 80% because she was found to be responsible for 20% of her injuries. Eventually, she was awarded 2.7 million dollars in punitive damages.
Knowing the law
In one of the most bizarre cases, a woman sued the city of New York for injuries sustained after she attempted to commit suicide by laying on subway tracks until a train could run over her. She was awarded $14.1 million dollars in damages by the state’s Supreme Court
While this case and others are bizarre and even somewhat humorous, most personal injury cases, especially those involving serious or catastrophic injuries, are not. Catastrophic injury attorney, Greg Yates, specializes in the following types of personal injury cases:
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
- Serious motor vehicle accidents
Mr. Yates and his staff will work tirelessly to recover compensatory damages for your injuries as well as punitive damages, if applicable to your case. Contact our firm to set up your initial consultation.