A Madison County, Illinois jury awarded $27.5 million to a 21 year old plaintiff injured by a pickup driver.

Case Summary

A Madison County, Illinois jury awarded $27.5 million to a 21-one-year old plaintiff injured by a pickup driver.

Key Highlights

The pickup tried to cross an intersection at Route 160 and Broadway in Highland, Ill. when he did not have the right of way and struck the plaintiff on his motorcycle.
The collision left the plaintiff with torn ligaments and tendons in his knee.
The Plaintiff also suffered multiple fractures to his lower leg, which required four surgeries.

Case Analysis

The Plaintiff suffered his injuries during the crash, which happened on the Fourth of July in 2023. After a four-day trial, the jury deliberated for just over two hours and returned a unanimous verdict in favor of the Plaintiff, finding the defendant 100% at fault.

Outcome & Impact

Of the total damages award, $75,000 was for punitive damages. The rest was compensatory damages for injuries the Plaintiff sustained to his leg, including $421,213.56 in medical bills.
The remainder of the more than $27 million was for pain and suffering, loss of normal life, emotional distress, and disfigurement.
The Plaintiff continues to live with daily pain, mobility limitations, and post-traumatic stress from the violent crash. This was a completely preventable collision. The Defendant knew he couldn’t see and went anyway. That split-second decision changed the course of a young man’s life.

Additional Case Information

For additional information, contact Simon Law lead attorney Mary Simon or Simon Law attorney Tim Cronin.