Top Motorcycle Accident Verdicts and Settlements

Dorchester County Jury Holds Amazon Liable for Delivery Van Crash That Injured Motorcyclist

Shannon Shaw was riding his motorcycle in St. George, South Carolina, in September 2021 when an Amazon delivery van turned left across his path. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and orthopedic injuries that led to a cervical fusion. In December 2023 a Dorchester County jury found Amazon vicariously liable and grossly negligent and returned $44.63 million, including $30 million in punitive damages against Amazon.

After trial: Amazon moved after trial to reduce the award, arguing that evidence from the driver's phone inflamed the jury; we found no ruling on that motion, no appellate opinion and no settlement. A 2026 news report still cites the $44.6 million figure. See more

$42.5 Million Verdict for Motorcyclist Left with Severe Brain Injury After Tesla Employee Made Illegal Turn

A Marion County jury in March 2024 awarded $60.7 million to motorcyclist Christopher Dugan after a Tesla service manager crossed double yellow lines and struck him, leaving him with a permanent traumatic brain injury and a partial foot amputation; comparative fault reduced the net award to $42.5 million.

After trial: The jury found $60.7 million in damages and the rider 30 percent at fault, a net judgment of about $42.5 million. The Indiana Court of Appeals ordered a new damages trial over the judge's private exchange with the deadlocked jury; the Indiana Supreme Court then granted transfer and heard argument on June 30, 2026, and its decision is pending.

$42.5 Million Verdict for EMT and Aspiring Firefighter Critically Injured in Left-Turn Motorcycle Crash

A Pierce County jury awarded $44.7 million to an EMT and volunteer firefighter left with permanent injuries after an SUV driver turned left through an uncontrolled intersection and into his path, a verdict Washington courts later upheld in full.

After trial: The jury awarded just over $44.7 million and put 5 percent of the fault on Simon, so under Washington's comparative fault rule the judgment is about $42.5 million, and the Court of Appeals affirmed in 2025. The entered judgment figure is not public.

$40.5 Million Verdict for Motorcyclist Paralyzed When Tow Truck Blocked View Out of a Waterbury-Area Lot

A Waterbury jury awarded Don Zemo IV $45 million after finding that a tow truck illegally parked outside MyHoopty.com's Oakville lot blocked the sightline for a car pulling out, causing a collision that left him permanently paralyzed.

After trial: The jury awarded $45 million and put 10 percent of the fault on Zemo, 65 percent on MyHoopty.com and 25 percent on the driver of the SUV, so the judgments total $40.5 million. Connecticut liability is several, and the court later found the SUV driver's share uncollectible and moved about $8 million of it onto MyHoopty.com. See more

$25 Million Federal Verdict for Motorcyclist With Crushed Pelvis Hit by Tractor-Trailer on I-176 Ramp

A federal jury in Pennsylvania awarded $25 million to Travis Sweigart after a tractor-trailer driver turned left across his path at the exit of Interstate 176, crushing Sweigart's pelvis and leaving him with injuries the treating surgeon described as unquestionably the worst pelvic fracture he had ever seen.

$18.5 Million Settlement for Motorcyclist Left in Coma After I-5 Construction Zone Crash

Scott Bliss suffered catastrophic brain injury when a Scarsella Bros. dump truck made an illegal U-turn on an I-5 WSDOT construction ramp in Centralia, yielding what is believed to be the largest WSDOT settlement in Lewis County history.

Caltrans Ordered to Pay $16.4 Million After Rotting Tree Branch Crushes 75-Year-Old Motorcyclist on SR-79

A San Diego County jury awarded $16,420,725 to Jane Neely after a diseased tree branch broke from a state-maintained oak and fell across State Route 79 near Warner Springs, crushing the 75-year-old motorcyclist beneath it and leaving her permanently paraplegic.

$11 Million Verdict for Motorcyclist Struck by LADWP Van

A Van Nuys jury awarded $11 million to motorcyclist Grady Dillon after a Los Angeles DWP driver made an unsafe left turn into his path, and the California Court of Appeal affirmed the full verdict in 2026.

$10.8 Million Settlement for Navy Veteran Who Lost Leg in I-5 Chain-Reaction Crash

A Navy veteran lost his right leg and the use of his arm after a Navy-operated van triggered a chain-reaction crash on Interstate 5; CaseyGerry secured a $10.8 million settlement, described as the largest federal vehicle-collision settlement in San Diego history.

Linn County Jury Awards $9 Million to Passenger Who Lost Her Leg in Motorcycle Collision

A Linn County jury returned a $9 million verdict for Audrey Ford, a motorcycle passenger whose right leg was amputated above the knee after a driver pulled into the path of the bike at a rural Missouri intersection.

$8 Million Verdict for Georgia Motorcyclist After Dump Truck Sent Barrel Into His Path on I-75

A Clayton County jury returned an $8 million verdict for U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Ronnie Stevens after a dump truck driver struck a construction barrel on I-75, launching it into Stevens's path and shattering his ankle and wrist.

Motorcyclist Loses Foot in Left-Turn Crash, Wins $7 Million Settlement in Hampton

A 40-year-old motorcyclist whose foot was traumatically amputated after an oncoming driver cut across his lane recovered $7 million in a settlement reached one month before trial.

Hanover Jury Awards $6 Million to Motorcyclist Who Lost His Left Leg in Ashland Left-Turn Crash

A 40-year-old motorcyclist lost his left leg below the knee after a driver turned left across his path on U.S. Route 1 in Ashland, Virginia. The trial judge ruled the driver negligent as a matter of law and struck the contributory negligence defense, leaving only damages for the jury. On November 20, 2025, a Hanover County jury awarded $6 million after about 30 minutes of deliberation. The defendant has noted an appeal.

After trial: The defendant noted an appeal of the judgment, and we found no appellate ruling. Virginia Lawyers Weekly reported that all available insurance coverage has been paid. See more

Federal Judge Awards Motorcyclist $5.39 Million After Border Patrol Truck Collision on Mountain Road

John Hendrickson, 45, lost his lower left leg after a head-on collision with an on-duty Border Patrol pickup on the Otay Mountain Truck Trail in San Diego County on Aug. 27, 2009. After a four-day bench trial under the Federal Tort Claims Act, Judge Larry Burns found damages of $6,338,491, assigned 85 percent of the fault to the United States and 15 percent to Hendrickson, and entered judgment for $5,387,717.35 in June 2014.

$4.7 Million Affirmed for Motorcycle Passenger Thrown Into Elevated-Train Pillar on Westchester Avenue

A Bronx jury awarded motorcycle passenger Jose Cabrera $5.1 million after a New York City Transit Authority bus driver merged into his lane and forced the bike into a concrete pillar; the First Department affirmed the liability verdict and pain-and-suffering awards while reducing future medical expenses, bringing the final judgment to $4.7 million.

After trial: Affirmed on appeal.

Jury Awards $4.49 Million to Motorcyclist Who Lost a Leg After a Bus Driver Waved Him Into a Red-Light Crash

A Chicago motorcyclist lost his left leg below the knee in 1988 when a driver ran a red light at Archer and Halsted just after a CTA bus driver waved him into the intersection. A Cook County jury awarded $4,492,710 and put 60 percent of the fault on the CTA and 40 percent on the driver. The Illinois Appellate Court affirmed the damages in full in 1996 and ordered a new trial only on the split of fault.

After trial: On October 11, 1996, the Illinois Appellate Court affirmed the damages in full but reversed the 60/40 fault allocation and remanded for a new trial on apportionment between the CTA and the driver. We could not find the outcome of the remand, so what each defendant ultimately owes is unconfirmed. See more

Hillsborough Jury Awards Motorcyclist $3.83 Million After Left-Turn Crash on US 301

Anthony Ellis, 21, was hit by a left-turning driver while riding his motorcycle on US 301 in Riverview, Florida, in January 2016. He needed knee reconstruction and had broken bones in his foot. A Hillsborough County jury awarded about $3.83 million in May 2019 after a four-day trial in which the defense disputed fault.

After trial: We found no post-trial motion or appeal in the sources reviewed, but we could not confirm entry of final judgment or payment from the docket.

Jury Awards $3.4 Million After UPS Driver Left Turn Puts Motorcyclist in Hospital

A Hartford Superior Court jury returned a $3,476,025 verdict in September 2014 for motorcyclist Matthew Karotkin, who suffered skull fractures and a lung injury when a UPS driver cut left across his path at a Windsor, Connecticut intersection.

Motorcyclist Hospitalized Two Months With Brain Injury Settles Pitt County Crash for $2.99 Million

Chase Cayton, 23, suffered a severe brain injury and a fractured right leg when a pickup turned left across his path, and his suit in Pitt County Superior Court settled for $2,988,396.

A Denver Jury's $2.5 Million Verdict for a Motorcyclist Hit by a Left-Turning Driver

A 24-year-old rider with a shattered femur and nearly $940,000 in medical bills won a $2.5 million verdict from a Denver jury in November 2022, a sum the firm reports fell to about $2,272,500 after a 20 percent comparative-fault reduction and interest.

After trial: The jury returned $2.5 million and found the rider 20 percent at fault; the firm reports a final judgment of about $2,272,500 with interest.