California Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit Results in $1.85 Million Verdict

Earlier this month, a California jury awarded $1.85 for injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident caused by the negligence of a beer truck driver who waived another vehicle around his truck and into the path of the plaintiff’s motorcycle.

The case was decided on February 4, 2009, in the Santa Clara County Superior Court of California.

The motorcycle accident lawsuit was filed by David Allen over injuries he sustained on May 30, 2007.

The plaintiff alleged that while a Bottomley Distributing Company beer truck was attempting to make a u-turn in the middle of a busy residential street, the driver waived the car behind him to go around his vehicle and into the on-coming lane of traffic where it collided with Allen’s motorcycle.

After his vehicle was struck head-on, Allen required extensive surgery and was left with injuries which he claimed would require a lifetime of medical care. The jury award included $250,000 for past and future medical expenses and an additional $1.6 million for his pain and suffering.

The jury found that the accident was caused by the carelessness and negligence of Bottomley Distributing Company and that they were 100% responsible for Allen’s injuries.

According to a statement released by the plaintiff’s California motorcycle accident lawyer, B. Robert Allard, Bottomley initially denied liability claiming that they were not at fault for the accident and then offered to settle the claim for only $100,000.