Jury Awards Motorcycle Accident Victim $770,000
By Chris Hoffmann
Aug. 12, 2015 8:40a
Radner is impacted by his motorcycle accident injury on a daily basis and experiences constant pain.
Motorcycle accidents can be caused by any number of factors. Weather, road conditions, defective vehicle parts, the negligence of other drivers, or a motorcyclist’s own carelessness, can all lead to a serious accident. Any of these circumstances can cause an accident that could result in catastrophic injury or death for a motorcyclist, so it is crucial that risks be mitigated and those responsible be held accountable for their actions.
Motorcycle Accident Case
Recently, a jury decided that the county must pay $770,000 in damages to a motorcyclist who was involved in a devastating wreck. The county was held liable because the accident was caused by road crews employed by the county and their failure to clean up after completing a job.
The accident happened on October 30, 2011 around 10 a.m. A road crew for the Department of Public Works had left behind some loose gravel on Little Tujunga Road, and when Sean Herendeen, 28, encountered the gravel while riding his motorcycle, he lost control of the bike.
The road crews had completed a project in the area ten days before but had not cleared the debris. Herendeen lost control of his bike as it slid out from underneath him and the bike flew into oncoming traffic and caused a head-on collision with Michael Radner, 71, also on a motorcycle.
Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Radner was seriously injured. His spine was fractured in several places and doctors said he came incredibly close to being paralyzed. Radner’s back injury continues to affect him and cause him pain.
Judge William Stewart oversaw the trial, which took a month to complete. The jury heard the case and found the county to be completely responsible for causing the motorcycle accident. They awarded Radner $640,000 for past and future pain and suffering and $123,000 for past and future medical expenses. Radner’s attorney said that the verdict seems fair since Radner is impacted by his injury on a daily basis and experiences constant pain.
Initially, Radner filed a suit against Herendeen as well. However, the jury was shown photographs of the accident scene and exonerated Herendeen as he could not have been expected to be aware of the unsafe conditions caused by the gravel left in the road by the road crews.
Important to Contact a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Radner’s injuries will impact his life and cause him pain for the rest of his life. Yet he is lucky to be alive. Motorcycle accidents can easily result in fatalities for accident victims. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact a Missouri motorcycle accident attorneyas soon as possible to discuss your case. Regardless of what caused the accident, getting in touch with a motorcycle accident attorney who can advise you as to the best course of action in moving forward is in your best interests. Whether it is simply to file an insurance claim or something more complicated like investigating in order to determine responsibility, a motorcycle accident attorney will be able to give you experienced legal advice and help you to get the compensation you need in order to successfully recover and move forward with your life.
Call (314) 361-4242 to schedule a free consultation.