Let's say you and your teenage daughter were cruising along on your motorcycle and were struck by a negligently driven Chevy truck. You both survived, did not sustain brain injuries and will lead mostly normal lives. How much is the pain and suffering from numerous broken or fractured bones, a couple of which are quite serious, worth to you?
One-hundred thousand? $250,000? How about $6 million?
Richard Wright and his 15-year-old daughter Kelly Wright were awared a $6 million settlement (Sun-Times) for just that very scenario, which happened in Joliet three years ago. The office of Illinois injury attorneys Cogan & McNabola, who represented the Wrights, claims it is a new record for a personal injury case in Will County.
They suffered plenty of pain associated with multiple injuries and will have some medical issues for the rest of their lives -- Kelly Wright reportedly is scheduled for fusion surgery (About.com) on her ankle -- but $6 million is a lot of dough.
Richard Wright fared much better than his daughter, suffering a fractured wrist and a fractured ankle that required surgery. The motorist who ran into them will not have to fork out the cash himself, of course, that will be paid for by his insurance company.
- Personal injury claim calculator (CalculatorsLive)
- Why Insurance Companies Settle Cases (About.com)
- Motorcycle Accidents - Overview (FindLaw)
