$450,000 Settlement: Entire Policy Plus $100,000 Personal Contribution from At-Fault Defendant

Motorcycle Accidents

Mr. Demas and Ms. Dickens recently resolved a case for Mr. T in connection with injuries he sustained after being hit by a car when he was riding his motorcycle in Ventura, California. Mr. T was 30 years old at the time of the collision. He was taken by ambulance to the emergency department at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, where he required immediate surgery on his right shoulder. Since then, he has participated in extensive physical therapy and received cortisone injections as a result of his injuries.

While Mr. T is lucky his injuries were not life-threatening, his life was forever changed as a result of the collision. Prior to the collision, he enjoyed a very active lifestyle, including semi-professional rollerblading, wakeboarding, skiing, and snowboarding. He was also an amateur portrait painter.

The defendants, in this case, carried a $350,000.00 policy of insurance. As Mr. T’s condition worsened, it became clear he would require more than the policy limit to cover his future medical expenses. As a result, Mr. Demas and his team demanded that the driver who caused the collision pay an amount in excess of his insurance policy to settle Mr. T’s case.

Eventually, the parties mediated Mr. T’s case. Mr. Demas worked with Mr. T’s treating doctors to establish Mr. T’s future care needs. Prior to mediation, the insurance company offered the $350,000.00 policy, hoping to avoid facing a jury. However, Mr. Demas and his team argued that the insurance company had failed their insureds by exposing them to a significant trial verdict and demanded that the defendant pay additional money out of his own pocket to settle this case once and for all. After intense negotiations, the defendants agreed to pay $450,000.00, which included the entire available insurance policy and a $100,000 personal contribution by the at-fault defendant.