It is not unusual to see court cases in the media. However, some cases capture public attention more than others. Personal injury cases arise when an individual suffers injuries due to another person’s negligence.
In a typical personal injury lawsuit, the plaintiff, , usually the injured party, will allege that the defendant’s negligence led to the plaintiff’s injuries.
To win a personal injury case, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant was, in fact, negligent. In some cases, this can be difficult to do.
Over the years, we have had a few personal injury settlements that captured public attention and “blew up the internet.” This article discusses some of the famous personal injury cases and their outcomes. So, let us get started.
What Is a Personal Injury Settlement?
Personal injury settlement is always at the center of every personal injury case. Why? Because if both parties agree, a settlement will end the litigation without the need for a trial.
A personal injury settlement is an agreement between the plaintiff and the defendant (or their insurance companies) to resolve a personal injury claim.
The settlement usually includes a monetary amount that the plaintiff will receive from the defendant (or their insurance company) in exchange for the plaintiff’s agreement not to pursue any further legal action against the defendant.
In some cases, personal injury settlements also include non-monetary terms, such as an agreement by the defendant to change its policies or procedures to help prevent future injuries from occurring.
What Influences the Settlement Amount in Personal Injury Claims?
Several factors can influence the amount of money you get in a personal injury settlement. The most critical factors are the severity of injuries suffered and the insurance policy.
Typically, the more severe your injuries, the higher your personal injury claim value. The reason is simple: more severe injuries tend to result in higher medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Insurance policies also have a significant impact on settlements. The amount of coverage available can limit the amount of money you receive in a settlement.
For example, let’s say you’re in a car accident caused by another driver. The other driver has a $100,000 liability policy, and your injuries total $250,000.
In this case, your personal injury settlement would be limited to $100,000 because that is the maximum amount of coverage available.
If you have “underinsured motorist” coverage on your insurance policy, you may be able to recover additional money from your own insurance company up to the limit of your underinsured motorist coverage.
It’s essential to keep in mind that each personal injury case is different, and the settlement value of a particular case will depend on its unique facts and circumstances.
Some Famous Personal Injury Cases That Blew Up the Internet
Now, let us discuss some of the most famous personal injury cases that blew up the internet and how they ended.
1. McDonald’s Hot Coffee Case
This is probably the most famous personal injury case in U.S. history. In 1992, Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old woman, spilt hot coffee on herself after purchasing it from a McDonald’s drive-through.
Liebeck suffered third-degree burns on her thighs, buttocks, and groin. She was hospitalized for eight days and received skin grafts.
Liebeck initially asked McDonald’s to pay her medical bills, totalling about $10,000. When McDonald’s refused, Liebeck filed a personal injury lawsuit.
A jury awarded Liebeck $2.86 million in damages, which was later reduced to $640,000 on appeal.
The Outcome: The case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
2. Tiger Woods’ SUV Rollover Accident
In 2009, Tiger Woods was involved in a single-car rollover accident in which his SUV flipped over several times. Woods suffered severe injuries, including a shattered ankle and leg bones.
Woods was hospitalized for six weeks and underwent multiple surgeries. He was unable to play golf for the rest of the 2009 season.
The Outcome: Woods settled with his insurance company for an undisclosed amount. He also reached a confidential settlement with the SUV driver, who had sold the story of the accident to a tabloid magazine.
3. Michael Jackson’s Death
In 2009, pop icon Michael Jackson died after suffering a cardiac arrest. The cause of death was later traced to acute propofol intoxication.
Jackson’s personal physician, Conrad Murray, was charged with involuntary manslaughter. Murray was accused of giving Jackson a fatal dose of propofol, a powerful anesthetic, as a sleep aid. Murray was found guilty and jailed for four years.
The Outcome: Jackson’s mother, Katherine Jackson, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Murray. The case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
4. The Weatherman Lawsuit
Although this one did not occur in the United States, it is worth mentioning because it demonstrates the lengths some people are willing to go to for compensation.
In Israel, a woman sued the country’s meteorological department for wrong weather prediction. Apparently, the weatherman had predicted good weather, but it rained on that day.
In her personal injury lawsuit, the woman claimed that she relied on the weather prediction to dress inappropriately, which led her to catch flu and was unable to work for several days.
Furthermore, she had to spend money on her medication. The case went to trial, and she was awarded $1,000 in compensation.
5. Taco Bell Chihuahua
The Taco Bell Chihuahua was a popular fast-food commercial mascot that appeared in numerous advertising campaigns from 1997 to 2000.
The commercials featured a talking Chihuahua with a penchant for saying, “Yo Quiero Taco Bell.”
In 2000, the company that owned the rights to the Chihuahua, Gimme A Break Productions, sued Taco Bell for $30 million. The company claimed that Taco Bell had used the Chihuahua in advertising after their contract had expired.
The Outcome: The case was settled out of court for an amount of money believed to be in the region of $17million.
6. The Trapped Burglar
In a more bizarre personal injury case in Bristol, Pennsylvania, a burglar named Terrence Dickinson planned to steal from a home.
However, he ended up being trapped in the building for eight days because the garage door lock, which was the primary exit point, wasn’t working properly.
He even tried using a different door to escape, but he wasn’t lucky because the second exit he chose had a malfunctioning door lock as well.
After trying three different doors, he had no option but to stay in the house for more than one week surviving on Pepsi and dry dog food.
He later sued the property owner for damages and was awarded $500,000 in compensation.
Final Thought
Although the examples we’ve looked at are all high-profile cases, they do serve to illustrate some of the factors that can influence a personal injury settlement.
If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident, it’s essential to speak to an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
The attorneys at our firm have years of experience negotiating settlements for clients and will work tirelessly on your behalf to get you the best result possible.
Contact us today for a free consultation, and let us help you navigate these complex waters.
