How Much Can I Recover from a Personal Injury Claim?
It is possible to get a large personal injury settlement in California. Here is California’s largest personal injury settlement for cases with a single plaintiff and cases with multiple plaintiffs. The plaintiff in these cases is the person who sues for the personal injury claim and is the person who claims an injury caused by the negligence of the defendant(s).
The Largest Single Plaintiff Personal Injury Settlement in California History
The Rowe family of San Mateo, California, accepted an offer of a settlement of $47.5 million on June 25, 2018. This settlement is the largest single-plaintiff settlement in California history.
The defendants were the County of San Mateo and the power company PG&E.
In this case, a dead 72-foot-high tree in a public campground fell on the 12-year-old boy, Zachary Rowe, crushing him as he slept. Zachary survived but spent six months in the hospital. He underwent thirty surgeries. Much of the bottom half of his body had to be amputated to save him. He lost his right leg, pelvis, and buttocks.
This case was about premises liability. The claim was that those responsible for maintenance of the campground neglected to remove the dangerous tree when they knew it was dead and posed a risk of falling, causing harm. The settlement happened before the case went to trial.
Large Settlements for Multiple Plaintiffs
The largest personal injury settlement in California in 2021, which had multiple plaintiffs, was $1.8 billion. This case was against Southern California Gas Co. for damages caused by a gas leak.
The second-largest settlement was for $852 million. This lawsuit was against the University of Southern California for sexual abuse and rape.
The third-largest was for $39.5 million. The case was against California State University for damage caused by a brain injury.
The settlements for the other cases in the top ten for 2021 range from $7.85 million to $24.5 million.
There were, in total, just over 55 cases that had a settlement of $1 million or more.
Average Settlement for a Personal Injury Case in California
The average verdict in a jury trial in California for a personal injury case is $1.6 million. However, it is important to point out that the median for a personal injury award by a jury is only $150,000. The median is the amount that most people receive. The average is higher due to some of the large settlements.
Having a Lawyer Representing Your Case Makes a Difference
Studies show that the average settlement of a personal injury case is higher when you are represented by legal counsel instead of trying to handle your case on your own. Each case is specific and the results may vary substantially.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to the negligence of others, call (281) 475-4535 for a free consultation. You want to have an attorney to protect your rights and to make sure the settlement is as large as possible so you can be properly compensated for the damages.