Doe Motorcyclist v. Roe Backhoe Driver
Mar 19, 2013OUTCOME: $5.5 million settlement
On September 19, 2008, the plaintiff was traveling down a two-lane rural road on his motorcycle. At approximately 8:00 am, the plaintiff approached and attempted to pass a slow-moving backhoe when the ... backhoe made a sudden left turn. As a result, the backhoe collided with the motorcycle, severing the plaintiff’s right leg and throwing both he and his motorcycle into a ditch on the other side of the road. he plaintiff sued the owner of the backhoe, a construction company for which the driver was employed, and the driver of the backhoe. He alleged that the driver was negligent in the operation of the backhoe and that the construction company was vicariously liable for the driver’s actions. Defense raised issues of comparative fault and offered experts who opined that plaintiff’s future medical expenses would not exceed $40,000.