Jury Deliberations Begin in Harley Davidson Motorcycle Accident Trial
Bike maker faces a personal injury lawsuit stemming from a motorcycle accident.
In a hotly-debated case, a Sacramento jury is now charged with determining whether bike maker Harley Davidson will have to pay millions to a woman who was injured in a motorcycle accident allegedly caused by a design defect.
Fifty-year-old Judy Wilson and her estranged husband Jack were riding their 2008 Road Glide along Highway 99 in April 2009 when they came upon traffic that had stopped in the road ahead of them. Jack Wilson, who was driving at approximately 65 mph, slammed on the brakes which caused the rear wheel to lock up and send his wife flying headfirst into the roadway.
Ms. Wilson traveled a distance of 35 feet before landing on the pavement, which caused her to suffer numerous fractures to her skull, ribs and face. She has since recovered from her injuries but now has a prosthetic skull and permanent softening of her brain. Pain and other complications from the motorcycle accident have essentially rendered her incapable of working, according to her attorney.
The Wilsons believe that Harley Davidson, the bike's manufacturer, should compensate them for the injuries she sustained because of a design defect they claim contributed to the accident. According to the Wilsons, the motorcycle they purchased bore an "ABS" symbol, which lead them to believe that the bike had an anti-lock braking system. In actuality, the motorcycle was not equipped with such a system. The Wilsons assert that the dealership they bought the bike from told them it did have an ABS system and that this misrepresentation compromised their safety.
The defense argued that Mr. Wilson caused the accident himself and that he should have had sufficient knowledge about how the motorcycle operated. Defense attorneys also attempted to portray Ms. Wilson as a liar and hinted that her injuries are not as severe as she claims.
The Wilsons are seeking an unspecified amount of damages in the case, although their attorney has estimated that their lifetime economic loss totals somewhere near $3 million. The jury is now faced with determining whether to hold Harley Davidson and the dealership responsible for Ms. Wilson's injuries.
This case demonstrates how important it is to retain an experienced personal injury attorney if you're ever involved in a motorcycle accident that you believe was caused by someone else's negligence. Should the jury find the Wilsons' arguments convincing, they may be awarded millions of dollars for their medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.
The law firm of Nadrich & Cohen is dedicated to assisting motorcycle accident victims in the Sacramento area and throughout California in proving their personal injury claims. Their team of motorcycle accident experts will work hard on your behalf to get you the compensation you deserve.
Call the Injury Hotline today at 1-800-722-0765 to schedule your free initial case evaluation. There is never a fee unless a money judgment is recovered on your behalf. Contact Nadrich & Cohen today to get the experienced legal help you need to prove your California motorcycle accident injury case.
The Nadrich & Cohen personal injury blogs are sponsored by Nadrich & Cohen, LLC. This blog features news stories, personal cases and analysis of current events, all of which are intended for illustrative purposes only. Each case is different, and legal authority is constantly changing and evolving. Therefore, nothing on this site should be viewed as a guarantee or prediction of a similar future outcome. The information on this site should not be treated as authoritative, and readers should always consult with legal counsel before making any important legal decisions. Lastly, Nadrich & Cohen, LLC is not responsible for any comments contributed by visitors to this website.
