Wrong Death – $600,000 Cap Increased to $1,375,000
The clients were parents of a motorcyclist who was killed by a driver. The driver made a left turn and failed to yield, turning in front of the motorcycle. The motorcyclist was killed instantly when his motorcycle collided with the car after it illegally turned left. Non-economic damages in Colorado at the time of the collision was limited to roughly $600,000. Typically, only children might receive economic damages when a parent dies, not the other way around. The deceased motorcyclist had no children; he did, however, have loving parents. As stated, parents would typically not be considered for economic damage. Further, more damages can be recoverable if the at-fault driver acted willfully or wantonly. That led to two avenues obtaining more money than the initial $600,000. The Bussey Law Firm, P.C., carefully and meticulously worked the case. First, our attorneys obtained an accident reconstructionist to review the case and study the braking pattern of the at-fault driver. This led to an opinion that the driver making the left turn did so willfully and wantonly, circumventing limitations on recovery. Further, an economist reviewed the personal circumstances of the family and pronounced the monetary economic damages this family would incur because of the loss. The Bussey Law Firm, P.C., obtained a significant recovery that more than doubled the $600,000, resulting in the family having recovered $1,375,000.