$6,227,368.00   December 20, 2006.
Verdict. The Plaintiff sustained a traumatic amputation of his left leg below the knee on the scene, which required revision to an above the knee amputation later at the hospital. He also sustained multiple fractures to his left (dominant) arm, multiple fractured ribs, a fracture at C5, and developed compartment syndrome requiring fasciotomies on both upper extremities. He developed radial nerve palsy in his left arm and vocal cord damage which continue to make it difficult for him to speak. He spent nearly one month in the hospital and another month in a rehabilitation facility. He underwent nearly twenty surgeries and will need more in the future. He has permanent pain in both arms, his left leg and neck. A loss of consortium claim was asserted on his wife’s behalf.
$1,300,000.00   September 15, 2006.
Settlement. Plaintiff was operating his semi-tractor in a northerly direction on IL Highway 20 and the Defendant was operating his semi-tractor in a southerly direction on IL Highway 20 when the Defendant lost control of his vehicle, crossed the median hitting the Plaintiff head on. The defense contended that due to wind conditions the Defendant's vehicle went out of control. Plaintiff's injuries included loss of consciousness at the scene, laceration of the right ear with detachment from the face, loss of feeling two fingers of the right hand, open fracture/dislocation of right ankle, nerve disruption and torn artery. Plaintiff's doctors considered an ankle fusion or possible amputation but the Plaintiff decided against these procedures.
$549,500.00   December 5, 2008.
Plaintiff Driver and passenger involved in a 3 car collision. The Defendant turned his vehicle from a direct course leaving the roadway striking the driver's door of the Plaintiff's vehicle which was stopped. The plaintiff driver injured his back and right shoulder requiring surgery. The plaintiff passenger injured her neck, both shoulders, left elbow knee and back, requiring rotator cuff surgery to her left shoulder and surgery for tennis elbow to her left elbow. Jury verdict reached.
$472,332.00   May 6, 2006.
A Winnebago County jury returned a verdict in the amount of $472,332.10 for a 53 year old male who was struck by a golf cart while riding his motorcycle on an interior road at the Winnebago County Fairgrounds. The plaintiff sustained a lis franc fracture/dislocation of his left mid foot (all five bones dislocated, three fractured with open reduction/internal screw fixation) when the motorcycle was forced over onto his left foot, bending it in half. The evidence showed he would need a future ankle fusion. The jury deliberated three and one half hours before awarding the plaintiff $47,332.10 for past medical bills, $25,000 for future medical bills, $250,000 for pain and suffering and $150,000 for disability/loss of a normal life (the plaintiff was an avid outdoorsman who had great difficulty walking on uneven ground as a result of his injury). This is believed to be the largest verdict in Winnebago County in 2005.
$250,000.00   January 16, 2003.
Vehicle in which Female, age 23 was a passenger hit by left-turning defendant's vehicle. Crash fractured plaintiff's lower left leg (rod inserted) and her left arm. Residuals include a limp and surgical scars ($56,657 medical expense). Paid by USAA.
$250,000.00   May 20, 2005.
Vehicle in which Female, age 95, was a front seat passenger was hit head-on. She suffered a fractured neck and a concussion and died less than two months later. Paid by Farmers Insurance Group (full policy limits).
$240,000.00   May 20, 2005. Female, age 58, sustained a fractured ankle when the vehicle she was driving was hit head-on. ($21,756.15 medical expense) Paid by Farmers Insurance Group.
$151,000.00   October 13, 2000. Female, age 41, sustained a full thickness tear of her right rotator cuff ($25,461 medical expense) when the vehicle in which she was a passenger was involved in a collision at a Rockford intersection. She underwent arthroscopic surgery and, later; an open procedure due to shoulder impingement syndrome. Paid: Country Companies.
$140,000.00   June 23, 2001. Passenger Male, age 25 suffered fatal injuries when his driver, allegedly intoxicated, ran a stop light and collided with a Boone County police vehicle at Rockford intersection. Witnesses said the police had a green light. Paid: $100,000 State Farm (full policy limit) for its driver; $40,000 AAA Auto for Boone County. State Farm also waived a $10,000 med pay lien.
$112,000.00   September 21, 2009.

Date of injury 6/17/06  Plaintiff left Dance Club and was walking across the street to get into her vehicle.  She was struck by a vehicle going approx 30 mph - defendant driver received citation for DUI and reckless driving - injuries included fractured tailbone, neck, back, shoulders, lacerations to right shoulder, left ankle, swollen right knee. 

$100,000.00   March 30, 2004. Left-turning defendant hit Male, age 34 motorcyclist, who cites: dislocated right great toe; torn right collateral ligament and ACL rupture; puncture/laceration of right (dominant) arm with loss of strength. Paid by State Farm (full policy limit).
$100,000.00   February 11, 2002. Female, age 83 was hit by left-turning defendant while in a crosswalk, suffering a fractured thoracic vertebra (unoperated), plus left knee damage resulting in valgus deformity ($28,079 medical; $2,595 LT). Paid: Farmer's (full policy limit).
$100,000.00   June 23, 2001. Male, age 25 suffered fatal injuries ($40,665 medical expense) when vehicle in which he was a passenger collided with another at Rockford intersection. Paid: State Farm (full policy limit).
$100,000.00   July 24, 2000. Male, age 30 suffered a fractured femur (open reduction with internal fixation done) plus a fractured pelvis ($38,078 medical expense) when the pickup in which he was a passenger crashed into a tree. Paid policy limit by Metropolitan Life (plaintiff's uninsured motorist carrier). Driver was uninsured.
$100,000.00   March 24, 1999. Vehicle in which Male, age 21 was a passenger was rear-ended by defendant's. Impact aggravated a prior L5-S1 fusion, necessitating a second such surgery ($41,855 medical expense). Paid State Farm (full policy limit).
$100,000.00   November 16, 1998. Plaintiff Female, age 45 slipped/fell on water near the buffet table of deft's restaurant. There were no "wet floor" signs where plaintiff fell, but signs were in place on the other side of the buffet. She allegedly injured her right knee (medial collateral ligament and medial meniscus), but sought no medical treatment for 3 weeks post-accident ($14,975 medical expense). Paid Redland Insurance.
$95,000.00   May 17, 1996. Uninsured driver ran red light at Rockford intersection and broadsided plaintiff's auto. Plaintiff male, age 48 claims incident caused a lumbar herniation that required a 2-level fusion ($24,000 medical expense). Plaintiff's uninsured motorist carrier, American Family, had contested the relationship between the crash and the fusion because plaintiff (a factory worker) had a workers' comp case pending involving his neck and low back.
$75,000.00   November 15, 1999. Defendant pulled out from side street, failing to yield the right-of-way to plaintiff's vehicle at Rockford intersection. Female, age 35 waitress suffered a broken right humerus that required open reduction with internal fixation ($19,132 medical expense; $2,500 LT). Paid Allied Insurance.
$65,000.00   April 9, 1999. Male, age 19 suffered a mild closed head injury (temporarily causing headaches and balance problems) plus back/neck soft tissue damage ($18,641 .medical expense including chiropractic) when defendant's truck rear-ended the stopped vehicle in which he was a back seat passenger. Paid American Contractors Insurance.
$62,500.00   March 23, 2007. Uninsured motorist improperly left-turned in front of plaintiff's vehicle at Rockford intersection. Plaintiff Female, age 24 (a teacher) claims collision caused a sprained shoulder and dashboard knee which may require surgery ($2,756 past and $10,000 estimated future medical expense). However, she made no complaints of knee pain for 9 months post-accident. Paid by plaintiff s uninsured motorist carrier, Farmer's insurance.
$52,500.00   May 14, 2008.
The Plaintiff was visiting the Galena area and was shopping in a Wal-Mart Store when a shelving unit fell upon her causing a left medial meniscus tear.  She had surgical intervention to repair the knee.  She continues to have knee pain and discomfort if standing and/or walking for any length of time.  This matter settled prior to trial with American Home Assurance Company. 
$50,000.00   September 29, 2000. Defendant's dog attacked Female, age 9, biting her on the right arm and back ($589 medical expense). Paid by Country Companies.
$50,000.00   July 21, 2009.
Plaintiff was rearended by a driver while traveling in a sourtherly direction on Hinckley Road in DeKalb County, Illinois.  Due to the defendant following too close and traveling at an excessive rate of speed the Plaintiff suffered severe neck and back injuries.  Three weeks before trial the attorneys agreed to settle. 
$50,000.00   August 25, 2009.
The Plaintiff was a restrained passenger in a vehicle that was struck by the Defendant who ran a stop sign.  The Plaintiff sustained injuries to her shoulder due to the seatbelt restriction, neck strain and back strain.  This matter was settled before trial. 
$37,500.00   November 13, 2001. Rockford Memorial Hospital allegedly failed to provide home nursing care as agreed after Female, age 91 was released following hip replacement surgery. However, no record could be found of the agreement. Allegedly, decubitus ulcer that was present on the patient's coccyx at her release grew when untreated at home, leading to sepsis and her death. Defense asserted that the patient's daughter had refused nursing help. Paid by self-insured Hospital.
$31,000.00   August 26, 1998. Defendant's vehicle crossed the center line of Rockford roadway and hit plaintiff's head-on. Female, age 24 sustained a shoulder sprain plus soft tissue injuries to her back and right knee ($7,413 medical). Paid Allied Insurance.
$25,000.00   March 2, 2002. Female, age 20 fractured her right femur when the snowmobile on which she was a passenger was hit by another. Two surgeries were done (rod/screw fixation; bone graft; $50,571 medical expense). Paid by State Farm (full policy limit).
$25,000.00   May 7, 2003. Female, age 47 says collision with left-turning defendant caused back/shoulder sprains/strains ($3,853 medical). Paid by self-insured USA.
$20,000.00   February 26, 2009.
The plaintiff was rearended while waiting to make a left turn into a school parking lot.  Plaintiff suffered a pinched nerve in the right leg causing her substantial problems while working.  Due to her neck, low back and right shoulder injuries she was unable to continue working.  This matter settled prior to going to trial. 


 
Verdicts and settlements as reported in the Illinois Jury Verdict Reporter: