Sommers Schwartz attorney Matthew Curtis secured a $1.25 million motorcycle accident settlement for a 51-year-old self-employed man after another driver collided with him, leaving the plaintiff with significant, life-altering injuries.

On the afternoon of May 16, 2024, the plaintiff was riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle westbound on Freeland Road in Kochville Township in Saginaw County, Michigan. The defendant was driving his pickup truck eastbound on the same road and began a left turn into a parking lot on the north side of the street. He failed to come to a complete stop and, although he checked for oncoming traffic, did not see the plaintiff on his motorcycle before initiating his turn. The truck swung directly into the plaintiff’s lane, leaving him no time to stop; his motorcycle left a 20-foot skid mark before the front of the truck struck him. The impact was so severe that the other driver later testified he assumed the plaintiff had been killed.

The plaintiff was airlifted by helicopter from the scene to a regional hospital emergency room and subsequently transferred to a second trauma center because of the severity and complexity of his injuries. The full scope of his injuries included extensive facial fractures, a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), fractured sternum, bilateral rib fractures, lacerated spleen, fractured left wrist, and left foot fractures and dislocations. He also sustained a large scalp laceration and multiple soft tissue injuries throughout his body.

One week after the accident, the plaintiff underwent major reconstructive facial surgery in which surgeons implanted plates and screws into his jaw and facial structure. His jaw was wired shut for months, and he lost virtually all of his teeth in the process. He has only eight teeth remaining, all of which must be extracted before surgeons can perform the bone grafts and dental implants needed to complete his reconstruction. In the meantime, he cannot eat solid food and relies on pureed meals. He continues to see a neurologist for ongoing treatment of his TBI and post-concussion syndrome, which has produced persistent daily headaches, memory loss, personality changes, depression, and anxiety.

Under Michigan law, a driver turning left across oncoming traffic must yield the right of way to approaching vehicles. The defendant was cited at the scene for failure to yield; had he stopped, checked for oncoming traffic, and waited until the road was clear before completing his turn, this crash would not have occurred.

The plaintiff’s wife brought a companion claim for loss of consortium. She was driving separately when she passed the accident scene and recognized her husband lying unconscious in the road. The accident has left a lasting psychological impact, including ongoing nightmares and panic attacks when driving past that stretch of road. She has become her husband’s caregiver for difficult tasks, taking over all household management and assisting him with personal care.