Bisnar Chase Secures $30-Million Judgment for Brain-Injured Motorcycle Accident Victim

On September 27, 2013, Bisnar Chase personal injury lawyers obtained a $30-million judgment in a case involving 25-year-old Lucas Vogt who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a 2011 motorcycle accident. The lawsuit was filed in Orange County Superior Court in February 2012.

 Catastrophic Injuries

The motorcycle accident occurred the evening of July 25, 2011, during rush hour traffic. Vogt was riding his motorcycle between the number one and two lanes on the 91 Freeway near Gypsum Canyon Road in Anaheim when the defendant, Andrew Saldate, attempted to make a lane change and collided with Vogt’s motorcycle, the complaint states. The impact of the collision knocked Vogt from his motorcycle and into the Fastrak traffic lanes where he was struck by two other vehicles – a 2005 Jeep Liberty driven by Shana Johnson and a 2000 BMW 328i driven by Lori Dunbar, court documents state.

Vogt suffered major injuries including a traumatic brain injury, broken bones and road rash. He had to undergo surgery and required a lengthy hospital stay. Once he was discharged from the hospital, he had to undergo rehabilitation for his brain injury. When the insurance coverage for his rehabilitation stopped, he continued to receive care at home.

 U.S. Brain Injury Statistics

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 1.7 million traumatic brain injuries occur in the United States each year as an isolated injury or along with other injuries. Brain injuries are a contributing factor in a third of all injury-related deaths in the United States. About 35 percent of traumatic brain injuries in the United States are caused by car accidents.

 How Compensation Can Help

Bisnar Chase Anaheim personal injury lawyer Scott Ritsema who represented Vogt says he has made a significant recovery considering the critical nature of his injuries. Ritsema said this case is an example of the emotional and financial burdens families of catastrophically injured victims must bear. Vogt’s family made the difficult decision of deciding to keep him on life support. Ritsema says, today, Vogt has made significant progress. Although he is still unable to walk or communicate verbally, Vogt is slowly proceeding on what can be a very long road to recovery. Ritsema says that the compensation Vogt will receive could give him a chance at a recovery and help him enhance his quality of life.