Verdictly
Settlement
Denver County • 2015

Denver Jury Awards $2,986,724.59 in Rear-End Collision Wrongful Death

A driver who was visibly intoxicated rear-ended a motorcycle, causing the rider's death. The rider's parents sued the driver for negligence. The case involved claims for wrongful death and damages.

Case Information Updated: October 2025

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Wrongful Death
Rear-end
Economic Injury

About Wrongful Death Injuries

Wrongful death claims arise when a car accident fatality is caused by another party's negligence. These cases compensate surviving family members for their losses and the decedent's pain and suffering.

Case Outcome

Outcome
Settlement
Amount
$2,950,124
County
Denver County, CO
Resolved
2015

Injury & Accident Details

Injury Type
Wrongful Death
Accident Type
Rear-end
Case Type
Economic Injury, Physical Injury, Emotional Or Mental Injury

Settlement Context

This settlement of $2,950,124 is near the median of $1,850,000 for wrongful death cases resolved by settlement. The typical range is $504,000 to $3,020,000, based on 41 cases in our database.

Case Overview

A visibly intoxicated patron departed a bar in Denver, Colorado, and subsequently drove a sedan. The driver's vehicle collided with the rear of a motorcycle, resulting in the death of the motorcyclist. The parents of the deceased motorcyclist, as plaintiffs, filed a vehicular liability action in the Colorado District Court, Second Judicial District, County of Denver.

The plaintiffs alleged negligence causing wrongful death against the driver and also brought claims under the Dram Shop Act against the bar, seeking damages, costs, and fees. Both the driver and the bar denied the allegations in their separate answers, asserting affirmative defenses including assumption of risk, contributory negligence, and failure to mitigate damages. The plaintiffs later amended their complaint to remove the bar from the action after reaching a settlement with the establishment, which led to the bar's dismissal with prejudice. Separately, the plaintiffs sought a declaration that the driver's conduct constituted a felonious killing.

After a trial, a jury rendered a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs. The court subsequently entered a judgment against the driver, awarding the plaintiffs a total of $2,986,724.59. This amount included economic damages, non-economic damages, pre-judgment interest on compensatory damages, exemplary damages, and court costs.

Understanding This Case

  • This case was resolved through a settlement, avoiding the uncertainty and expense of a trial. Settlements typically resolve faster and provide guaranteed compensation.
  • This case was resolved in Denver County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
  • Resolved in 2015, this case reflects the legal and economic conditions of that period, including medical costs, insurance practices, and jury award trends at the time.

VerdictlyTM Score

80
/100
Highly Fair

This outcome aligns very well with similar cases

This score is calculated by analyzing injury type, accident details, geographic location, temporal trends, and comparing against 2,000+ similar cases in our database.

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