Verdict of $37 million vs Caltrans for paralyzed contractor 

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has agreed to pay $37 million to a man who was paralyzed while working on a freeway project. In 2011, Kyle Anderson was working on Highway 101 in Eureka, California. He was crouched in a trench when a Caltrans driver crossed onto the shoulder and struck him. This left Anderson quadriplegic, with "locked-in" syndrome - meaning he is conscious but cannot move or communicate. The Humboldt County Superior Court jury decided that Caltrans was entirely responsible for Anderson's injuries. The jury initially decided that Caltrans owed Anderson's family $56.5 million. However, on appeal, a $37 million settlement was decided on the first day of proceedings. Anderson's lifetime medical costs are expected to total $18 million, which involves providing him with high-tech equipment allowing him to communicate with his eyes by looking at images on a computer screen.

$14.2 million settlement against Caltrans for dangerous roads

A group of motorcyclists were travelling north on Route 33 in Ojal (a city in Ventura County, California) when another group of riders travelling south passed them hitting one of the motorcyclists head-on, killing him. The other rider had crossed over and curved round the bend too fast because there were no warning signs indicating that he was to experience an unusual hairpin curve and needed to reduce his speed to 30mph. At the Ventura County Superior Court it was established that the State was aware the location of the crash needed critical warning signs and numerous preventable accidents had occurred at this specific location because of its unusual characteristics. The jury agreed that the lack of warning signs was the primary cause of the accident and awarded the family $14.2 million in wrongful death damages. During proceedings, the court also discovered that there was a 2-year backlog in getting accident data into Caltrans' database, which means that Caltrans was not seeing the number of accidents occurring at various locations in real-time. 

$9.1 million verdict against Caltrans for cyclist

An experienced cyclist was cycling home on the designated bicycle lane. He was forced to swerve to avoid a pile of rocks and sand on the pavement and was struck by the side mirror of a passing truck, causing him to lose control and crash. He suffered significant brain damage and was left unable to work. It was found that Caltrans (who owns the highway) had contracted with the city of Los Angeles to sweep the pavement on a monthly basis to keep it free from debris. The location where the accident occurred was a popular path for bicyclists, and officials are reported to have been aware for years that debris from the hills often creates hazardous conditions on the pathway and highway. City sweepers that testified at the trial admitted that they often swept around rocks and debris near the cliff, rather than remove it. Ultimately, the jury found Caltrans 40% liable, and the city of Los Angeles 60% liable.

Santa Barbara Cyclist Awarded $3.8 Million Against Caltrans

Jury Finds Highway 101 Bridge Is ‘Dangerous' Piece of Public Property.  

A Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara County, California) jury unanimously awarded $3.8 million in a negligence lawsuit against Caltrans, owner and operator of Arroyo Quemada Bridge, and the driver...the jury found that the 400-foot bridge ― part of the state's official Pacific Coast Bike Route ― constituted “a dangerous condition of public property,” and that Caltrans had failed to properly warn motorists of this “concealed trap.” While Caltrans has installed a “clutter” of signage around the bridge, the jury also said, none of it notifies drivers that bicyclists may occupy the slow lane. 

During the two-week trial, attorneys introduced evidence that the state transportation agency knew the bridge was dangerous as far back as 1999, when representatives of its District 5 office in San Luis Obispo met with Santa Barbara County officials to discuss possible safety improvements. Another sit-down took place in 2011, but Caltrans never followed through on its plan for a new cantilevered bike lane along the bridge that would separate cyclists from motorists. A key witness...a former county transportation planner...testified Caltrans was well aware of the issues at the time and promised to address them with the new lane but, for reasons unclear, never started construction. (Santa Barbara Independant)  

$35 Million Verdict - Dangerous Redondo Beach intersection  

Dangerous Redondo Beach intersection gets new striping in aftermath of $35 million verdict

More than 100 accidents have occurred at the Redondo Beach (a city in Los Angeles County, California) crossing in the past decade.  One accident caused a 3-year-old boy skull fractures and brain bleeding. Another motorcycle passenger resulted in a lost leg.  Another caused serious injury to a former UCLA football player. Caltrans was ordered Monday to pay millions to the former UCLA offensive lineman who lost part of his left leg below the knee in a motorcycle crash, with a jury finding Caltrans negligent.  Weeks after a former UCLA football player was awarded millions in the negligence lawsuit against Caltrans, the problematic Redondo Beach intersection where the injury occurred was striped with new lines to improve safety. (Daily Breeze)