case results
Proven Track Record of Success
Serious cases require careful investigation, compelling evidence, and attorneys prepared to take the case to trial. Explore the verdicts, settlements, and client stories that reflect our approach.
The Compensation You Deserve
A serious injury affects far more than medical bills. It can end a career, create lifelong care needs, limit a person’s independence, and change the lives of an entire family. A wrongful death brings both profound personal loss and lasting financial consequences.
Depending on the case, compensation may include past and future medical expenses, lost income, diminished earning capacity, pain, disability, emotional suffering, and the loss of the support and relationships that gave life meaning. Obtaining a fair result requires proving not only who was responsible, but the full human and financial impact of what occurred.
Our attorneys personally investigate and prepare every case for trial.
Case Results
The following results reflect some of the serious injury and wrongful death cases handled by our attorneys. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Dangerous Road
Jury verdict against Caltrans for a 13-year-old boy who suffered a catastrophic brain injury after he was struck by a vehicle while using a dangerous crosswalk.
Fatal Tire Failure
A sudden tire failure caused an SUV to fishtail and crash into a tree on the side of a San Diego County highway, killing a beloved husband and father.
Fatal Construction Accident
An improperly installed gate collapsed on a subcontracted worker after the general contractor asked him to paint it, killing him.
Corporate Negligence
A genetic testing corporation rushed a product to market, causing an oversight that changed a family's life.
Fatal Wall Collapse
An inadequately supported concrete block wall collapsed onto a construction worker in El Cajon, causing his death.
Fatal Event Collision
Rough asphalt on a race route significantly reduced tire traction, causing a racer to lose control of his vehicle and suffer fatal injuries.
Fatal Aviation Accident
A defective airplane engine ignition component caused a deadly crash in San Diego.
Construction-Truck Accident
A dump truck driver backed into a construction worker without first checking that the path was clear, crushing his leg against a bulldozer.
Car Accident
Settlement for a client who suffered brain and spinal injuries in a collision on Interstate 5 in San Diego.
Auto Defect
A passenger seatback collapsed in a rear-end collision, causing the occupant life-changing spinal injuries and paralysis.
Bicycle Accident
A negligent driver rear-ended a cyclist in Carlsbad who was lawfully using the bike lane, causing a severe spine injury.
Fatal Car Accident
Campus security was speeding and collided with a student’s vehicle, killing her.
Premises Liability
Settlement against a San Diego apartment building owner that failed to maintain a second-story guardrail, causing a woman to fall and suffer a severe brain injury.
Child Brain Injury
Settlement against an apartment complex that failed to address dangerous second-story window seats, resulting in a toddler falling through a window and suffering a severe brain injury.
Auto Defect
The driver's head restraint broke off when he was rear-ended at high speed on the 15 freeway, causing the driver to suffer a spinal cord injury and paralysis.
Auto Defect
A defective front driveshaft broke apart and ripped a hole in the underbody of a truck, causing a vehicle fire. The driver suffered catastrophic third-degree burns.
Bus Accident
Settlement for a man who suffered serious injuries when a San Diego tour bus struck him in a marked crosswalk on North Harbor Drive.
Truck-Bicycle Accident
A commercial truck driver drifted off the roadway and struck and killed a San Diego bicyclist who was lawfully riding on the shoulder.
Bus Accident
A San Diego tour bus struck and killed a woman while she was lawfully using the crosswalk in Mission Hills.
Brain Injury
Settlement for a man who suffered a brain injury when a distracted driver struck him while he was walking alongside the roadway.
Construction Accident
Concrete workers left unsecured plywood over a second-story gap at a condo build in Carlsbad. A framer stepped on the plywood and fell through the gap.
Premises Liability
A family daycare center's failure to maintain a backyard fence resulted in a child tragically drowning in a pond on a neighboring property.
Wrongful Death
Adults served minors alcohol at a party. A minor then drove drunk and crashed, killing a passenger.
Bicycle Accident
Settlement for a North San Diego County cyclist who suffered serious head and brain injuries after a negligent driver swerved across multiple lanes and struck him from behind.
Dangerous Road
Settlement against Caltrans and others for a cyclist who was struck from behind on State Route 67 and suffered a severe traumatic brain injury.
Bus Accident
A woman was struck by a San Diego MTS public transit bus while she was crossing the street.
Pedestrian Accident
Settlement for a pedestrian who suffered pelvic fractures and other serious injuries when a driver exiting a La Mesa shopping center struck him on the sidewalk.
Motorcycle Accident
A careless driver swerved into a motorcycle on the I-8 freeway in San Diego, causing him to crash and suffer serious injuries.
Premises Liability
A known AC unit leak in a hotel bathroom caused a guest to slip and fall and seriously injure her back and spine.
Bicycle Accident
A bicycle versus vehicle collision resulted in head and bodily injuries.
Truck Accident
A fatigued box-truck driver fell asleep behind the wheel, crossed the Interstate 8 median into oncoming traffic, and struck an RV, seriously injuring its occupants.
Brain Injury
Makeshift concrete block steps caused a woman to fall and strike her head.
Product Liability
A lithium-ion battery exploded in a man’s pocket, severely burning his leg.
Car Accident
A family was rear-ended at high speed on the I-8 freeway while slowing for construction.
Dog Attack
Settlement under a homeowner’s policy after a large dog knocked a woman to the ground, causing a shoulder injury that required surgery.
$28.16 Million Verdict Against Caltrans for an Unsafe Crosswalk
The Harm
A 13-year-old boy suffered a catastrophic brain injury when a car struck him in a marked crosswalk on a high-speed, multilane highway. The crossing served children walking to a nearby middle school but had no traffic lights or stop signs.
Caltrans maintained that the crosswalk was safe because there were no prior reported collisions. It blamed the driver and raised government-immunity defenses.
The Evidence
Conor Hulburt uncovered an internal Caltrans policy directing the agency to upgrade high-speed crosswalks that met the criteria of this crossing. Caltrans had not made those improvements.
As lead trial counsel, Conor used the agency’s own policy, expert testimony, and evidence about the crossing to show that it was dangerous, that Caltrans knew of the hazard, and that safety improvements could have prevented the collision.
The Result
The jury returned a $28.16 million verdict against Caltrans. The case demonstrated why investigating a serious crash must include the roadway’s condition and the responsible agency’s safety decisions.
Bus Accident: Driver Inattention Cost a Woman’s Life
The Harm
A tour bus driver turned left through a crosswalk and struck a woman who was walking with the right of way. Tragically, she died from her injuries. The bus company argued that the driver could not see her until it was too late.
The Truth
The bus’s A-pillar created a potential blind spot during the turn, but trained drivers are required to move and look around that obstruction before entering a crosswalk. Testimony from an experienced bus operator helped establish that the driver failed to take the precautions needed to see the pedestrian and complete the turn safely.
Justice
The case resolved through a confidential settlement for the woman’s surviving family.
Contact our San Diego bus accident attorneys for a free case review.
Pedestrian Struck After Care Facility Safety Failures
The Harm
A vulnerable adult left his San Diego County residential care facility unnoticed in the early morning. While crossing a nearby street, he was struck by a car and seriously injured.
The Truth
Conor Hulburt’s investigation revealed that the facility had stopped putting batteries in the door alarms intended to alert staff when residents left. The company also understaffed the night shift. Facility records and deposition testimony showed how these failures allowed the resident to leave without staff noticing.
Justice
The residential care facility agreed to a confidential settlement that provides financial support for the client and his family for years to come.
Construction Accident: Concealing a Lethal Hazard
The Harm
A construction worker was killed when a concrete block wall collapsed onto him while he was digging a trench nearby. The general contractor blamed the worker’s employer, claiming the subcontractor had failed to brace the wall.
The Truth
While searching for an expert, Conor Hulburt contacted shoring companies throughout the region. He found an engineer who had already inspected the site at the general contractor’s request.
The engineer had warned that the wall was dangerously unstable and proposed a plan to prevent its collapse. The general contractor had not followed that advice or passed the warning to the subcontractor.
That discovery changed the case. It provided evidence that the general contractor knew of the danger before the worker was killed and had failed to disclose it.
Justice
The general contractor resolved the case through a confidential settlement with the worker’s family.
If your family has lost someone in a construction accident, request a free wrongful death case review to discuss what happened and your legal options.
Construction Accident: An Unsecured Gate and a Fatal Instruction
The Harm
A husband and father of two was killed while painting a large metal gate at a Southern California construction site. The general contractor had directed him to begin work, but the gate was unsecured. It collapsed and crushed him.
The general contractor blamed the painting subcontractor, claiming the painters started before the gate was ready.
The Truth
Depositions of the general contractor’s employees and subcontractors revealed that the painters had been instructed to work on the gate while it remained dangerously unsecured. No one warned them.
The site superintendent, responsible for coordinating the trades and overseeing jobsite safety, had left to play golf. The evidence challenged the attempt to blame the painters and established the circumstances that put them in harm’s way.
Justice
The general contractor resolved the case through a confidential settlement with the worker’s surviving family.
If your family has suffered a serious construction injury or lost a loved one, request a free case review to discuss what happened and your legal options.
Product Liability: An Explosive Failure to Warn
The Harm
A lithium-ion battery exploded in a man’s pocket, causing severe burns to his leg. The smoke shop that sold the battery claimed its employees warned customers never to carry the batteries loose in a pocket or purse.
The Truth
An undercover investigator returned to the smoke shop and purchased the same type of battery. The clerk provided no warning about carrying it loose or the risk of explosion. The entire transaction was captured on video.
Justice
After the defense received the video during mediation, the smoke shop’s insurer paid a substantial settlement that continues to improve the client’s life.
If you were burned or seriously injured by a product that lacked adequate warnings or was not reasonably safe, request a free product liability case review.
Truck Accident: Get Out and Look
The Harm
A dump truck driver at a Spring Valley construction site backed into a worker, crushing his leg against a bulldozer. The driver claimed another worker had told him it was clear to back up, and the defense blamed the injured worker and others at the job site for failing to coordinate the truck’s movement.
The Truth
Our investigation showed that the collision was preventable. Using photographs, testimony, and graphics depicting the position of the dump truck, the worker, and the surrounding job site, Conor Hulburt demonstrated that the driver had safer alternatives.
Industry safety practices required the driver to “get out and look” before backing when he could not confirm the path was clear. He also could have pulled forward and repositioned the truck or driven around the block rather than reversing through an area where workers were present. The evidence shifted the focus from whom the driver claimed to rely on to the precautions the professional truck driver should have taken before putting a massive vehicle in reverse.
Justice
The trucking company ultimately accepted responsibility and paid $6 million to compensate the injured worker and his family.
If you or a family member suffered a serious injury in a truck or commercial vehicle accident, we can investigate what happened, identify the people and companies responsible, and help you understand your legal options.
A Failed Guardrail Caused a Severe Brain Injury
The Harm
A young woman was standing on a second-story landing at a San Diego apartment complex when she was pushed during an altercation. When she struck the guardrail, it collapsed, causing her to fall headfirst to the ground. She suffered a severe and life-changing traumatic brain injury.
The apartment owner and property manager denied responsibility, arguing that the person who pushed her was entirely to blame.
The Truth
The altercation did not explain why the guardrail failed. Investigation showed that termites and dry rot had severely damaged the railing. Video taken after the property defendants attempted to repair it also showed that the railing remained loose and prone to failure.
This evidence supported a premises liability claim against the apartment owner and property manager for failing to inspect, maintain, and repair the dangerous guardrail.
Justice
After the evidence established the dangerous condition and the property defendants’ role in causing the fall, the case resolved for $3,175,850.
A serious brain injury may involve more than one responsible party. If you or a family member has suffered a concussion or traumatic brain injury, request a free brain injury case review.
An Unsafe Window Caused a Child's Brain Injury
The Harm
A toddler stood on a built-in window seat in a San Diego apartment, leaned against the screen, and fell through a second-story window. She landed on her head and suffered a severe brain injury. The apartment complex denied responsibility and blamed the child's mother.
The Truth
The investigation revealed that other children had previously fallen from windows in identical apartment configurations. The window seats violated safety requirements intended to protect children. The complex could have installed window locks and removed the bench seats, but it failed to address the danger.
Attorney Conor Hulburt created a time-lapse video showing how quickly and simply one of the dangerous window seats could be removed. The evidence demonstrated that the injury was preventable.
Justice
The case resolved for $3.1 million. The apartment complex also installed window safety locks and removed the dangerous second-story window seats throughout the property.
Looking Beyond the Drunk Driver
The Harm
A young man was killed when a drunk driver caused a violent crash. At first, the case appeared to be a straightforward claim against the impaired driver. But a deeper investigation revealed that the driver was a minor who had been drinking at a house party before getting behind the wheel.
The Truth
The investigation showed that adults at the home had provided alcohol to minors and allowed underage drinking to occur. That changed the case. The drunk driver was still responsible, but the evidence also pointed to additional people and insurance coverage that may have contributed to the harm.
Justice
By looking beyond the police report, Conor Hulburt was able to identify other responsible parties, pursue additional sources of recovery, and build a stronger case for the clients. The case is an example of why serious car accident claims require careful investigation, early evidence preservation, and a willingness to ask what else contributed to the crash.
Auto Defect: Failed Head Restraint Caused Paralysis
The Harm
A man was driving on I-15 to the mountains for a ski trip with friends when his compact SUV was struck from behind at highway speed. During the impact, the head restraint failed and his head and neck were forced backward over the seat. He suffered a catastrophic fracture of his upper spine that left him permanently paralyzed from the chest down.
The Truth
The manufacturer denied that the vehicle was defective and blamed the crash entirely on the driver who rear-ended him. The evidence showed otherwise. Discovery and engineering analysis revealed that the head restraint was held in place by plastic sleeves susceptible to cracking and failure. The manufacturer had developed a stronger design, and safer alternatives were already being used in other vehicles, yet the weaker components remained in the SUV.
Justice
The case was prepared for trial with evidence showing both how the restraint failed and how the injury would affect the client's life. Shortly before trial, the case resolved through a confidential settlement providing substantial resources for lifelong medical, mobility, and care needs.
Tire Aging: A Hidden Danger
The Harm
A family was traveling on a San Diego County highway in an SUV loaded with passengers and camping supplies when a tire suddenly failed. The driver lost control, one parent was killed, and several passengers suffered serious injuries. The vehicle manufacturer, tire manufacturer, and other defendants blamed the crash on driver error.
The Truth
The investigation showed that the tire had aged to the point where its condition should have raised serious safety concerns. The automotive industry has long known that tires older than 6 years are susceptible to tread separation, failure, and loss of vehicle control. Although the owners rarely drove the SUV, they regularly took it to the dealership for service. The technicians never warned them that the tires were old or recommended replacement based on age.
Through expert analysis, corporate records, discovery, and depositions, Conor showed failures by the automotive and tire industries—and the professionals responsible for inspecting the vehicle—to adequately address and warn about the risks associated with aging tires.
Justice
The case resolved through a confidential settlement for the injured family.
If you suspect that a tire or another vehicle component caused or worsened a serious crash, request a free auto defect case review to discuss what happened and whether the vehicle should be preserved for inspection.
Automotive Defect: Drive Shaft Nightmare
The Harm
A defective front drive shaft in a 4x4 truck broke apart and spun up through the floorboard at 70 mph, ripped through the fuel and brake lines, and ignited the truck and driver in flames. The truck maker and its team of lawyers denied everything and obstructed the truth at every turn. They claimed it was a freak accident caused by improper maintenance.
The Truth
Attorney Conor Hulburt uncovered that his client's nightmare was shared by others. Dozens of identical truck owners across the country had experienced similar incidents. Conor found their stories in online posts, YouTube videos, NHTSA complaints, and lawsuits. He traveled to their homes, video recorded their testimony, and put it all together in an irrefutable presentation. He also worked with an MIT design engineer to present evidence that the driveshaft was underbuilt and dangerously flawed in its design.
Justice
The case resolved with a confidential settlement that significantly improved the client's life.
If you or a loved one suffered serious burns from a fire, explosion, electrical hazard, or defective product in San Diego County, you don’t have to face the insurance companies alone. Request a free burn injury case review to discuss what happened and your options under California law.
Motorcycle Accident: Driver Swerved Into Rider on I-8
The Harm
A motorcyclist suffered serious injuries after a driver swerved into his path on Interstate 8 in San Diego, causing him to lose control and crash.
The Challenge
Motorcycle cases are often complicated by assumptions about riders, including claims that they were speeding, riding unsafely, or should have avoided the collision. Establishing what actually happened requires careful review of the vehicles, roadway, witness accounts, and the movements leading up to the crash.
The Result
Conor Hulburt secured a $1.2 million settlement for the injured rider.
Bicycle Crash: Uncovering Bias, Securing Justice
The Harm
Two cyclists were riding lawfully when a truck swerved across multiple lanes and struck them from behind. Dash-camera video captured the violent collision, which left both cyclists with life-changing injuries.
The Truth
Although the video established how the crash occurred, the defense continued to minimize the cyclists’ injuries. Through depositions, Conor showed that the defense medical experts relied on flawed assumptions, overlooked documented symptoms, and had extensive histories working for insurance companies.
Justice
As trial approached, the defense substantially increased its settlement offer. The case resolved for an amount that reflected the severity of the injuries and their lasting effect on the cyclists’ lives.
If an insurer is blaming you or minimizing serious injuries after a bicycle crash, request a free case review to discuss the evidence and your options.
Defective Magneto Causes Fatal Santee Plane Crash
The Harm
A small airplane carrying a flight instructor and student crashed into a Santee neighborhood after losing engine power. The aircraft struck two homes before coming down in a residential cul-de-sac, killing both men on board. The flight student left behind a family that depended on him for love, support, and their future together.
The Truth
The manufacturer blamed the pilots. But maintenance records, component evidence, and expert analysis of the wreckage pointed to a different cause: a defective magneto in the aircraft's ignition system.
Conor Hulburt worked with aviation and technical experts to establish that the magneto failure caused the engine to lose power in flight and led to the fatal crash.
Justice
The case resulted in a substantial recovery for the surviving family. The recovery could not replace the life that was lost, but it provided financial security for the family and held the responsible company accountable for the defective component that caused the crash.
If you have lost a loved one or suffered a serious injury in an aviation accident, request a free case review to discuss what happened and your legal options.
Mission Bay Propeller Injury
The Harm
Three young women rented a powerboat for an afternoon on Mission Bay. While one of them was being pulled on an inner tube, the tow line caused the boat to turn sharply. The boat circled back over the rider, and the propeller caused devastating, life-threatening injuries.
The Truth
The rental company blamed the renters and relied on liability waivers they had signed. Discovery showed that the company knew towing could create dangerous handling conditions, yet failed to provide adequate warnings, instruction, or hands-on training before allowing inexperienced renters to operate the boat. The rental company had a responsibility to anticipate a foreseeable danger and take reasonable steps to prevent it.
Justice
The case resolved in a confidential settlement that compensated the young woman for her injuries. As part of the resolution, the rental company also improved its training practices for future renters.
Child Dog Bite to the Face: Proving Lasting Harm
The Harm
A young girl suffered a dog bite to her face, leaving a visible scar and significant emotional distress. The insurance company minimized the injury and argued that the scar would fade.
The Truth
The injury could not be measured by the initial medical bills alone. The scar might remain visible as the child grew, and the attack left fear and anxiety that could affect her confidence and comfort around dogs for years.
Justice
Conor Hulburt documented the scar over time, developed the medical and emotional evidence, and challenged the insurer’s effort to treat the injury as temporary. The case resolved for significantly more than the insurer’s initial offers.
Request a Free Case Review
Simply fill out the form or call 619.821.0500 to receive a free case review. We’ll evaluate what happened, your injuries, and potential defendants to determine how we can best help you.
Hulburt Law Firm handles serious personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout San Diego County.
