News Summary
A jury awarded nearly $50 million to Kamran Hakimi, a pedestrian who has remained in a coma due to being struck by a city sanitation truck. The collision, caused by the driver’s negligence, resulted in catastrophic injuries to Hakimi as he crossed a marked street while having the right of way. The verdict represents the largest payout by the city in recent years, highlighting concerns about municipal vehicle safety and legal liabilities.
Los Angeles – A jury has awarded nearly $50 million to Kamran Hakimi, who has remained in a coma since being struck by a city sanitation truck last year. This ruling underscores the driver’s negligence that led to the serious injuries Hakimi suffered.
The accident occurred in August 2022 while Hakimi was crossing the street in a marked crosswalk at the intersection of Hayvenhurst Avenue and Ventura Boulevard in Encino, California. At the time, he had a green light, yet the sanitation truck driver executed an “unsafe right turn,” colliding with Hakimi. Legal representatives for Hakimi indicated that a handlebar on the front of the truck struck his head, causing him to fall onto the asphalt.
In the moments following the impact, Hakimi initially appeared responsive, standing briefly and giving a thumbs-up. However, he soon lost consciousness and fell into a comatose state. Now 61 years old, Hakimi is a father of five and was employed in real estate before the accident.
After the incident, attorneys filed a lawsuit against the city in October 2022. The city’s legal representatives acknowledged that the crash was solely due to the sanitation truck driver’s negligence but contested the extent of the damages claimed by Hakimi. City attorneys argued that Hakimi’s life expectancy is limited due to his current condition, seeking to minimize the non-economic damages.
The jury awarded Hakimi a total of $48.8 million, breaking down the compensation to $25 million for future pain and suffering and $10 million for medical expenses. This single jury verdict represents the largest payout by the city in the past two fiscal years.
The City Attorney’s Office commented on the increasing legal liability costs, attributing them in part to a backlog of cases stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. They noted that juries appear to have become more adversarial towards municipalities. Total liability costs for the city spiked to $289 million in the fiscal year 2025.
Hakimi suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of the accident, including a traumatic brain injury, acute subdural hematoma, and cerebral edema. He has undergone multiple medical procedures in an attempt to address these serious injuries but continues to remain in a vegetative state, with no known recovery in sight.
In light of the sizable award, there are indications that the city may consider appealing the jury’s decision. Meanwhile, attorney Brian Panish, representing Hakimi, criticized City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto for opting to go to trial instead of negotiating a settlement before the case escalated to the courtroom.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the responsibilities of municipal vehicle operators and raises questions about the safety measures in place to protect pedestrians, particularly in busy urban environments like Los Angeles. As the legal process continues, the impact of this verdict on future litigation involving the city and civil liability stands to be a topic of ongoing discussion.
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Additional Resources
- Los Angeles Times: Jury orders L.A. to pay $50 million to man hit by sanitation truck
- Business Wire: Pedestrian left comatose after being struck by sanitation truck
- Daily News: Nearly $50 million awarded to pedestrian still in a coma
- Google Search: sanitation truck accident Los Angeles
- Waste Today Magazine: Los Angeles City Council approves plans to raise trash fees
- Wikipedia: Traffic safety
