Home The 10 Biggest Million Dollar Slip and Fall Settlements in the U.S.

The 10 Biggest Million Dollar Slip and Fall Settlements in the U.S.

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October 13, 2025Elvis Goren

Most people think million-dollar slip and fall cases are a thing of movies. A fairytale. The fact is that they are very real. While average injury settlement payouts land between $10,000 and $50,000, some can fetch millions.

When Pablo Scipione slipped on ice at a California railyard, he thought he’d be back at work the next day. But a microfracture in his foot turned into complex regional pain syndrome. A neurological nightmare. And one that left him permanently disabled. The jury awarded him the largest slip and fall verdict in U.S. history.

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest, million-dollar slip and fall settlement cases in the U.S.

$58.36 Million: The Railyard Worker Who Never Recovered

We mentioned Pablo already. He was doing electrical repairs on top of a train car in Palmdale when he hit ice. The fall itself seemed minor. Just a microfracture to his left foot. He even went back to work the next day.

But something went wrong. The fracture triggered Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, a condition where your nervous system basically turns against you. Constant, burning pain that never stops. No cure. No relief. The Los Angeles jury heard how employees had complained repeatedly about the poor lighting at Kinkisharyo’s facility, but management ignored them. That’s why they added $4.2 million in punitive damages on top of the $54.2 million compensatory award.

$18.79 Million: The McDonald’s Fall That Destroyed a Spine

Jonathan Choto already had back problems from a 2015 work injury. He’d had two surgeries and was managing.

Then in 2018, he slipped on liquid leaking from a garbage bag at a Lomita McDonald’s. The 28-year-old’s existing injury exploded into something far worse. Now he needed a permanent spinal cord stimulator just to function.

The Santa Monica jury awarded $16 million just for future pain and suffering. Because when you’re 28 and facing a lifetime of agony, that’s what it costs.

$18 Million: The Medical Student Who Fell Into Darkness

Marcus Gustafsson was walking near 19th and Walnut in Philadelphia when he fell 18 feet through an open manhole. A University of Pennsylvania medical student with his whole career ahead of him.

The spinal cord injuries ended everything. No more medical career. No more independence. Trigen-Philadelphia Energy allegedly knew for a decade that homeless people were removing manhole covers for shelter. They did nothing about it.

The jury originally awarded $85 million, but a pre-trial agreement capped it at $18 million. Still one of the largest settlements for a premises liability case.

$16.4 Million: The Lowe’s Shopper Who Lost Her Senses

Kelly Hendrickson was 41, shopping for palm trees at a Las Vegas Lowe’s. She slipped on water and fractured her skull, and permanently lost her taste and smell.

Interestingly enough, 30 people had been injured at Lowe’s stores in Clark County over five years. Three at the exact same location where Hendrickson fell. From a legal perspective, it may be argued that Lowe’s knew. They just didn’t fix it.

The jury found Lowe’s 80% responsible, reducing the final award to about $13.1 million. But the message was clear: ignore safety patterns, pay the price.

$12.2 Million: The Ice Slip

A Virginia woman slipped on ice outside a convenience store. Multiple back surgeries followed. The claim is that the store owner knew about the ice and did nothing to clear it.

$12.2 million. Because when you own a business, keeping your walkways safe isn’t optional.

$10 Million: Walmart’s Grease Problem

A Colorado woman slipped on a grease spill in Walmart. The jury initially awarded $15 million, but state damage caps reduced it to just over $10 million.

Even with the reduction, it sends a message: clean up your spills or pay up.

$8 Million: The Burger King Bathroom Disaster

Someone went to use the bathroom at Burger King and came out with an $8 million settlement.

That’s all we know. The details are sealed tighter than… well, everything’s sealed. But here’s the thing about eight-million-dollar bathroom accidents. They don’t happen because someone slipped on a French fry. Something went catastrophically wrong in there.

$7.5 Million: The Hidden Pallet Trap

An Alabama man was shopping at Walmart when he tripped over a wooden pallet hidden under a watermelon display. The jury hit Walmart with $5 million in punitive damages on top of $2.5 million in compensatory damages.

Why the huge punitive award? Because hiding hazards under displays is inexcusable.

$5 Million: DK Law’s Pre-Existing Condition Victory

DK Law attorney Matt Taylor landed a $5 million settlement for someone with a pre-existing condition. An exacerbation of a congenital issue, technically.

Let us explain why this matters.

Insurance adjusters love pre-existing conditions. The second they see anything in your medical history (bad back, old surgery, genetic anything), they act like they just won the lottery. “Oh, you had back problems before? Well then, this fall didn’t really hurt you. Here’s $500. Go away.”

Except that’s not how bodies work. Or law, actually.

DK Law took a case most lawyers would settle for peanuts. The client had a congenital condition, and the insurance company was playing the pre-existing condition card. Yet, Matt Taylor turned it into a $5 million settlement—one of the biggest slip and fall cases in California.

$4 Million: When Vision Disappears

Bill Waite was already vision-impaired in his right eye when he tripped over protruding cement outside a York Township shopping center. The injury to his left eye left him nearly blind.

He can’t see his grandchildren, who were born after the accident. Can’t play golf. Can’t drive. $4 million doesn’t give him his sight back, but it acknowledges what was stolen from him.

What Makes a Slip and Fall Worth Millions?

Not every fall leads to a massive settlement. The difference comes down to a few brutal realities.

Permanent damage drives value. Temporary injuries hurt, but they heal. When someone develops complex regional pain syndrome or becomes paralyzed, they’re facing decades of medical bills, lost wages, and suffering. Courts recognize that lifetime burden requires lifetime compensation.
Corporate negligence multiplies awards. When businesses ignore known hazards, like Kinkisharyo ignoring safety complaints or Lowe’s dismissing injury patterns. Juries add punitive damages. These aren’t just compensation; they’re punishment designed to force change.
Age and career matter. A medical student losing his career generates higher damages than someone near retirement. Young victims have more years of lost earnings ahead. The math is cold but necessary.
Location affects everything. California and Nevada juries consistently award higher damages in slip and fall cases. Los Angeles County produced three of the top settlements. Some states cap damages, meaning the Colorado Walmart case would’ve stayed at $15 million without state limits.

Which Slip and Fall Injuries Command Top Dollar?

1. Traumatic Brain Injuries: $500K to $5 Million

Traumatic brain injuries are invisible destroyers. Kelly Hendrickson’s permanent loss of taste and smell might sound minor until you realize she can’t smell smoke in a fire or taste spoiled food. TBI victims often face personality changes, cognitive problems, and depression that last forever.

2. Spinal Cord Damage: $1 Million to $10 Million

Spine injuries escalate fast. Jonathan Choto went from managing his condition to needing a permanent spinal stimulator. Marcus Gustafsson went from future doctor to permanent patient. Partial paralysis can cost millions in lifetime care.

3. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: $1 Million to $58 Million

CRPS is a chronic pain condition that affects your physical and mental health. Your nervous system misfires constantly, creating burning pain that painkillers can’t touch. Pablo Scipione’s $58.36 million verdict reflects the reality that CRPS victims often can’t work, can’t sleep, and can’t find relief.

4. Hip Fractures in Elderly Victims: $100K to $1 Million

Don’t dismiss hip fractures as “just broken bones.” For elderly victims, hip fractures carry a 30% mortality rate within a year. Those who survive often lose independence permanently. Settlements recognize both the medical crisis and dignity loss.

Getting Justice After a Catastrophic Fall

These settlements shock people because we’ve been trained to think of falls as minor accidents. They’re not. When businesses ignore safety and someone’s life is destroyed, California law allows for compensation that matches the devastation.

If you’re dealing with a serious slip and fall injury in California, contact DK Law for a free consultation about your rights and potential case value.

About the Author

Elvis Goren

Elvis Goren is the Organic Growth Manager at DK Law, bringing over a decade of content and SEO expertise from Silicon Valley startups to the legal industry. He champions a human-first approach to legal content, crafting fun and engaging resources that make complex injury law topics resonate with everyday readers while driving meaningful organic growth.