When it comes to personal injury lawsuits, compensation is often awarded for things like lost wages when a victim has to spend time recovering, rehabilitating during physical therapy or permanently unable to return to the jobs they once were qualified for. Compensation is often for medical bills, repair bills and pain and suffering, but these are not the only types of damages that may be claimed.

A California car accident led to a jury award for a more unusual injury, but one that is none-the-less extremely serious. The jury verdict was returned on Dec. 16, 2012 against the defendants in an El Cajon courtroom. The award: $7.5 million in compensation for injuries to the victim's genitalia which altered his life forever.

The accident occurred over four years ago on Aug. 30, 2007. The victim had been riding his motorcycle along Lytton Street in San Diego. The young man had been riding his motorcycle down the roadway when a shuttle van failed to see him while making a left turn off of Saint Charles Street and onto Lytton.

When the two vehicles collided, the victim was thrown forward into the handlebars. The impact with the bike caused his genitals to become crushed, his pubic ramus bone to become fractured and nerves arteries to become damaged. The injuries not only caused the 23-year-old man to lose 1.5 inches of length, but it also caused the naval noncommissioned officer -- with his entire life ahead of him -- to retire from his assignment on a nuclear submarine and made it unlikely that he would have children. To add insult to injury, the young man's new wife at the time filed for divorce shortly after.

When you are injured in a motor vehicle accident -- no matter how unusual the injury may be -- it can change your life forever. The inability to have children, alone would cause serious pain and suffering for many people. Negligent drivers can and should be held liable for the damages that result.

Source: U-T San Diego, "Jury awards man with penis injury $7.5 million," Greg Moran, Jan. 13, 2012