Kari Jones Dulin and Travis Young, founding Partners of Dulin McQuinn Young, LLP, and colleagues obtained a record-breaking $65M wrongful death jury verdict in Larimer County, Colorado yesterday on behalf of a 14-year-old victim who was orphaned after a horrific trucking crash involving the reckless transportation of an improperly loaded excavator on I-25 in 2022.
On August 8, 2022, at approximately 6:00pm, Megan Arneson and her then 10-year-old son were traveling northbound on I-25 near Mead, Colorado. Megan, a single mother and preschool teacher, had taken the day off work to surprise her son with a trip to Water World and the two were returning home from their day at the water park. At around that same time, Darnell Yingling, a driver-employee of Import Auto Inc., was driving a tractor trailer northbound on I-25 transporting a large excavator.
Yingling, who had obtained his unrestricted Commercial Driver’s License allowing him to transport heavy equipment alone a mere four days prior, failed to properly load the excavator on the trailer prior to transport. As Yingling attempted to pass under the overpass for Weld County Road 34, the extended arm of the excavator struck the bridge, causing a cloud of dust and concrete debris to fall onto the northbound lanes of I-25. A large piece of concrete impaled the windshield of the Arneson vehicle striking Megan Arneson on the head, causing the Arneson vehicle to careen off the roadway. Megan Arneson died at the scene while her 10-year-old son attempted to call for help.
Colorado State Patrol investigated the incident and determined that the excavator had been improperly loaded on the trailer, resulting in the arm of the excavator exceeding the maximum clearance height for the bridge. Dulin McQuinn Young brought claims against Yingling and Import Auto, alleging among other things that Yingling’s reckless conduct and decision-making caused Megan’s death, and that Import Auto had failed to properly train Yingling and had failed to inspect the load prior to transport.
After a five-day trial, a Larimer County jury unanimously agreed and entered an award of $65M against the Defendants for wrongful death damages. The verdict represents the largest Larimer County jury verdict and the largest trucking crash jury verdict in Colorado.
The record-breaking verdict was reached after extensive litigation which was spearheaded over the past several years by Kari Jones Dulin and Travis Young of Dulin McQuinn Young who conducted discovery, took or defended all depositions, and who submitted over 65 legal filings with the Court on behalf of the Plaintiffs. Their efforts culminated in the September 2026 trial where Kari Jones Dulin of Dulin McQuinn Young served as lead trial counsel. (Christianson, Brian Keith, et al v. Import Auto Inc, et al)
Statements from Attorneys Kari Jones Dulin and Travis Young
“This jury’s verdict is a message to the trucking industry that Megan’s life mattered and that reckless conduct will not be tolerated in Colorado.”
– Attorney Kari Jones Dulin, lead counsel for Plaintiffs
“We thank the jury for their time and consideration. Megan’s family wanted to make the world a safer place and the jury’s verdict conveyed a powerful message to the trucking industry.”
– Attorney Travis Young
The amount of non-economic damages allowable for pain, suffering, grief, and loss of a family member is usually capped under Colorado law. Dulin McQuinn Young has requested a judicial finding that the conduct of the Defendants was so egregious that it rose to the level of felonious killing, a rare exception in Colorado law that would remove the non-economic damages cap and allow Megan’s son to recover the full damages awarded by the jury.
Wrongful Death Claims in Colorado
At Dulin McQuinn Young, we understand the challenges families must face when filing a wrongful death case. Our compassionate attorneys choose to take on these struggles alongside grieving loved ones and fight to hold negligent people and organizations responsible for the suffering they cause.
Our personal injury lawyers have the knowledge and resources to face the most complex wrongful death claims and successfully do the following:
- Conduct a thorough accident investigation;
- Gather accident scene and documentary evidence;
- Interview eyewitnesses;
- Identify all liable parties;
- Pursue every source of compensation;
- Hire accident, economic, and medical experts;
- Calculate current and future accident-related expenses;
- Demand fair and just compensation;
- Negotiate a settlement; or
- Move forward with litigation.
What Compensation Can Families Receive in a Wrongful Death Case in Colorado?
Colorado does not limit the type of damages a victim’s family is entitled to in a wrongful death case. In a wrongful death case, family members can be entitled to economic, non-economic, and punitive damages.
Economic Damages in a wrongful death case may include:
- Medical bills before the deceased’s passing;
- Any funeral expenses; and
- Accident-related property damage.
Non-Economic Damages in a wrongful death case are often the following:
- Mental and emotional trauma and grief;
- Loss of consortium or companionship; and
- Loss of services provided by the deceased.
Limitations On Non-Economic Damages
Colorado has an extensive system of damage caps in all personal injury cases, including wrongful death. While there is no cap on economic damages in Colorado for wrongful death, there is a cap on non-economic damages. In fact, Kari Jones Dulin was instrumental in getting these caps increased in 2024 during her tenure as President of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA).
How Dulin McQuinn Young Can Help
Reach out to the experienced attorneys at Dulin McQuinn Young for a complimentary case review. If you have a wrongful death claim, we will handle every aspect of your case from start to finish.
Dulin McQuinn Young will build a trial-ready case supported by:
- Accident investigation;
- Evidence collection;
- Witness interviews;
- Damage calculations; and
- Expert witness opinions and testimony.
Speak to an Experienced Wrongful Death Attorney Today
Consult with an experienced wrongful death attorney at Dulin McQuinn Young today.
There is never a cost for an initial consultation with one of our attorneys, and we operate on a contingency fee basis. This means at Dulin McQuinn Young, we only get paid when we win compensation for you.
Contact our firm today if you have suffered the loss of a loved one through the negligence of another.