“Ellen DeGeneres Hit With Negligence Lawsuit Nearly Two Years After Allegedly Running Stop Sign and T-Boning Driver — Plaintiff Claims Severe Injuries, Wage Loss, and Emotional Trauma”
Television personality and former talk show host Ellen DeGeneres has been named in a lawsuit nearly two years after an alleged car accident in Santa Barbara County, California, that the plaintiff claims left her with serious injuries, financial hardship, and long-lasting emotional distress.
According to court documents obtained by multiple outlets, the incident took place on October 16, 2023, at a four-way intersection. The plaintiff alleges she had come to a full stop, looked both ways, and began proceeding through the intersection when Ellen DeGeneres — behind the wheel of another vehicle — allegedly ran her own stop sign and collided with the plaintiff’s car. The complaint describes the crash as a “T-bone” impact, a type of collision that often causes significant damage and injury.
The woman suing DeGeneres accuses the comedian of negligence, claiming the accident resulted directly from DeGeneres’ failure to stop and yield at the marked intersection. The plaintiff’s filing details a list of damages she says she has suffered since the crash, including serious personal injuries, wage loss, hospital and medical expenses, and future medical care costs.
In addition to the physical harm, the lawsuit claims the collision caused emotional distress, anxiety, and a loss of enjoyment of life — consequences she argues continue to affect her nearly two years after the accident. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages, though the specific amount requested has not yet been made public.
As of now, DeGeneres and her legal team have not issued a public response to the allegations. The former talk show host, who ended her long-running daytime series The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2022, has kept a relatively low profile in recent years following controversies about her workplace environment.
Legal experts note that while car accident lawsuits involving public figures attract outsized attention, they are, at their core, standard negligence cases. The plaintiff must prove that DeGeneres had a duty to drive responsibly, breached that duty by running the stop sign, and directly caused the damages claimed. If successful, the court could award compensation covering medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
The case also highlights the often-lengthy timelines involved in civil litigation. The alleged crash occurred in late 2023, but the lawsuit was not filed until nearly two years later, just within California’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases.
For DeGeneres, the lawsuit adds a new layer of legal scrutiny at a time when she has largely stepped back from the spotlight. Whether the case goes to trial or is resolved through settlement remains to be seen, but the plaintiff’s accusations have already reignited public attention around the star’s personal life off-screen.
If the matter proceeds in court, the discovery process could bring further details about the crash to light, including police reports, eyewitness accounts, and medical records — all of which may play a crucial role in determining the outcome.
