Last month, a 13-year old girl was awarded $150 million dollars by a jury in a wrongful death suit after her family was killed in a trucking accident. According to a report by the Los Angeles Times, the girl’s family was on their way up to Oregon to visit relatives when the SUV they were traveling in slammed into the back of a truck that was illegally parked on the highway. The truck driver was parked in an “emergency only” area and did not have the truck’s emergency lights illuminated.
At trial, the attorney for the truck driver claimed two alternative theories. First, the attorney argued that the driver was parked on the side of the road because he had an excruciating headache and he had pulled over to take medicine. In the alternative, the attorney claimed that his client was actually not parked on the road, but on the dirt shoulder.
In contrast, the girl’s lawyer claimed that the truck driver had given other people a variety of other reasons as to why he was stopped in the emergency-only zone, such as stopping to urinate and to sleep. The jury believed neither of the defendant’s theories and found that he was responsible for the wrongful death of the girl’s family, awarding her $150 million.
Truck Accidents in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area
Semi-trucks are a necessary part of our economy, carrying a variety of goods across the country. However, due to several factors, semi-trucks also present a significant hazard to drivers both on the highway and on smaller roads.
With several main highways running through the Dallas/Fort Worth area, semi trucks are quite prevalent in our city. With these high numbers of semi-truck drivers out there comes an increased risk for Dallas/Fort Worth residents. Semi trucks are large, cumbersome, and difficult for drivers to maneuver around. In addition, the people who operate these trucks are often on the road for hours and hours at a time and must deal with the additional stress of operating a massive vehicle.
Have You Been Injured in a Semi-Truck Accident?
If you have recently been involved in an accident with a semi-truck, you may be entitled to monetary damages to compensate for your past medical bills, future medical expenses, and pain and suffering. Like all drivers on the road, semi-truck drivers must follow the rules of the road. In fact, due to the size of their vehicles, semi-truck drivers must be even more careful than other drivers. When a truck driver is negligent, people are likely to get injured.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a semi-truck accident, you should contact the Law Offices of William K. Berenson immediately. Attorney Bill Berenson is a dedicated Fort Worth injury attorney with over 33 years of experience in personal injury law and is a Board Certified Specialist in Personal Injury Trial Law. Contact the Law Offices of William K. Berenson online, or call 817-855-0000 locally, or 1-888-801-8585 toll-free and schedule a free initial consultation today.
See More Blog Posts:
Fatalities And Injuries From Tractor Trailer and Truck Crashes Rising, October 9, 2013.
Hire The Best Attorney For Your 18 Wheeler Crash Case, August 27, 2013.