Dallas Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Motorcyclist Hit By 18-Wheeler In Accident Settles Lawsuit

 

A motorcyclist injured in a collision with a tractor-trailer received a $1 million settlement. In 2008, trucker Nicholas Robles was hauling a flatbed trailer when he made a right turn and collided with motorcyclist Gerri Dorsett. Dorsett, then 47, sustained arm and knee fractures. She also suffered a concussion, which she claimed wiped out her memory of the crash. Due to her injuries, she has been unable to work since the accident. She sued Robles and the owner of the truck, Juan Robles (doing business as Robles Trucking), alleging the trucker made an unsafe wide right turn. The defense argued Dorsett was speeding and shouldn't have tried to pass on the right. The case ultimately settled for the limit on the defendants' insurance policy.

Truck Accident Results In Settlement

 A trucker's wife who said she was injured when a trailer struck her husband's parked rig received a $400,000 settlement. In 2008, Polly Snell, then 43, was sleeping in a bunk in the cab of the 18-wheeler when Leandro Telles' tractor-trailer made a tight turn and dragged across the front of the Snells' cab, which was parked at a truck stop in Amarillo. The impact knocked Snell out of the bunk and she hit her head and neck on a cabinet as she fell to the floor. She was diagnosed with a herniated cervical disc and underwent fusion surgery. She said she continues to suffer from debilitating pain and hand tremors. Telles' attorney argued that the collision was minor and did not cause Snell's neck problems. The settlement was reached in mediation.

Mechanic Injured in Truck Collision Recovers $705,374

A mechanic who claimed he sustained career-ending injuries in a collision with a tractor-trailer recovered $705,374. On Oct. 13, 2004, Billy Burnett, then 41, was driving on State Highway 36 in Lufkin when he collided with the trailer as it was making a left turn. Burnett alleged the trailer, which was owned by Pilgrim's Pride Corp. and operated by employee Jack Alton Sherman, was overloaded and that this prevented Sherman from making the turn at the speed needed to avoid the crash. Burnett sustained femur, tibia and ulna fractures, a torn meniscus and a brachial plexus injury to his right arm. He said the arm injury resulted in loss of sensitivity and grip strength, rendering him unable to work. The defense argued that Burnett had plenty of time to stop before the crash and accused him of driving while impaired. The jury found Pilgrim's Pride 25 percent, Sherman 40 percent and Burnett 35 percent liable. It determined that Burnett's damages were $1,085,190, but the award was reduced due to the finding of comparative negligence.

Family of Driver Killed By Falling Equipment Gets 16 Million

 

The family of a woman who was fatally crushed when a piece of equipment fell off of a tractor-trailer received a $16 million settlement in a Johnson County district court.

On Sept. 11, 2008, Rhonda Henson was driving on F.M. 157 in Venus. Ahead of her, Daniel Armstrong, an employee of Pioneer Drilling Services Ltd., was hauling oil field equipment in a tractor-trailer. Henson's family claimed the equipment was not properly secured, causing it to fall onto Henson's car, crushing it.

Henson, a married mother of three, was pronounced dead at the scene.

In addition to alleging the defendants failed to secure the load, Henson's family also alleged Armstrong wasn't legally qualified to drive the tractor-trailer and accused Pioneer of falsifying his qualification documents.

Pioneer blamed the incident on a defect in the road, but the company and its insurance carriers ultimately agreed to the settlement.

Family Killed By Falling Equipment Gets 16 Million

 

The family of a woman who was fatally crushed when a piece of equipment fell off of a tractor-trailer received a $16 million settlement. On Sept. 11, 2008, Rhonda Henson, 41, was driving on F.M. 157 in Venus. Ahead of her, Daniel Armstrong, an employee of Pioneer Drilling Services Ltd., was hauling oil field equipment in a tractor-trailer. Henson's family claimed the equipment was not properly secured, causing it to fall onto Henson's car, crushing it. Henson, a married mother of three, was pronounced dead at the scene. In addition to failing to secure the load, Henson's family also alleged Armstrong wasn't legally qualified to drive the tractor-trailer and accused Pioneer of falsifying his qualification documents. Pioneer blamed the incident on a defect in the road, but the company and its insurance carriers ultimately agreed to the settlement.

Individual Hit By 18-Wheeler Gets 850k Settlement

 

A man who suffered multiple injuries when he was struck by a tractor-trailer received an $850,000 settlement.

In 2006, Christopher Mejia was helping a friend load a disabled vehicle onto a trailer on the shoulder of I-35 near Ardmore, Okla., when an 18-wheeler veered off the road and struck the men.

Mejia was thrown through the air. He sustained a torn brachial plexus, closed head injury and eight fractured teeth. His friend was killed.

Mejia incurred $250,000 in medical bills and his range of motion is permanently reduced, rendering him unable to work. He blamed driver Emerson James Griffin, who resides in Cherokee County, and Griffin’s employer, CRST International, alleging Griffin went off the road because he was fatigued.

The defense argued that the area was poorly lit and accused Mejia of failing to set out flares.

Trucker Gets 2.5M As A Result of Crash

 

The family of a trucker who died in a fiery collision with a pickup has received a $2.5 million settlement in a suit filed in 173rd District Court in Henderson County.

On Nov. 18, 2007, Larry Brevell was hauling an empty Wal-Mart trailer on Highway 84 in Fairfield when he was hit head-on by a pickup driven by Duane Thompson and owned by Thompson's employer, Flo-Tech Testing. Thompson was thrown from the vehicle and died on the scene.

The Wal-Mart truck burst into flames and Brevell, who was unable to free himself, burned to death inside.

Brevell's wife and elderly mother sued Thompson's estate and Flo-Tech, blaming both for Brevell's wrongful death.

The defense argued Thompson didn't have permission to use the pickup and wasn't working at the time of the crash.

The case settled at mediation March 12. Wal-Mart, which was also a plaintiff in the suit, recovered $128,000 for the damage to its truck, as well.

Girl Dies After Pickup Hits Three at Bus Stop

 

TENAHA, Texas – A 7-year-old girl waiting for a school bus was killed and two other students were critically hurt Tuesday morning after a pickup hit them near Tenaha in East Texas.

State troopers said the pickup driver, Eloy David Lara of Palestine, swerved to avoid two vehicles that had stopped for the bus and his truck rolled and hit the students. School officials identified the dead girl as JaLyric Boykin.

Person Hit By 18-Wheeler Received 850k Settlement

 

A man who suffered multiple injuries when he was struck by a tractor-trailer received an $850,000 settlement. In 2006, Christopher Mejia, then 21, was helping a friend load a disabled vehicle onto a trailer on the shoulder of I-35 near Ardmore, Okla., when an 18-wheeler veered off the road and struck the men. Mejia was thrown through the air. He sustained a torn brachial plexus, closed head injury and eight fractured teeth. His friend was killed. Mejia racked up $250,000 in medical bills and his range of motion is permanently reduced, rendering him unable to work. He blamed driver Emerson James Griffin, who resides in Cherokee County, and Griffin's employer, CRST International, alleging Griffin went off the road because he was fatigued. The defense argued that the area was poorly lit and accused Mejia of failing to set out flares.

Family Gets 2.5 Million For Fatal Truck Accident

 

The family of a trucker who died in a fiery collision with a pickup received a $2.5 million settlement. On Nov. 18, 2007, Larry Brevell, 52, was hauling an empty Wal-Mart trailer on Highway 84 in Fairfield, Texas when he was hit head-on by a pickup driven by Duane Thompson and owned by Thompson's employer, Flo-Tech Testing. Thompson was thrown from the vehicle and died on the scene. The Wal-Mart truck burst into flames and Brevell, who was unable to free himself, burned to death inside. Brevell's family sued Thompson's estate and Flo-Tech, blaming both for Brevell's wrongful death. The defense argued that Thompson didn't have permission to use the pickup and wasn't working at the time of the crash. The case settled at mediation.