These 3 Cases Show Why You Need A Truck Accident Lawyer

Trucking accident claims in the United States are becoming bigger than ever before because vehicles are moving record amounts of freight around the country. The demand for drivers also outstrips the supply of ones who should be on the road, posing major risks to other motorists. Trucks pack an amazing wallop in a collision, turning as much as 80,000 pounds of mass into a wrecking ball. Looking at three of the biggest settlements ever will give you a sense of why a trucking accident attorney can be a valuable resource when you're trying to get justice.

A $101 Million Judgment

In July of 2018, a jury in Texas handed down the biggest-ever civil penalty for an incident involving a truck in a case against FTS International, an oil services provider, and one of its drivers. The accident in question left no one dead, but the victim was unable to resume work as a crane operator after he developed serious back problems. A truck accident lawyer was able to demonstrate to the jury that FTS had failed to spend $20 to obtain a DOT record that would've kept the rig's driver from being hired due to a history of regularly using methamphetamine. Drug testing demonstrated the operator had marijuana and methamphetamine in his system at the time of the incident.

One Child Dead, Another Brain-Damaged

In another accident that took place in Texas, a rig from the Werner trucking company collided with a vehicle in wintery conditions, resulting in a seven-year-old being killed, a 12-year-old developing brain damage and the children's mother and brother receiving injuries. The truck operator had been traveling 60 mph in icy conditions. An $89.6 million judgment was awarded by a jury in May of 2018 based on a finding that the company was negligent in dealing with training and safety.

Five Nursing Students Killed

A loaded truck was traveling along Interstate 16 near Savannah, GA, when it collided with a Toyota Corolla with such force that it went over the top of the car and struck another vehicle. The truck operator never attempted to use the brakes. Five nursing students from Georgia Southern were in the car and killed, and two more people were severely hurt. A truck accident attorney was able to demonstrate that the driver had been previously fired in 2011 for falling asleep, and a settlement of $80 million was reached in 2016.


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