Verdicts and Settlements for Illinois Truck Accident Lawsuits
Below are some examples of Illinois truck accident lawsuit verdicts and case settlements handled by a Chicago trucking accident lawyer at Power, Rogers & Smith, P.C. Contact our skilled Illinois trucking accident attorneys today about your trucking accident case.
Fire caused by truck's taillight assembly kills 6
Plaintiffs were traveling in their minivan when it caught fire after the vehicle's gas tank was ruptured by a metal taillight assembly that had fallen from a truck. Six of the family's nine children died in the fire. Verdict: $100 million.
Truck rear-ends car, kills 1 and injures 3
Plaintiff's car was merging from left lane to right at a construction zone when it was rear-ended by defendant's truck and burst into flames. A 43-year-old attorney died, while three other passengers, ages 42, 12 and 8 suffered a variety of severe injuries including fractures, neurological damage and burns that required amputation. Verdict: Nearly $40 million.
Settlement: $16 Million
N.S., Ind. and as Administratrix of the Est. of R.S., Dec’d. V. HMD Trucking, Inc.; Tadeusz Strojny, Ind. and as Agent and/or Employee of HMD Trucking Inc. and Right Express, Inc., d/b/a E.R.A. Transportation, Inc.; Right Express, Inc., d/b/a/ E.R.A. Transportation, Inc.; Forward Air, Inc.; Forward Air Corporation and FAF, Incorporated, No. 07 L 1922
Joseph A. Power, Jr., Lead Counsel
Sean M. Houlihan, Co Counsel
The cause involved the wrongful death of R.S., a 47 year old auto worker, who was returning home from work on the evening of October 16, 2004, when he was killed while operating his motor vehicle southbound along Indiana’s I-465 within the city limits of Indianapolis, Indiana. A tractor-trailer operated by Tadeusz Strojny was also traveling in the middle lane of the southbound traffic along I- 465. Mr. Strojny’s tractor-trailer struck R.S.’s vehicle from behind, propelling and pinning it along the I- 465's median wall. R.S. was unable to escape his vehicle and died as a result of his injuries.
Tadeusz Strojny was employed as a truck driver by Defendant, Right Express, Inc. d/b/a E.R.A. Transportation, Inc. The tractor was owned by Defendant, HMD Trucking, Inc., for whom Mr. Strojny was driving. He was pulling a trailer owned by Defendant, FAF, Inc. with an insignia of Forward Air, Inc. stenciled on the side of the vehicle.
Mr. Strojny was a Polish born individual who is not fluent in the English language. On the date of this occurrence Mr. Strojny had picked up the tractor-trailer at the Forward Air depot in Chicago, Illinois and was taking it to Columbus, Ohio.
Trucker loses control of cab, causes multi-vehicle accident
Defendant truck driver lost control of his truck tractor, causing his vehicle to block traffic. Behind truck driver, a family in a minivan was forced to change lanes and was then rear-ended by another van-type truck. Impact caused death of 9-year old and multiple severe injuries to other family members. Verdict: More than $15 million.
Semi-tractor-trailer collision causes paralysis
Semi-tractor-trailer pulled forward from a stop sign, causing a collision resulting in spinal cord injury to passenger with incomplete paralysis of arms and legs. Settlement: More than $12 million.
Trucker cuts off driver, causes severe injuries
A semi-tractor trailer pulled from stop sign directly in front of plaintiff and attempted to turn left, causing a collision. Plaintiff suffered central spinal cord injury with incomplete paralysis of arms and legs, requiring use of a wheelchair. Verdict: Nearly 10.5 million.
Police officer makes sudden stop, causing trucker to strike expectant mother
A police officer made a sudden stop, causing a trucker to swerve and strike plaintiff's car head-on. Plaintiff was 8 months pregnant and despite an emergency C-section, the fetus suffered brain damage. Settlement: More than $8 million.
Van runs red light, causes paralysis
Plaintiff was struck by a van that ran a red light, causing chest trauma. While undergoing an angiogram, the plaintiff suffered a stroke and cardiac arrest, causing partial paralysis on the left side of his body. Settlement: $6 million.
Wheel dislodged from truck causes crash that kills 2
A tire and component parts of a wheel assembly dislodged from the axle of an 18-wheel semi-trailer. The dislodged tire crossed the centerline of the highway and struck the plaintiffs' vehicle, resulting in the death of both plaintiffs. Settlement: Nearly $6 million.
Intersection crash between truck and car results in 10-day coma
Plaintiff made left turn and was struck in the intersection by defendant's tractor/trailer. Plaintiff contended he made his turn as the lights were changing and that defendant truck driver entered intersection on either a late yellow or red light. Plaintiff sustained traumatic brain injury resulting in a 10-day coma and mild to moderate residual brain damage. Verdict: Nearly $6 million.
Truck driver strikes pedestrian in crosswalk
Defendant truck driver struck plaintiff as he crossed the street in a crosswalk, causing traumatic brain injury. Settlement: $5.5 million.
High school student rendered a spastic quadriplegic with inability to speak after bus accident
Plaintiff and mother were returning home from grocery shopping when their vehicle was broadsided by a bus. Plaintiff suffered severe brain damage, rendering him a spastic quadriplegic with inability to speak. His mother suffered a fractured humerus. Settlement: $5 million.
Ten van passengers killed instantly after truck collision
Van driver allegedly failed to reduce his speed despite icy pavement on highway. The van veered into opposite lanes, where it hit a truck. The van's driver and nine passengers were killed instantly. Settlement: $5 million.
Tractor-trailer rear-ends family vehicle, killing 1
Truck driver traveling in a tractor-trailer rear-ended plaintiff's family's vehicle. Collision caused blunt trauma, brain injury and lung contusion resulting in his death. Settlement: $5 million.
Car spinning out of control is struck by truck, causing paralysis
Plaintiff was a passenger in a car where the driver lost control in icy conditions. As the car was spinning out of control, a tractor-trailer collided with the vehicle. Plaintiff suffered a paralyzing injury, rendering her a paraplegic. Settlement: $4.75 million
Farmer disabled by out-of-control truck yields city's largest settlement
Trucker lost control of vehicle on ice, crossed media, and struck plaintiff's van. Plaintiff, a farmer, suffered multiple severe injuries which disabled him and rendered him unable to continue farming. Settlement: More than $4 million.
Garbage truck strikes pedestrian
Defendant's driver was operating a garbage truck when he made a turn and struck a pedestrian in the crosswalk. Injuries sustained by plaintiff required multiple surgeries and hospitalizations. Settlement: Nearly $4 million.
Settlement: $2 Million
J.K. and N.K., Individually and as Special Co-Administrators of the Estate of J.K., III, deceased v. Gary E. Dowding, Individually and as an agent and/or employee of Merle Yocum Trucking and Merle Yocum Trucking, Gary E. Dowding, Individually and as an agent and/or employee of Robert G. Nelson d/b/a Nelson Trucking and Robert G. Nelson, d/b/a Nelson Trucking, and Gary E. Dowding, Individually and as an agent and/or employee of Harmon Grain, LLC, and Harmon Grain, LLC, No. 07 L 000009 (Ogle County)
Joseph A. Power, Jr., Lead Counsel
Carolyn Daley Scott, Co Counsel
On September 22, 2005, J.K., III, was operating a motor vehicle westbound on Route 64 in Ogle County, Illinois near the intersection of Route 64 and Chana Road. The Defendant, Gary Dowding, was operating a semi-tractor trailer southbound on Chana Road near Route 64. Dowding failed to stop at the stop sign on southbound Chana Road at Route 64 and struck the motor vehicle being operated by J.K., III, on Route 64. It was alleged that Dowding was operating the semi-tractor trailer under the influence of drugs, failed to decrease his speed to avoid the collision, did not keep a safe and proper lookout, failed to stop at a stop sign, failed to give an audible warning when it was reasonably necessary to insure safety, operated the semi-tractor trailer at a speed which was greater than what was reasonable, and failed to apply the brakes in a timely manner so as to bring the semi-tractor trailer to a safe stop. Additionally, the semi-tractor trailer had numerous violations for which Dowding was cited for by the Illinois State Police. At the time of the accident, Dowding was driving for Merle Yocum Trucking and hauling grain for Harmon Grain, LLC.
Settlement: $2 Million
S. v. KA Bulk Transport, et al., No. 06 CV 5947 (Will County)
Joseph A. Power, Jr., Lead Counsel
Brian LaCien, Co Counsel
On November 2, 2004, S. was rear-ended by the Defendants’ tractor-trailer truck in Will County, Illinois. After the accident, S. began to experience back pain. He had no previous history of back problems but x-rays revealed degenerative changes in his back. However, none of the changes found on radiologic exam related to or were attributable to the accident. S.’s treaters and expert opined that the accident aggravated S.’s pre-existing back condition from asymptomatic to symptomatic. To treat S.’s back pain, he received physical therapy, multiple injections, and he underwent a back fusion. However, he subsequently developed radiculopathy. Due to S.’s pain and the physical limitations caused by the fusion surgery, and S. claimed that he has been unable to work in his previous job truck driver/HVAC specialist or obtain other employment. The Defendants admitted liability, but disputed the nature and extent of the S.’s injuries including S.’s claim that he could not find other employment.
