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Thousands of motorists and truck drivers are killed or maimed each year by the negligent operation of trucks and their improper maintenance by trucking companies. Truck drivers have the duty to operate their vehicles in a safe and responsible manner and companies must insure that their trucks work properly. Unsafe driving, over-sized loads and various other treacherous practices put the public and truck operators in danger.
Barraza v. Liebovich Bros., Inc.
A semi tractor-trailer struck and injured a female pedestrian. As the driver of the truck turned left, the trailer knocked down the woman and the rear tandem tires ran over her legs. The pedestrian has scarring, walks with a limp and has permanent pain in her lower left leg due to residual vascular damage.
Settlement date: 7/29/08. Settlement amount: $3,000,000.
McNamara v. Big "C" Cartage Co.
A 19-year-old woman was driving her car when she was side swiped by
a truck trying to change lanes. She sustained two herniated discs.
Verdict date: 10/24/03. Verdict amount: $750,000.
Munoz v. Mayfield Transfer Co., Inc.
A pedestrian was hit by a semi tractor trailer truck while crossing the sidewalk. The pedestrian suffered amputation of his right leg above the knee, and a soft tissue injury to his right arm and pelvis.
Settlement date: 9/12/02. Settlement amount: $5,500,000.
Biancalana v. Lantern Trucking
A woman injured her arm and suffered severe nerve damage after a truck
attempted to change lanes into the lane where she was driving and caused
her car to crash.
Settlement date: 06/00. Settlement amount: $1,000,000.
Dehlinger v. Caldwell Freightliners
A 64-year-old mother of five died from massive head trauma when a truck
struck the car in which she was a passenger.
Verdict date: 05/18/99. Verdict amount: $1,250,000.
Vasilion v. Three I Truck Line
A 44-year-old woman was seriously injured when a flatbed semi truck
hauling a 4-ton container struck an overpass, dropping the container
onto the expressway. This caused another truck to swerve to avoid the
container and crashed into her car. She was left partially paralyzed
and brain damaged. The investigation determined that the height of the
flatbed truck exceeded Illinois height restrictions.
Verdict date: 11/19/98. Verdict amount: $43,572,898.
Ganster v. K-Five Construction
A young woman was driving to a football game when a Mack truck tractor-trailer
hauling 27,000 pounds of gravel and sand turned directly in front of
her, causing a collision. The woman sustained a cervical fracture and
died at the scene.
Verdict date: 04/24/98. Verdict amount: $950,000.
Schaefer v. Wehrle
An 18-year-old boy was fatally injured when a truck driver entered an
intersection on a green light and turned left in front of the boy’s
car.
Verdict date: 02/21/95. Verdict amount: $1,200,000.
Spangler v. Pepsi Cola General Bottlers
A 45-year-old woman was killed when she crashed into a Pepsi-Cola delivery
truck that had jack-knifed in front of her. The truck driver had lost
control of his truck when a pick-up truck cut him off.
Settlement date: 11/18/96. Settlement amount: $3,500,000.
Long v. Pelton
A 78 year-old woman died as a result of injuries she sustained while
riding in a car with her husband. Their car collided with a trailer
which was backing into a construction site.
Settlement date: 09/20/93. Settlement amount: $800,000.