Big Rig Crash Blamed on Marijuana Yields $6.5 Million Settlement

The Carroll family of Huntley, Illinois was on their way to take three-year-old Gabriel to a pumpkin patch on Halloween night 2008 when the family pickup truck was rear-ended by a big rig driven by Jeffrey Repec. Tabitha Carroll, 32, was killed in the collision; her husband Randy and son Gabriel also suffered multiple broken bones and other injuries as a result of the crash. The lawsuit filed against Repec’s employer, Geils Farms, alleged that the driver was traveling at an unsafe rate of speed and was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the crash. The Carroll family received a $6.7 million settlement in the case, and driver Jeffery Repec is currently serving a prison sentence related to the collision.

Have you or a loved one suffered as a result of unsafe driving or other questionable corporate practices? If so, we can help you understand your legal options. Contact the California big rig accident attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Fatal Ohio Big-Rig Crash Results in Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Vijayi Emani, a leading activist, spokesperson, and organizer in Cleveland’s rapidly growing Indian- American community, was involved in a car wreck on the Ohio Turnpike in January 2009. As she was walking near the guardrail to inspect the damage to the vehicles, she was struck and killed by a big-rig truck owned by regional freight company Con-Way Trucking. The driver of the truck, Matthew Smith, divulged to police that the windshield of his truck had been obscured by road salt and debris for approximately five miles before he struck and killed Emani. Speculation has been intense over why Smith continued to operate the vehicle with an obscured view after learning that he was out of windshield wiper fluid, but some industry experts say that commercial truck drivers are often under severe pressure to log as many miles as possible each day, to the point that some are loathe to stop to perform routine maintenance tasks. Matthew Smith is facing criminal charges in the case, and both Smith and Con-Way Trucking are named in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Emani’s surviving family members.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by another’s malfeasance, you need the advice of a team of skilled personal injury attorneys. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us directly at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

State of Maryland Target of Suit in Baltimore Bridge Crash

On August 10, 2008, truck driver John Short was forced to act quickly after a car veered into his lane from oncoming traffic. Unfortunately, Short over-corrected his tractor-trailer and crashed through the barrier of the bridge upon which he was driving at the time. Short and his vehicle plunged into the Chesapeake Bay below, where he ultimately drowned.

The lawsuit filed in the case claims that the State of Maryland bears the blame for several design flaws that created unsafe driving conditions on the bridge, including the permeability of the barrier that allowed Short’s truck to crash through. The driver of the car that veered into Short’s lane and caused the crash is also named in the lawsuit.

Have unsafe conditions put you or a loved one into harm’s way? If so, you need the advice of an experienced team of personal injury attorneys. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Couple Awarded $18 Million in Missouri Big Rig Crash

A Missouri judge found that a driver for Holmes Transport, Inc. displayed negligence that resulted in the crash that injured 14 and killed three.

Investigators reported that truck driver Jeffrey D. Knight became distracted in the moments before the collision, taking his eyes off the road when reaching for a ringing mobile phone. It was also found that Knight was operating his truck in violation of several safety rules, such as having exceed the maximum driving hours over the preceding week.

One of the other drivers who was injured in the crash was 53-year-old Mark Tiburzi, whose injuries now require round-the-clock care in a residential nursing facility. A judge recently awarded $4.2 million to Tiburzi’s wife Cheryl and $13.8 million to Tiburzi, himself.

Several other personal injury and wrongful death suits are pending in the case.

Have you or a loved one been injured in a big rig collision? We can help you assess your chances of receiving financial compensation from those who caused the crash. Contact the Big Rig attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

West Virginia Big Rig Crash Yields Family $16 Million Settlement

What started out at as a typical drive in the West Virginia countryside ended in tragedy for Rhonda Henson of Cleburne. Henson and her husband were traveling south on a local byway when a large piece of equipment was dislodged from a big rig tractor trailer that was driving in the opposite direction. The gas drilling equipment smashed into the Hensons’ vehicle, causing injuries that would later result in Rhonda’s demise. Investigators found multiple safety infractions that contributed to the accident. In a recent settlement, Pioneer Drilling, the company that employed the driver involved in the crash, paid $16 million to the Henson family.

Have you or a family member been injured in a big rig crash? We can help you understand your legal options. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Wrongful Death Suits Filed in Fatal Florida Big Rig Crash

In the early autumn of 2008, a peaceful September afternoon turned tragic for a group of North Marion Middle School students in Ocala, Florida, when a big rig truck collided with their school bus. The bus had stopped to allow students to disembark when a big rig truck struck the vehicle from the rear, killing 13-year-old Margay Schee. Police reports indicated that big rig operator Reinaldo Andujar Gonzalez was momentarily distracted by his cell phone and did not notice that the school bus had slowed to a stop. Although not yet proven, there are also allegations that Gonzalez had not had the federally mandated amount of sleep before operating the vehicle. Schee’s parents have filed a wrongful death claim in the case, and other parents whose children sustained injuries in the crash have also filed suit.

If a family member or loved one has sustained injuries as a result of another’s negligence or carelessness, we’re here to help you understand your legal options. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Oregon Logging Truck Crash at Center of Lawsuit

On January 24th, 2006, Oregon resident Ronald Gill was operating a tractor along a stretch of road in rural Riddle when he was struck by a cargo truck owned by local logging company S.A. Schuyler & Sons. The force of the collision ejected Gill from the tractor, which then fell on top of him, killing him instantly.

Gill’s widow filed a wrongful death suit in the case, seeking more than $2 million in damages from the company and its driver. It is claimed that the driver was exceeding the posted speed limit of 55 mph and operating the vehicle in an unsafe manner for the existing road and weather conditions. The case is scheduled to go to trial in October 2009.

Have you or a loved one been injured in an automobile collision? We can help you figure out the best legal course of action. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or clal us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

New Mexico Big Rig Collision Yields $15 Million Settlement

Kansas residents Terry and Donna Frederick were driving across New Mexico when they collided with a commercial big rig truck. The truck was being operated by driver Robyn Getchel, who later tested positive for drugs, including methamphetamines. Getchel was backing up from a rest stop onto the highway when the collision occurred. Several passengers in another vehicle were killed, and Terry Frederick suffered a severe spinal cord injury. A judge later reduced the jury award in the case to $15.3 million, claiming that Getchel only bore 65% of the blame in the collision.

Have you or a member of your family been impacted by a big rig collision? If so, we’re here to help. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Families File Suit in Fatal Big Rig Wreck

On October 3, a van that was shuttling employees and job candidates between correctional facilities for interviews was struck by a big rig truck in Montgomery, Alabama. The van had previously undergone modifications to make it sufficiently secure to transport prisoners, and as such, the backseat passengers were unable to get out of the van after the crash. Seven passengers died as the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The trucking company, the truck driver, and the warden of the county correctional system have all been named as defendants in wrongful death suits filed by surviving family members.

Have you or a family member suffered injuries in a collision with a big rig truck or another commercial vehicle? If so, you need the advice of an experienced team of personal injury lawyers. Contact the Los Angeles truck accident attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Alabama Police Officer Killed in On-the-Job Collision with Big Rig

29-year-old Pell City, Alabama police officer, Kenneth Surles, was making his nightly rounds in his patrol car when he was struck by a diesel truck. The big rig was driven by James Scogin, who investigators claim failed to yield at an intersection before colliding with Surles’ patrol car. Scogin has been indicted on several criminal charges in the case, and the Surles family’s lawsuit against both Scogin and his employer, Hugghins Transportation, is moving forward.

Have you or a family member sustained injuries in a big rig collision? We have the expertise and compassion to help you understand your options. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Lawsuit Filed in Florida Big Rig Collision

49-year-old Florida resident Timothy Powers was struck and killed while he was riding his motorcycle in January 2008. The driver of the big rig was making a U-turn on a state highway, and heavy morning fog made it difficult for Powers to see the truck. Powers hit the truck broadside and was thrown from his motorcycle. Powers’ widow has filed a wrongful death suit against Felix Villa, the driver of the truck, and the trucking company that employs him.

Have you or a loved one been injured in a big-rig collision? If so, we can help. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.