VIrginia tractor trailer crash caused by U-turn, reckless driving, settlement

A tractor-trailer driver attempting a U-turn was blamed for a Campbell County Virginia truck crash that caused plaintiff to sustain multiple fractures. Defendant initially maintained that plaintiff was barred from recovery because he was speeding and contributed to the crash.

Plaintiff was driving eastbound on a road with a posted speed limit of 60 mph.  Plaintiff was driving a Chevrolet truck that hit a tractor-trailer operated by the Defendant driver, who was employed by Defendant trucking company.  The Defendant driver was attempting to make a U-turn at an intersection in a Freightliner tractor-trailer.  He was blocking both eastbound lanes when the crash occurred. The investigating state trooper cited the trucker for reckless driving, but he was later acquitted of the charge. The black box retrieved from plaintiff’s truck showed he was speeding.

Plaintiff alleged Defendant trucking company was vicariously liable for its employee’s actions. Plaintiff claimed the accident was the proximate cause of his leg, heel and foot fractures.  The Defendants initially denied the allegations and put forth a theory of contributory negligence because plaintiff was speeding.

Plaintiff was a 27 year old male employed as a truck driver who sustained a grade one open right femur (thigh) fracture; closed right comminuted calcaneus (heel) fracture; closed right navicular (mid-foot region below the ankle) fracture; multiple facial lacerations; post-traumatic degenerative joint disease; and right subtalar calcaneocuboid joint. Plaintiff claimed significant in medical bills and substantial wage loss as well.  The parties ultimately agreed to a $700,000 settlement according to the case report sent to me this week by The Virginia Verdict Reporter.  The Landau Law Shop’s recent truck crash case was reported in the Virginia Lawyers Weekly, and like this case, it resulted in a substantial settlement for Mr. Landau’s truck driver client.  If you or someone you know has been injured as the result of a truck, car, tractor trailer or other motor vehicle accident, please contact us by e-mail at ABRAMS LANDAU or call (703)-796-9555.