Personal Injury Law

Illinois Truck Accident Victim's Family Awarded $10 million in Suit Filed over Teen's Death

By Jeffrey Lowe

A farm truck failed to stop at an intersection and struck the Jeep killing a fifteen year old passenger in the jeep resulted in the teen's family being awarded $10 million by an Illinois judge, the Southern Illinoisan reports.

Saline County Circuit Judge Ron Eckiss handed down the award late last month to compensate for the ?significant loss of society? sustained by the survivors.

On June 14, 2001, Herrin was a passenger in a 1998 Jeep Cherokee. A 1981 Ford F-100 farm truck driven by Brian Bramlet was traveling eastbound on Lone Oak Road. Bramlet failed to stop at the Illinois 34 intersection. He struck the right passenger side of the Jeep Cherokee. Herrin was thrown from the car and died from his injuries.

Herrin?s family filed a wrongful death suit against the truck?s driver who admitted he was at fault and that his negligence caused Herrin?s death. In addition to the $10 millions, the driver was also ordered to pay the boy?s medical expenses and the funeral expenses.

It is likely that the family will collect from the driver?s insurance company instead of the driver personally.

Full post as published by Trucking Accident Attorney Blog on January 03, 2008 (boomark / email).