Litigation

$1.5 Million Verdict for 18-Wheeler Accident

By Angel L. Reyes, III

I'm proud to announce that my law firm, Heygood, Orr, Reyes, Pearson & Bartolomei, has achieved a $1.5 million verdict for our clients, Ronny Martinez and Kenneth O’Neal, as compensation for injuries they received in an 18-wheeler accident that occurred on Interstate 35E in Waxahachie on July 2, 2006. Mr. Martinez suffered a fractured vertebra and Mr. O'Neal sustained a serious injury to his right knee, which required several reconstructive surgeries. Mr. O'Neal also suffered a mild traumatic brain injury and damage to his collarbone.

My firm’s Partners, Jim Orr and Luis Bartolomei, filed the lawsuit against Indianapolis-based Celadon Trucking Services Inc. (NASDAQ:CLDN), which operated the tractor trailer. The suit alleged that the company was negligent in hiring the truck driver, Michael Wade, and that Wade was negligent in causing the crash. The jury award included $750,000 for past and future medical bills and another $750,000 for other actual damages such as pain and suffering, physical impairment and disfigurement.
 
Our clients were driving down the road, minding their own business, when their lives were changed forever by this horrific accident.  The jury’s decision will help these victims recover from their damages, and regain a sense of normality in their lives.  Let this verdict serve as a warning to other trucking companies that if they hire unqualified bullies as drivers of these monster trucks, tragedies such as this one will happen.  When they do, they’ll pay the price, just as Celadon did.
 
For more information on HORP&B's other recent verdicts and settlements, visit www.ReyesLaw.com  or email me at Angel@ReyesLaw.com.

Full post as published by Angel Reyes Blog on October 02, 2008 (boomark / email).