2024
for Auto Rear End Highest Reported Illinois Verdict or Settlement
AWARDS
Hit by Semi While Braking for Wrong-Way Driver – Nine Surgeries $54,155,900
PLAINTIFF ASKED $19M DEFENSE OFFER $1M VERDICT $54,155,900
P laintiff was driving his jeep on Interstate 65 near Rensselaer, IN. A wrong-way driver caused a sudden slow down of all traffic. As plaintiff slowed, he was rear-ended at 40 mph by a semi-tractor-trailer. Plaintiff sustained multiple in- juries for which he underwent a total of nine surger- ies to his cervical and lumbar spine and left knee. Plaintiff settled with the wrong-way driver and sued the truck driver’s employers claiming they were
grossly negligent and/or willful/wanton for hiring and retaining the truck driver due to his checkered driving record that included moving violations, “at fault” acci- dents, three suspensions of his CDL, and a prior felony conviction stemming from a road rage incident. The defense maintained defendants were not liable under the Indiana “emergency doctrine - hindsight bias” in- struction because the wrong-way driver was 100% at fault for the collision.
76 JURY VERDICT REPORTER • 2024 ANNUAL TRIAL LAWYER EXCELLENCE AWARDS
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