Our client, who worked for the federal government, was returning to the Washington, D.C. area after visiting family when she was stopped at a red light behind a tractor-trailer. A second semi-truck struck her vehicle from behind at approximately 50 miles per hour, never braking before impact. She was killed instantly. The trucking company initially represented that only one million dollars in insurance coverage was available to satisfy any claim.
Why This Case Matters
Insurance companies and trucking companies often present their first number as the final word. In this case, that first number represented only a fraction of what was actually available and only a fraction of what our client's family deserved. Accepting it would have meant allowing a larger corporate entity to escape responsibility for the practices that put a dangerous driver on the road.
The driver had not been properly screened or medically cleared to operate a commercial vehicle, despite a condition that put him at heightened risk for drowsiness behind the wheel. He also routinely worked extended hours and drove long distances in a manner that significantly increased his risk of fatigue, a practice that was, at best, tacitly condoned by the companies responsible for overseeing him. This case mattered because it went beyond the driver himself to the systemic practices that put safety second to profit.
