Settlement reached in Pennsylvania truck accident

A cheese product company has reached what is believed to be Pennsylvania’s largest personal injury settlement in the wake of a tractor-trailer accident. The truck accident left one man dead and two of his family members severely injured, as well as killing two family dogs.

The plaintiffs in the case alleged that the tractor-trailer operator slammed into the rear of their vehicle on July 6, 2010. They claimed that his excessive rate of speed caused him to “completely and recklessly” lose control of his large truck, ultimately causing the death of one man and the “catastrophic injuries” of his daughter and son-in-law.

The truck driver purportedly changed lanes when he saw traffic stopped ahead before careening into the plaintiffs’ vehicle. While the defendant alleged that sun glare had affected his ability to see their vehicle, plaintiffs argued that this statement was inaccurate given the fact both vehicles had been traveling eastbound and the sun actually sets in the west. The defendant also claimed that he didn’t realize he had even hit another vehicle until he got out of his vehicle and someone informed him of that fact.

The plaintiffs used those facts, as well as others, to bolster their case when it went to mediation. The husband and wife injured in the Pennsylvania truck accident now face lifelong physical and emotional challenges due to the injuries they suffered, not to mention the horrific death of the wife’s father.

The deceased man’s wife also claimed wrongful death and loss of consortium in regards to her husband’s death. While the $26.1 million settlement will go a long way in providing the family financial security in the wake of their losses, it will never bring back their father and husband.

Still, sometimes a personal injury lawsuit is the appropriate course of action to take after such a serious motor vehicle accident. Those who suffer severe injuries or the wrongful death of a loved one may well need to take such a path in order to cover medical bills or other financial losses. While each person must reach that decision for themselves, at least it seems that in this Pennsylvania truck accident case, that was deemed to be the appropriate action or this family to take.

Source: PennRecord.com, “$26.1 million personal injury settlement, possibly largest ever in Pa., reached in tractor-trailer death suit,” Jon Campisi, June 18, 2012