Burress Injury Law had the honor of helping a young man who was the victim of a hit-and-run 18-wheeler crash on Sam Rayburn Tollway (121). Our client was driving in the left lane on 121 when without warning, the 18-wheeler driver dangerously cut across 2 lanes of traffic and struck the right side of our client’s vehicle. The impact caused our client’s vehicle to rotate clockwise, pass in front of the 18-wheeler and across the center and right lanes of the tollway and eventually strike a concrete bridge support pillar head on. Our client catastrophic injuries and could not call 911. Meanwhile, the truck driver fled the scene without rendering aid and no eye-witnesses came forward to identify the driver.
We were fortunate that the client’s family retained Burress Injury Law very quickly. Our team sprang into action, obtaining NTTA videos of the crash, and located and inspected the tractor-trailer within days. Inexplicably, the trucking company chose to employ a driver who DID NOT have a Class A driver’s License (qualifier to driving the 80,000 lb. tractor/trailer) and moreover, his normal Class C driver’s license was suspended for two separate reasons. The truck driver was charged with multiple crimes including a Felony for “Failure to Stop and Render Aid Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.”
We aggressively pursued the truck driver and trucking company, which entrusted the unlicensed, unqualified, inept driver to operate a tractor-trailer capable of an 80,000 lb. load to share the roadways with the public. Our investigation revealed the trucking company maintained an unacceptable level of out of service violations, failure to keep accurate log books, and generally had a terrible safety record.
We are proud to report that we earned a 7-figure settlement for our client, who lives and worked in Collin County. Along the way, the law firm/client relationship became more involved and is now a very special relationship. We are happy that our client will now have the resources necessary to continue concentrating on making a recovery.
