Trucking Accident Nets $3 Million Dollar Reward

September 20, 2011 By

trucking-accidentA federal jury has awarded $3 million to the family of a 33-year-old-man who was killed from a tractor trailer accident two years ago in Florida on Interstate 95.

The verdict came down in U.S. District Court by the jury for the death of Julio Rentas Jr.

In 2009, one commercial tractor trailer was merging onto the interstate for the emergency lane, but failed to yield the right of way.  That caused the victim, who was driving a tandem tractor-trailer, to hit the back of the merging truck. [Read more...]

Car Accident Settles for $10M with PATCO

September 9, 2011 By

South Carolina Car Accident Attorneys

Four years ago a 55 year old man was driving to work when he was hit by a Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO) truck in Philadelphia.

The victim had just crossed a bridge into Philadelphia when the truck driver ran a red light and crashed the man’s vehicle into a median strip.  As a result of the accident, the victim suffered shattered bones and a broken ankle.

Twenty minutes into the Trial of the case, the parties called a recess, and settled for $10 Million dollars to by paid by PATCO.

The transit authority admitted before the trial began that its truck driver was responsible for the collision.

Since the accident, the victim has suffered through 12 surgeries including a painful debriding surgical procedure in an attempt to eliminate a serious infection in his leg which caused his flesh to begin rotting.  As a result, the physicians were were forced to amputate.

An accident can happen in a single moment and leave you out of work with mounting medical bills and unbearable pain.  If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident through no fault of your own, contact the South Carolina Accident Attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, LLC today for a free consultation.  803.252.4800

 

By: South Carolina Car Accident Lawyer Pete Strom

 

WaveRunner Collision results in $35M Dollar Decision

September 2, 2011 By

A jury found Yamaha liable for a WaveRunner accident in 2005 that killed a 14-year-old girl.

The jury awarded $19 million to the family of the deceased teenager and $16 million to the teenager’s best friend who was injured in the crash.

In reaching their verdict, the jury held Yamaha responsible for failing to correct steering problems with the jetski itself and further failing to alert consumers of the hazards created by the mistake.

Source: Palm Beach Post

South Carolina is home to 2,876 miles of shoreline and 437,672 acres of lakes.  This creates seemingly limitless opportunities for recreational activities, and, unfortunately, for people to get hurt if something goes wrong.  According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, in 2010, there were 107 boating accidents that resulted in 26 fatalities.

Boating accidents are commonly the result of:

  • Operators who are not paying attention,
  • Inexperienced drivers who should not be operating the boat,
  • Boat drivers who speed and lose control,
  • Impaired boat operators who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Regardless of the reason for the incident, if you are injured in a boating accident through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. If you or someone you loved has been injured in a South Carolina boating accident, contact the Strom Law Firm, LLC for a free consultation ot review the facts of your case.  803.252.4800

By: South Carolina Personal Injury and Accident Attorney Pete Strom

 

 

 

Jury Awards 30 Million for Boating Accident

August 19, 2011 By

A Butte County jury in Tennessee awarded $30 million Tuesday to a woman whose head was cut by a boat propeller in a horrific boating accident five years ago on Lake Oroville.

The Superior Court panel said 80 percent of the blame for the injuries suffered by 27-year-old Niki Bell is the fault of MasterCraft Boat Co.

According to evidence at the trial, Bell and another woman were both washed into the lake as the boat made a 3-to-5-mph turn to retrieve a wake boarder it was towing who had fallen,.

As the boat continued its turn, the propeller slashed Bell in the head – fracturing her skull, slicing through her frontal lobe and ripping out her left eye.  It also struck her friend cutting her back.

Plaintiffs’ lawyers claimed the MasterCraft X45 had a design flaw that caused the front end of the boat to submerge during a low-speed turn.

“They took two existing boats and combined them, but never engineered it. They made it very large so a lot of people could be in it. If it dips, the water pours in, and that’s what happened,” they claimed.

MasterCraft’s lawyers argued the accident was the first for the boat, which is sold nationwide.

Along with the 80 percent of liability the jury assigned to MasterCraft, they also found boat operator responsible for 20 percent of the injuries suffered by Bell and her friend.

According to evidence at the trial, the operator had been drinking at the time of the accident and registered a blood-alcohol level of 0.04 percent. His insurance company paid $1 million in the case.

The plaintiff’s mother, Cindy Bell, said her daughter is living independently and is able to work part time.

Her mother also said Niki is going to need major assistance for her daily living chores for the rest of her life.

According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources there were 107 boating accidents last year that resulted in 26 fatalities.

Accidents are caused mainly because:

  • Operator not paying attention,
  • Operator not experienced and should not be driving,
  • Operating was speeding and lost Control,
  • Operator was under the influence of Alcohol.

If your accident injuries are the result of someone else’s negligent actions, you may be entitled to compensation. The South Carolina boat accident attorney’s at Strom Law Firm have the experience to help you.

Do not let insurance adjusters take advantage of the situation by settling your claim for as little as possible. If you have been in a boating accident, it is important that you understand your legal rights. Our qualified attorneys can help you recover financial losses and give you peace of mind.

The insurance companies who most often defend at-fault drivers spend millions of dollars teaching their adjusters how to successfully deny claims.

Do not let that happen to you.  Call Strom Law Firm, LLC, today for a free consultation. 803.252.4800.

Teenager Awarded $4.4 million in Electrocution Lawsuit

August 12, 2011 By

A South Carolina jury awarded $4.4 million to a teenager who was severely injured after he was electrocuted by a downed power line that did not shut off properly like it had been designed to do.

The electrocution lawsuit was filed by Xavier Massey against Duke Power Co. for injuries he sustained following a car accident in 2006 when Massey was 13.

Massey was the passenger in a one car accident in 2006 where the vehicle hit a utility pole during a rainstorm. The impact knocked down three power lines. Two of the power lines turned off automatically like they were designed to do, but the third power line remained live.

When Massey got out of the car, he was electrocuted by the power line, resulting in severe injuries to his feet, hands and elbows. The high voltage surge burned 4 percent of his body and caused him to have several toes amputated. He is expected to need at least five more surgeries and has medical expenses totaling more than $600,000 with estimated future expenses around $3 million.

In Massey’s complaint against Duke Power Co. he alleged the safety features designed to prevent electrocution accidents required by the National Electrical Safety Code failed because one of the 65-amp fuses used by the lines at the time of the accident was too big.

After the accident, Duke Power Co. declared the site protected by “anticipation of litigation” and maintained that they did not have to divulge information because it could be used in an impending lawsuit. But the company did not preserve evidence from the scene and the judge told the jury to deem any missing evidence as unfavorable to Duke.

According to South Carolina Lawyers Weekly, during the trial, Duke Power tried to argue that Massey was partially responsible for his own injuries and should have avoided the wires. The judge disagreed and said Massey was not accountable for any of his injuries and awarded $4.4 million in damages.

If you need legal advice, we recommend that you seek the advice of a licensed attorney. If you have any questions about this blog and/or need to talk with an attorney, contact us today for a free, no cost consultation to discuss your legal rights. At Strom Law Firm, LLC, our attorneys provide comprehensive legal services designed to protect your rights and your interests. Our lawyers are licensed in South Carolina, New York, and Georgia. 803.252.4800

Jury Awards $35 million for Fatal Interstate Crash

June 14, 2011 By

Wrecks on the interstate occur on a daily basis and can sometimes be deadly.

A woman was a passenger in an automobile that was hit from behind by a tractor-trailer.  Their vehicle was stopped at the time of the accident and the damage was deadly.  She was one of four people killed.

Plaintiff’s attorneys argued that Centra Trucking Company who employed the driver of semi-truck was reckless in the supervision of their drivers.

They further claimed that the driver was fatigued at the time of the crash and falsified his rest logs to show that he was sleeping as he was driving. The attorneys demonstrated this by issuing a subpoena for the driver’s cell phone history which proved he was in Illinois when his rest log said he was in Missouri.

The jury awarded a $5.25 million compensatory verdict and a $30 million punitive damages decision for the victim.

Source: Roy Gibbs v. George M. Albright and Centra Trucking Co

Interstate accidents can be tragic.  At Strom Law Firm, our attorneys have a substantial amount of experience dealing with car accidents of all types and represent clients throughout the state of South Carolina who have been seriously harmed by negligent drivers.

Because the insurance companies that defend at-fault drivers or trucking companies know who we are and what we are capable of doing in court, they often become more willing to settle cases without a lawsuit being filed. However, if they dig their heels in you can be sure that we will be up to the challenge.

Contrary to what television lawyers may tell you, motor vehicle accidents are not simple. In all likelihood, what “getting the cash you need now” really means is that you won’t have the cash you’ll need down the road. If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a car accident — turn the television off and call or contact us for a free consultation and full evaluation of your case.