In our practice, our firm has defended trucking companies in the context of a wide variety of negligence actions. Because of the depth of their experience, they understand the need for immediate response for trucking companies and their insurers, including the need to work with accident re-construction specialists on short notice during times of immediate response to a trucking accident.
A small sampling of the attorneys’ experience includes:
- Wrongful death actions
- Punitive damage claims
- Allegations of improperly secured or loaded trailers
- Workers’ Compensation claims
- Accidents involving farming equipment
- Brake failures
- Rollovers
- Bridge collisions
Work Examples
Representative and recent trucking and transportation cases litigated include:
- Successfully defended a wrongful death case wherein the Plaintiff contended that inadequate trucker warnings were given when the Plaintiffs, who were college students, were driving at excessive rate of speed through a marked detour.
- Secured a summary judgment dismissal when the Defendant trucking company, towing a mobile home, was on a bridge when the approaching log truck struck the Defendant’s vehicle, went through the guardrail and the driver drowned.
- Our motion for mistrial was granted in a matter where Plaintiff sued the client-trucker in federal court. The accident involved soybean combine equipment being transported via an interstate highway. At trial, Plaintiff, under heavy cross-examination, volunteered information concerning liability insurance. The judge granted our motion for a mistrial, and the matter settled for next to nothing.
- Successfully defended a trucking company resulting from an accident that occurred as a motor vehicle was passing the 18-wheeler insured defendant. The vehicle struck the truck, and the driver of the car was killed. Plaintiff claimed our driver was drunk, based solely on his history of having prior drinking issues. Plaintiff demanded $50,000 and $49,000 was offered. Plaintiff refused, and the case was tried. Total defense verdict was obtained.
- The Client-Defendant was sued when an 18-wheeler truck went off-route and was involved in a motor vehicle accident, wherein the driver of the automobile died. Sharp factual disputes existed and at trial experts on both sides offered differing opinions as to how the accident happened. Plaintiff’s demanded $2 million but settled for substantially less than $1 million when it was shown the decedent was likely under the influence of multiple substances.
Our Clients
Among the many trucking and transportation clients we have represented are:
- Estes Express Lines
- McElroy Trucking Lines
- Gallagher Bassett
- North American Claims Services
- Motor Transport Underwriters
- Chartis/AIG
- Ashland Petroleum & Asphalt Company
- Dutch Oil, Travelers
- the Mississippi Trucking Association
- and many more