$16.8M Verdict to Family of Trucker Killed in Crash

By Dean I. Weitzman, Esq. on January 31st, 2017

The family of an Alabama truck driver has been awarded a $16.8 million verdict by a jury after he was killed in a 2013 truck crash by a payload of logs that entered the truck’s cab and crushed him after the vehicle went out of control.

Larry Albritton died in the Oct. 7, 2013, crash due to a defective guard that was designed to keep a payload from moving forward and smashing into the truck’s cab in a crash, according to a Jan. 19 story on the Al.com newspaper website. The guards are used on 18-wheelers that carry heavy payloads.

The truck cab guard was defective in its “design, manufacture and warnings,” attorneys for the plaintiff told the paper. The makers of the guards, Merritt Equipment Co., acted with “reckless disregard” toward truck driver safety through its design and manufacturing of the guards, the attorneys added.

The lawsuit was filed by Albritton’s sister, Jacqueline Wright, and other relatives against Merritt Equipment Co., Pitts Enterprises, and Volvo Trucks of North America, the story reported.

A report by Law360.com states that the verdict included a $15.26 million verdict against Merritt for punitive damages in the case. Two other defendants, Pitts Enterprises and Volvo Trucks North America, settled their cases with the plaintiffs earlier and their settlements were subtracted from the $16.8 million, the report states.

These kinds of tragic legal cases occur every day when innocent victims are severely hurt or killed in vehicle crashes through no fault of their own due to the actions, inattentiveness or indifference of others. That’s why it is critical to have a legal team on your side that uncovers every fact to bolster your case and maximize your damage award.

We here at MyPhillyLawyer stand ready to assist you with your legal case if you or a loved one is ever seriously injured in a vehicle incident or accident anywhere in the United States.

We represent the families of victims who die in such tragedies as well, to ensure that their families receive every penny of damages that they are eligible to receive.

Call MyPhillyLawyer at 215-227-2727 or toll-free at 1-(866) 352-4572 anytime and our experienced, compassionate, aggressive team of attorneys and support staff will be there for you and your family every step of the way as we manage your case through the legal system.

When Winning Matters Most, Call MyPhillyLawyer.