Name and Case Number: Confidential
Principal Injuries: Wrongful death
Tried or Settled: Settled
Amount: $3M
Attorney: Hunt Willis, Martin and Jones & Bob Whitley, Whitley Law Firm
Description: The family of a man who was killed after being hit by a commercial truck on a country road have agreed to a $3 million settlement on Feb. 7th, according to the family’s attorney. The victim, a 60-year-old North Carolina native, was driving on a rural road in November of 2017 when a truck driver ran a stop sign crashed into the passenger side door of his car. As a result of the collision, the man suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital. When it became apparent he would not regain consciousness after four days in the hospital, his wife made the decision to end his life-saving treatment.
The focus of the attorney was on the victim’s relationship with his family. While it was argued by the defense that the relationship between the deceased and his children was not especially strong, the attorneys fighting for the plaintiff provided evidence—such as interviews with family members—to help bolster their claim. Furthermore, the surgeon who treated the decedent testified on the aftermath of the wreck, which also played a major role in settlement negotiations. Due to a confidentiality agreement, many details of the case, including the names of the attorneys for the defendant, were withheld. However, on Feb. 7th, a settlement was agreed upon.