An incredibly dangerous and bewildering game of cat-and-mouse between drivers of two trucking companies resulted in a $27 million wrongful death decision for the family of an Oregon woman caught in the wrong place at the wrong
In this issue, the Alaska personal injury lawyers with Barber & Associates will talk about the specifics of the incident – including how the jury was able to sidestep Oregon’s cap of $500,000 on wrongful death decisions.
Remember, if someone in a large truck injures you, you need qualified legal representation to secure the justice and compensation you deserve.
For a free consultation, call the Alaska personal injury lawyers with Barber & Associates at 907-276-5858, send us an email, or get in touch online.
The Case at a Glance
As the victim was driving eastbound upon a highway in her Ford Focus, she found herself directly in front of a flat-bed semi-truck, whose driver had been involved in a mindless game of cat-and-mouse with a motor home driver.
In the eyes of law enforcement, the victim “never had a chance” and died at the scene of the accident.
Well before the fatal crash, the truck and motor home driver had been “racing, speeding, brake-checking, and cutting off one another as well as other drivers.
“This never should have happened,” said the representative for the victim’s family. “The drivers were grown men who were a professional driver. They were trained better and they knew better.”
How The Jury Got Around Oregon’s Cap on Wrongful Death Suits
In Oregon, the maximum amount that can be awarded to a victim’s family in a wrongful death suit is $500,000.
To send a strong message to trucking companies and their drivers, the judge allowed the jury to apply the law from Idaho – the victim’s home state – that has no such limits.
If someone you love loses their life by the actions of someone else, call the Alaska personal injury lawyers at Barber & Associates.
Here at Barber & Associates, we’ve earned our reputation for aggressively fighting on behalf of Alaskans. We’ll fight on your behalf for justice and fair compensation so that you can concentrate completely on your recovery.
For a free consultation about your case, call us at 907-276-5858 or reach us via email, or get in touch online.