How A Semi-Truck Accident on I-16 Led to a Fight for Justice

At 2:00 in the afternoon on I-16, a semi-truck driver ran into the back of another semi-truck. While the driver who initially hit the other seemed to be at fault, Buzzell, Welsh & Hill attorney Steve Welsh worked to prove his client’s innocence and win the compensation he deserved.

It All Happened on I-16

He was an experienced truck driver with a perfect safety record driving down I-16 in the middle of the day. Suddenly, he realized he was approaching the semi-truck in front of him far too quickly. The driver did what he could to slow down but, unfortunately, his efforts were unsuccessful—there was a collision.

Extensive Injuries

The driver experienced serious injuries, including damage to his leg and other body parts. Ultimately, the driver had to undergo surgery to save his leg, requiring rods and plates to rebuild it. The severity of his injuries left him unable to drive trucks anymore.

The Driver Believed He Was Not at Fault

The driver knew he should not be considered at fault for the accident—he was obeying all the rules of the road at the time. However, all the attorneys he spoke to turned his case away—on paper, he was responsible.

When Steve heard his case, he realized there was truth to the driver’s story. Steve took on the case and began working to get his client the compensation he needed for his medical bills and other damages.

The Fight for Compensation Meant Going to Court

The other driver’s insurance company would not budge or offer any compensation—after all, Steve’s client was allegedly at fault. After back and forths, Steve and his client took the case to court in front of a jury.

As luck would have it, the foreman of the jury happened to be a retired truck driver—someone with experience behind the wheel of a semi-truck and someone with the knowledge needed to explain trucking laws during deliberation.

The Trial

During the trial, Steve was able to prove that the truck in front was overheating on the road and, as a result, was driving far below the interstate’s minimum speed requirement of 40 miles per hour. The lead truck was traveling at a shocking 10 miles per hour without flashers and didn’t take the available opportunities to exit. As part of expert testimony, Steve had a seasoned police officer take the stand to explain to the jury that there is a minimum speed limit for a reason.

The Verdict

The jury ruled in favor of Steve’s client, agreeing that the other driver was 62% responsible for the accident. This meant that Steve’s client would receive 62% of the $2.2 million verdict.

This was a huge victory for Steve and his client, the truck driver who knew he should not bear the blame for the accident that occurred.

From Disaster to Success

Following the trial and the victory in court, Steve’s client was able to use his settlement to cover medical expenses and start a new business, a charter company. One career may have been taken away, but Steve won his client the ability to start fresh and carve out a new career as an entrepreneur and business owner.

While some firms close the doors on clients who appear in the wrong, Steve is proud to have taken on this case and prove his client was in the right.