A truck accident lawsuit was recently concluded when a Texas jury awarded almost $2 million to a truck driver who allegedly suffered serious back and shoulder injuries after a major collision with another 18 wheeler.

The trucking accident at issue was allegedly between one truck driver and another working for EBG Cargo, with the latter having allegedly collided into the other truck driver’s tractor trailer when it was backed on the shoulder of the highway.

Plaintiff Lawrence S. alleges he suffered serious back and shoulder injuries after his tractor trailer was rear-ended by the EBG Cargo truck, which was driven by defendant driver Juan Jesus Isaias Lopez. Also named in the truck accident lawsuit is EBG Cargo owner Mario Albert Rodriguez, with the claim alleging he was also liable for the injuries Lawrence reportedly suffered.

According to the truck accident lawsuit, the trucking accident occurred on March 15, 2016 on Interstate 35 just north of Cotulla, Texas. Lawrence alleged that prior to the accident, Lopez had been driving the 18 wheeler and had been pulled over by a police officer in Mississippi after being found to have driven too long without rest.

By the next morning, Lawrence claims, Lopez was driving on the highway in question in clear conditions and allegedly drifted into the shoulder where Lawrence was parked. Hist truck reportedly struck Lawrence’s truck and moved it 126 feet, causing injuries to Lawrence’s lower back and neck including herniated discs and his shoulder.

Lawrence says he underwent treatment for seven months before being recommended surgery, to which he eventually underwent. According to the truck accident lawsuit, the jury found Lopez to be 80 percent responsible for the trucking accident and EBG Cargo responsible for the remaining 20 percent.

The jury awarded Lawrence $255,000 for past and future physical pain and mental anguish, along with $860,000 for lost earnings, $1,000 for disfigurement, $650,000 for past and future physical impairment, and $161,703 for future medical expenses. These damages totaled $1.92 million, resolving the truck accident lawsuit three years after the collision.

Overview of Truck Accident Statistics

This truck accident lawsuit is a recent example of the troubling trend of 18 wheeler accidents, which have reportedly increased by 20 percent in the last 20 years.

On average, there are approximately 500,000 truck accidents that occur in the United States every year, with 5,000 of these incidents causing fatalities and 100,000 of them causing serious injuries.

It is important to note that the majority of deaths and serious injuries in these collisions are drivers or passengers of consumer class cars like sedans or other smaller vehicles. These 18 wheeler trucks often weigh up to 30 times more than the smaller cars, are much taller, and have much better ground clearance.

In addition to the smaller cars possibly getting stuck under the trucks, some 18 wheeler accidents are caused by timing with brakes. Semi trucks take up to 40 percent farther than passenger cars to stop, with the distance being greater on wet or slippery roads.

According to the Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS), some of the most common factors involved in semi truck accidents were linked to weather and road conditions, the behavior and actions of drivers, and the trucking companies.

This study sampled almost 1,000 injury and fatal crashes involving semi trucks that occurred between April 2001 and December 2003, which was jointly conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) and the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA).

This Truck Accident Lawsuit is Case No. 2017 CVA 001873D1 in the 49th District Court of Webb County, Texas.