Despite numerous efforts to prevent car accidents, they still happen frequently across the nation, including on highways in Missouri. Although a car accident can result in serious injuries, a commercial truck accident can sometimes cause more serious and even fatal injuries. This is primarily because of their larger size and heavier structure.
In April 2013, a teenager was killed when a furniture box truck collided with an SUV. The accident occurred when the furniture truck crossed the median and struck the SUV. The 18-year-old driver of the SUV was injured as was the driver and passenger of the box truck. The 17-year-old passenger in the SUV was killed.
The 34-year-old driver of the box truck was criminally charged for causing the accident. He recently pleaded guilty to vehicular assault and manslaughter. He admitted that he had drugs in his system at the time of the accident. Upon further investigation, it was determined that he had previously been cited numerous times for speeding, DWI and other traffic violations.
Aside from the mentioned criminal charges, he has had several civil suits filed against him. A wrongful death lawsuit was filed against the driver as well as the furniture company for which he worked. Personal injury lawsuits were also filed by both the passenger in the box truck and the driver of the SUV that was struck.
Criminal charges have already been filed and the truck driver has admitted to the ingestion of drugs. This is information that the family can use in the civil claim that they filed for wrongful death. If the truck driver was on the clock at the time of the Missouri truck accident, the family of the victim may be able to seek monetary reimbursement for medical costs, burial expenses and pain and suffering against the driver as well as the driver’s employer.
Source: Southeast Missourian, “Abernathy pleads guilty in fatal box-truck crash”, Emily Priddy, May 18, 2014
