As the trucking industry continues to grow, Charleston trucking accidents are increasingly common. In tractor trailer accidents, individuals in the passenger vehicles account for 98% of deaths. Because trucking companies usually have experienced legal teams and are experienced in negotiating settlements with victims, they will often give you less than you deserve, and leave you with high medical bills and lost wages that are not appropriately covered in the settlement. At Howell and Christmas our experienced tractor trailer accident lawyers can help you determine what you are entitled to, and represent your rights against large trucking corporations.
By way of example, in March of 2007, George Rogers, 51, ran his lumber truck through a stoplight and killed two young children. The children were in a minivan driven by one of their mothers, who survived the South Carolina automobile accident. The crash took place on SC-9 near Lewisville High School. According to investigators, in addition to running the red light, Rogers’ truck had serious brake problems.
After more than two years, the trial is under way for George Rogers. If Rogers is convicted on both counts, he could get up to 20 years in prison.
Rogers’ attorney, Carl Grant is expected to try to prove that the light was still yellow when Rogers approached and that he was unable to stop in time.
The woman driving the van, Allison Quinton, whose 9-year-old daughter Hannah was killed, is expected to be among the first to testify. She has told local media outlets that she is certain the light was red at the time of the crash.
While there are criminal charges pending, this case is a good example of how the criminal justice system cannot adequately compensate the victims of this tragedy because there are little or no money damages that can be recovered from the state’s prosecution of the defendant in this case. Victims of these types of crashes can hire a private attorney to bring a lawsuit against the driver and any corporation employing them to recover money damages such as those for wrongful death, survival action, pain and suffering, lost wages and medical bills just to name a few.
Source: News Channel 36- “Trial begins for trucker in deadly crash”- Sept. 8, 2009
