Corboy & Demetrio Obtains $14.5 Million for Pick-up Truck Driver Injured in Crash

Corboy & Demetrio obtained a settlement of $14.5 million on February 14, 2024, on behalf of the driver of a pickup truck who was struck by a national trucking company’s truck on Sept. 25, 2020, on Westbound I-80 that was slower/stopped due to an approaching construction zone.

The defendant, a freightliner lead battery truck, which was operated by a Battery Marketer Driver, did not stop and struck a Ford pick-up truck pulling a camper, which was driven by Patrick Kelly, Jr. 

The collision caused a chain reaction crash involving a minivan and another pick-up truck. Kelly had to kick out his window to escape the fiery inferno; his passenger remained trapped inside. The ECM of the freightliner lead battery truck revealed that the Defendant driver was traveling at 69 mph for 20 seconds up to and including the time of the crash.

The Defendant driver reported to the State Trooper that he may have been looking at some paperwork or something on the section in between the seats and that maybe he lost a little concentration.

Mr. Kelly, who was 39 years old at the time, suffered third degree burns to 35 percent of his body, including to his face, arms, leg, back and hand.   Kelly, a pipefitter, has returned to pipefitter work.

Mr. Kelly was represented by Corboy & Demetrio Co-founder Thomas Demetrio, Managing Partner Ken Lumb, Partner Edward Willer, and Associate Attorney Mitchell Bild.