$1 Million Plus Verdict for Chicago Area Man Injured in Truck Collision
On October 5, 2001, a jury in Kansas City, Missouri awarded $1,025,000 to a Chicago area man and his wife for injuries the man suffered in a truck collision on July 31, 1997 near Chillicothe, Missouri. Corboy & Demetrio represented the plaintiffs in their personal injury lawsuit.
Truck Crash on Interstate Highway
Michael Peckels of Lake-In-The-Hills, Illinois was working as a truck driver for Overnite Transportation Company through its terminal in Chicago and was traveling west on Interstate Highway 36 when a truck operated by Wyatt Farms, Inc. of Moberly Missouri crossed the centerline crashing into the truck operated by Peckels and running him off the road.
Peckels suffered fractures to the C1 and C2 of his cervical spine as a result of the collision.
Settlement Offer Rejected
Wyatt Farms, Inc. had offered $300,000 to settle the lawsuit but it was rejected. During trial, the defendant pursued an affirmative defense alleging that Peckels was guilty of comparative negligence for failing to "slacken speed" to avoid the collision. The plaintiffs' attorneys urged the jury to reject that argument and they did so. The trial was defended by Keith Cary of Franke & Schultz in Kansas City, Missouri.
Based upon the Missouri prejudgement interest statute, the award will likely be increased by nearly $50,000. Judge John Torrence of the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri presided over the five-day trial.
