In 2012, Connie Jones Marable was injured in a Lowe’s Home Improvement parking lot after her husband’s 2007 Freightliner truck moved even though the emergency brake was on. Ms. Marable was pinned under the Freightliner’s wheels and dragged. According to one of her attorneys, Ms. Marable was left with “crushing physical injuries and a severe brain injury” and has been in a “minimally conscious state under 24-7 nursing care.”
Ms. Marable’s children, Bill and Engelique Jones, filed suit against Daimler Trucks, Ms. Marable’s husband’s insurer and his employer, KLLM Transport Services. On April 12, 2016, the jury awarded the plaintiff $51.5 million dollars. Ms. Marable’s attorneys said the jury found Daimler Trucks to be 90 percent at fault for the accident; it was most likely due to the truck’s lack of safety features, which includes a deficient parking brake system. A spokesman for Daimler Trucks said, “Daimler Trucks North America is confident in the safety of its products.” He went on to say that the company “is disappointed with the jury’s conclusion and is evaluating its next steps in response to the verdict.”
When someone is injured or dies in a trucking collision, financial recovery may be available. Such recovery is particularly important when permanent, life changing injuries are incurred. It is important to contact someone who understands the intricacies of the injured party’s right to recover.
Abraham Watkins offers a free consultation to anyone wishing to pursue a claim for such injuries or fatalities.