Texting While Driving Verdict

Many companies are adopting 100 percent cellphone bans when operating a company vehicle. This helps protect the driver, passengers, and other vehicles on the road from being involved in a collision. A lack of cellphone polices can create great anguish for all parties involved.

Unfortunately this was the case for Jenny Hennes who was driving in stop-and-go traffic on I-35 in San Antonio when she was rear-ended by a vehicle owned by JC Fodale Energy Services, driven by employee Mikey Hunt. Hennes personal injury lawyer said Hunt “had been in a phone conversation for two minutes just before the incident and he had been texting within four minutes before that”. This wreck was caused by Hunt’s failure to drive carefully and the lack of the company’s safety management.

Hennes suffered physical and mental anguish as a result of the wreck, and it will likely be difficult to obtain employment, according to her attorney.

This week Hennes won a $43.5 million verdict. “The jury verdict included almost $7.3 million for physical pain and mental anguish, $2.9 million for physical impairment, almost $1.3 million for medical expenses and $1.1 million for loss of past and future earnings.”

It is important for companies to develop and implement standard safety policies and procedures when it comes to cellphone usage while driving. As shown in this case, poor driving safety regulations can have catastrophic results.

Being a careful driver should be a standard for everyone on the road, regardless if it’s a company vehicle or not. Maintaining your eyes on the road, instead of your cellphone could avoid a collision, injury, and death.

If you or someone you know has been injured or killed in a vehicle crash caused by a distracted driver, contact an attorney at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling (713) 222-7211 or toll free at 713-222-7211.