$1,995,000 Result Against Trucking Company With Policy Limits of $1 Million

Thomas Scolaro recently secured a $1,995,000 settlement against a commercial trucking company that had maximum insurance policy limits of $1,000,000.

On March 4, 2018 at approximately 5:00 a.m., our client was driving his box truck from Jacksonville to Tallahassee on I10 when he was rear-ended by an 18-wheeler. Moments before the collision, our client had safely pulled off the side of the road to relieve himself. He returned to his truck and with no vehicles coming from behind, he began to accelerate and merge into the right lane. When our client got his speed up to 37 mph he was impacted from behind by the defendant who was traveling at 70 mph. The resulting collision sent our client's box truck onto its drivers side skidding along the roadway in horrific fashion for more than 30 meters before sending it up a guardrail off the shoulder.

Our client sustained significant life-altering injuries to his left arm. At only 26-years old, he was unable to return to work and remains with a permanent disability.

Though our client was rear-ended, liability was hotly contested because he was traveling below the minimum speed limit at the time of the crash. The defendant hired multiple expert witnesses to argue that our client was negligent for pulling off the roadway and for merging back into the roadway while still below the minimum speed limit. The defendant hired an accident reconstruction expert, visual conspicuity expert and human factors expert. Regardless of their degrees and decades of experience as experts, each of their opinions was thoroughly destroyed by aggressive cross-examination in depositions. The defendant was left with no real arguments to take to the jury which explained its multiple motions for continuance to avoid a jury trial.

Mr. Scolaro and Mr. Graham never stopped fighting for their client. When the defendant's insurance carrier finally understood that they were likely to lose the case they offered to settle the case for the maximum $1,000,000 under the insurance policy. That offer was summarily rejected because it was too late. The insurance company should have offered to settle for the full $1,000,000 much earlier. It did not. Through continued aggressive handling of the case, we were able to secure a settlement nearly doubling the maximum amount under the insurance policy for a very deserving client.

Our client hired us on the recommendation of a co-worker. He was scared, nervous and was worried about his ability to provide for his young family. We understood the responsibility he was entrusting us with and did everything possible to ensure a record recovery under the circumstances for our client. Thanks to our tireless efforts, his future is financially secure giving him the freedom to even start a new business.

Regardless of difficulties in a case, the personal injury attorneys of Leesfield & Partners handle all cases aggressively and prepare each case for trial. If we can obtain a good settlement for our clients then fine. However, if the Defendants and insurance companies want to use their power to delay justice or make unreasonable settlement offers, we will take them to trial and fight for our clients because that is what we would want if we were in their shoes.