$3,200,000 Settlement: Commercial Trucking Accident in Davidson County, NC

Case Type: Personal Injury – Commercial Trucking Liability
Result: $3.2 Million Settlement
Jurisdiction: Davidson County, NC
Lead Attorney: James Roane

The Legal Challenge: Contested Liability and Evidence Suppression

Our client was traveling on I-85 in Lexington when she collided with a tractor-trailer that suddenly appeared in her lane. The impact was so severe the truck flipped onto her vehicle, resulting in catastrophic injuries, including life-threatening neck wounds and $600,000 in medical expenses.

The case faced three major hurdles that led other law firms to reject it:

  • Police Citation: The client was charged with “failure to reduce speed” based on the truck driver’s testimony.
  • Memory Loss: Due to the trauma, the client had no memory of the wreck, leaving her unable to refute the defendant’s claim they were traveling at 60 mph.
  • Evidence Suppression: The trucking company denied the existence of “black box” engine control module (ECM) data.

Our Strategic Approach: Engineering the Truth

Attorney James Roane utilized aggressive litigation and accident reconstruction to build a case where others saw none. Our strategy focused on:

  • Delta-V Principles: When the defense denied truck data, we subpoenaed our client’s vehicle data. By hiring an accident reconstruction engineer to apply physics-based Delta-V calculations, we proved the truck was actually traveling only 17 mph on the interstate—proving the driver and passenger had lied under oath.
  • Human Factors Expertise: We employed a human factors expert to testify regarding the difficulty of perceiving speed differentials at night, countering the “inattention” charge.
  • FMCSA Violations: We uncovered that the driver was in violation of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules regarding English proficiency for interstate drivers.
  • Negligent Hiring: Deep-dive investigation revealed the driver’s original license was fraudulent, a fact the trucking company failed to verify during the hiring process.

Final Outcome & Client Impact

Despite being sued herself by the truck’s passenger and being blamed by the police, our firm’s investigation secured a $3.2 million settlement the week before trial. This recovery ensures the client’s medical debts are cleared and provides long-term financial security following her catastrophic injuries.