Trucking/Auto Liability

We are experienced in defending trucking and automobile accident cases, including defense of rental car and trucking companies in catastrophic injury cases.  We have successfully defended claims allegedly caused by driver error, negligent entrustment, tire defect and vehicle defect.  We understand accident reconstruction principles, and work with skilled reconstruction experts to recreate and visualize the cause(s) of accidents.  We also have the experience and depth to be available to be on 24 hour call to investigate an accident scene. 

Representative Matters:

• Defense of a major rental car company whose employee collided with a young girl who had "darted out" in front of the employee's truck.   Plaintiff had severe growth plate damage and scarring to her leg and she also alleged a closed head injury and cognitive impairment.  We retained an accident reconstruction expert to establish an inability to react timely, and a neuropsychologist to minimize the effects of head trauma.  This aspect of the defense involved a thorough background medical and educational assessment, including discovery of teachers, neighbors and family.  The case resolved for less than one-half of plaintiff's initial $1.8 million demand.  
• Defense of a major rental truck company in a case where the plaintiff claimed that she suffered permanent brain damage from a closed head injury.  Plaintiff underwent a PET scan and neuropsychological testing to support her claims.  We deposed plaintiff’s medical experts to establish that the PET scan evidence was not scientifically supportable and that plaintiff's neuropsychological test results were unreliable.  We were able to significantly reduce plaintiff's demand and settle prior to trial.
• We represented a major rental car company in a case where four people died in a highway rollover accident.  Plaintiff argued that a slit in a tire proved that the tire was defective and caused the accident.  At deposition, our expert testified that there was no evidence that the tire was defective, and that the accident was caused by excessive speed.  The court subsequently granted summary judgment, dismissing all claims against our client.